In conversation this week… It’s that time of the week where we reveal the bill for your undisputed favourite television show of all time – The Late Late Show. Exciting. As ever, Ryan Tubrdy will be joined by an eclectic cast of characters. Very much used to ‘main attraction’ status, global superstar crooner Michael Bublé […]

4 years ago

The actor’s family has confirmed the news. Acting icon Bruce Willis is set to retire from the profession after being diagnosed with aphasia, according to his family. Willis’ daughter Rumer confirmed the news via a post on her Instagram account on Wednesday, 30 March. Aphasia is a language disorder caused by brain damage that affects […]

4 years ago

The only way is up. Inflation continues to spiral across Ireland as another major energy provider announces a notable increase in prices. Following price hike announcements from Bord Gáis and Energia in recent weeks, Electric Ireland has joined the fray. The average Electric Ireland electricity bill will rise by 23.4%, or €24.80 per month. The […]

4 years ago

The Embassy said the move “can only deteriorate further Russian-Irish relations”. The Embassy of Russia in Ireland has released a strongly-worded statement following the expulsion of four diplomatic officials, noting that this action “will not go unanswered”. On Tuesday afternoon (29 March), Government officials including Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney […]

4 years ago

The arts and a more sustainable future take centre stage. Two new subjects will be added to the Leaving Cert curriculum as part of a major education overhaul. Announced by Minister for Education Norma Foley on Tuesday (29 March), the ‘Equity and Excellence for All’ programme represents a three-pronged approach to reforming the senior cycle […]

4 years ago

“It is quite possible that there will be further increases.” Price hikes are here to stay for the “foreseeable future”, according to Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath. Rising inflation and the increasing cost of living in Ireland has become a frequent subject of conversation in recent weeks, with President Michael D. Higgins […]

4 years ago

The fallout from ‘the slap heard around the world’ continues. Will Smith has been officially condemned by the organisers of the 94th annual Academy Awards. The censure follows a dramatic onstage incident in which Smith confronted Chris Rock after the latter made a joke at Jade Pinkett-Smith’s expense. What followed was ‘the slap heard around […]

4 years ago

The “chaotic” situation in Irish hospitals has been cited as positive Covid-19 cases continue to rise. The Emergency Department Taskforce for the Health Service Executive of Ireland (HSE) is seeking to reintroduce certain public health measures amidst the current wave of positive Covid-19 cases. Close to 40,000 new cases of the virus have been reported […]

4 years ago

“We deeply regret that our valued customers had this experience.” Following somewhat chaotic scenes at Dublin Airport over the weekend, a formal apology has been issued to passengers. On Sunday, footage emerged on social media, depicting lengthy queues for security screenings. A number of people subsequently reported missing their respective flights as a result. A […]

4 years ago

The incident took place on Sunday night. Gardaí have issued an appeal for witnesses following a collision in Dublin that left a teenage pedestrian hospitalised. The road traffic collision occurred on the N11 at Stillorgan Road on Sunday, 27 March. Shortly before 10pm, Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene. The collision between a car […]

4 years ago

Including this very year. Hello. The Oscars have been and gone for another year. This time around, it’s fair to say the ceremony created some major headlines. Will Smith slapped a man across the face, and also some people – including Smith! – won awards. A newsworthy evening, all in all. But can you name […]

4 years ago

Ireland is on the list. Vladimir Putin is set to sign a decree that will outlaw citizens of countries deemed “unfriendly” to Russia from entering the country, including Ireland. In a televised address on Monday (28 March), Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov said that Putin will sign the decree as a retort to […]

4 years ago

Don’t worry folks, you’ll get the quiz you need. It’s time for another blast of the always-tricky JOE Music Quiz. Get involved. This week, we have our usual opening five questions on current happenings in the world of music. Next, five questions on The Simpsons and its various music-shaped occurrences over the years. Finally, we […]

4 years ago

An incredible talent, may he rest in peace. Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins has passed away at the age of 50. Hawkins’ death was confirmed by Foo Fighters via an official statement released at around 3am Irish time on Saturday morning, 26 March. The band were present in Bogotá, Colombia as part of their South […]

4 years ago

The “hot money” is on Coldplay or AC/DC but who knows? A planned double-concert spectacular originally scheduled for Slane Castle this summer is off, as the famous festival looks to 2023 instead. A notably more sporadic event than annual contemporaries such as Electric Picnic or Longitude, Slane hasn’t been a fixture on the calendar since […]

4 years ago

Minister Coveney was attending an event for the John and Pat Hume Foundation, which was subsequently abandoned. Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney was forced to abandon an address following a security alert in Belfast on Friday morning, 25 March. Minister Coveney and his team were taken to a secure location as the incident unfolded. […]

4 years ago

Be advised. An orange-level high fire warning is in place for the weekend and the start of next week. Issued by the Department of Agriculture, the warning arises from current, high pressure-dominated weather patterns. As a result, a high fire risk has been deemed to apply to all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead […]

4 years ago

It would be funny if it wasn’t so terrifying. Okay, it’s a little funny. There’s no getting past the ‘so surreal you can’t help but laugh a bit’ nature of this. First, however, the sobering stuff. On Thursday morning, news filtered through that South Korea fired missiles in response to North Korea’s largest ever weapon […]

4 years ago

There are “serious concerns” regarding workplace absences. The isolation time for positive Covid cases may be reduced as Government officials seek to tackle a notable increase in work-related absences. New plans reportedly being considered would see people given the green light to go back to work earlier, should the measure ultimately be approved. According to […]

4 years ago

“These are powerful steps. But it was a little late.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the European Union for its support of his country during the Russian invasion, though criticised leaders for arguably taking too much time to apply sanctions. Speaking via video link on Thursday during the EU summit in Brussels, Zelensky stated […]

4 years ago

This one seriously boils over. Want to never eat in a restaurant ever again or at least feel somewhat guilty about what hospitality staff have to go through on a particularly busy night? We’ve got the film for you. Or, rather, Netflix does. Following on from a short run in Irish cinemas back in January, Boiling […]

4 years ago

The party is aiming to do away with anonymous troll accounts. Sinn Féin will present a bill to Dáil Éireann on Thursday in a bid to tackle the act of online harassment and abuse. Targeting anonymous accounts that engage in defamation, harassment and abuse, the Social Media Platforms (Defamation Amendment) Bill takes its cue from […]

4 years ago

Normal service resumes following the St Patrick’s Day celebrations. The Late Late Show returns to its usual Friday night time slot this week as host Ryan Tubridy once more welcomes a fresh batch of guests to the dance. Can anyone compete with the singing prowess of Kellie Harrington and John C. Reilly? Time will indeed […]

4 years ago

Covid-19 cases are on the rise, though Government officials continue to insist restrictions will not return. Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan is not of the opinion that restrictions designed to tackle Covid-19 should return, despite a visible spike in cases across Ireland. That sentiment was expressed by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar at a party meeting on […]

4 years ago

The Ukrainian President has called on people around the world to rally in the streets to show their opposition to the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address both Houses of the Oireachtas next month. Having accepted an invitation from the Ceann Comhairle, Zelensky will make his address directly to Irish politicians on Wednesday, 6 […]

4 years ago

Over 21,000 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on Wednesday. A new group designed to replace the National Public Health and Emergency Team (NPHET) will be in place in the immediate future, according to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. Speaking on Wednesday (23 March), Varadkar said the currently unnamed team is “imminent” in terms of its arrival. […]

4 years ago

Thomas Boyd was found dead in a tent in Dublin city centre in the early hours of Monday morning. A man whose body was discovered in a tent in Dublin on Monday (21 March) has been named as Thomas Boyd; the cousin of Sandra Boyd, who was shot dead in Finglas last weekend. Thomas Boyd […]

4 years ago

Healy-Rae says he will not apologise for what he said. Michael Healy-Rae has denied making a homophobic remark towards Tánaiste Leo Varadkar during a heated exchange in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday afternoon (22 March). Varadkar appeared to take issue with Healy-Rae’s use of the phrase “airy-fairies” and called on his counterpart to reflect on what […]

4 years ago

“Put your mask in your back pocket again. Have it with you.” Close to 24,000 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed in Ireland on Tuesday (22 March), reflecting an overall spike in numbers in recent weeks. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called on the Government to reintroduce mandatory mask-wearing in crowded and […]

4 years ago

Ireland’s population is likely to increase by 1%, with approximately 40,000 refugees expected in the country in the coming weeks. Ireland will have welcomed approximately 40,000 Ukrainian refugees to its shores by the end of April, according to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. Speaking as Leaders’ Questions resumed in Dáil Éireann following a week off, Varadkar addressed […]

4 years ago

The creation of the Criminal Assets Bureau is under the microscope. The creation of the Criminal Assets Bureau in the wake of public outcry over the murders of journalist Veronica Guerin and Garda Jerry McCabe will be examined in a new documentary that airs this week. Following Guerin’s assassination in 1996, the Oireachtas passed the […]

4 years ago

The man is aged in his 20s. Update – Wednesday, 23 March @ 2.25pm The man arrested on Monday on suspicion of murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Sandra Boyd has been formally charged by Gardaí. He is scheduled to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Wednesday evening. Update […]

4 years ago

It may take a little while, though… Dublin Airport has begun a process of upgrading its existing technology in order to eventually scrap the 100ml rule on carrying liquids within cabin baggage. Last week, Shannon Airport resumed transatlantic flights for the first time in two years while announcing the removal of the 100ml rule which […]

4 years ago

“Other countries, those that do have the capability to enforce a no-fly zone, have said clearly that they will not do that.” Eamon Ryan has said that Ireland will continue to endorse the strongest possible sanctions against Russia following its Government-authorised invasion of Ukraine, though he noted we can only do so much. In conversation […]

4 years ago

The cause of the crash is not yet known. A plane carrying 132 people has crashed into a mountainous area of the southern province of Guangxi. According to the Guardian, the Chinese airliner crashed near the city of Wuzhou, sparking a mountainside fire as a result. Rescuers have been dispatched to the region. At the […]

4 years ago

“Everything was burning, there were corpses everywhere, and I was just walking through, picking up a cabbage here, a carrot there.” Ukraine has rejected Russia’s latest demand to surrender the city of Mariupol as the conflict enters its 26th day. Russian officials had imposed a deadline of surrender on Ukrainian troops in Mariupol, offering apparent […]

4 years ago

The Tánaiste said the new spike in Covid cases is “a cause for concern, not a cause for panic”. Ireland is in the midst of a fresh Covid wave yet restrictions will not return, according to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar. As of Sunday (20 March), over 1,000 people are hospitalised in relation to the virus. Speaking […]

4 years ago

Gardaí are investigating all circumstances. Gardaí have launched an investigation following the discovery of the body of a man in Dublin in the early hours of Monday morning, 21 March. It is understood that the man was found in a tent in the city centre. Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene at Loftus Lane […]

4 years ago

Let’s get loud. It’s time once again to shout to the heavens. Or just chill out quietly, it’s really up to you. Whatever decibel you achieve, do please try and get 100% on this week’s JOE Music Quiz, won’t you? This week, we have our usual round on current music-related happenings, followed by a round […]

4 years ago

“The world has been awed by his handling of the pandemic.” Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has highlighted Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s tackling of the ongoing housing and healthcare issues in Ireland. Speaking at the Friends of Ireland luncheon in Washington D.C. on St Patrick’s Day, Pelosi paid tribute to the Taoiseach’s […]

4 years ago

“President Putin – you started this war, you are leading this war, you can stop this war.” Acting icon Arnold Schwarzenegger has delivered a passionate address to the Russian people in a bid to separate fact from fiction. In a 10-minute video distributed on numerous social media channels in an attempt to reach the Russian […]

4 years ago

Let’s go. It’s time to test some very specific Irish knowledge. As with part one of this quiz, we’ll provide you with a snippet from the Wikipedia of a well-known Irish individual. All we ask of you is to match the information to the human being in question. Away you go…

4 years ago

Celebrate your patriotism with some movies. St Patrick’s Day 2022 is here. You’re either out celebrating or indoors avoiding it altogether. You do you. How about some movies, though? Here’s the most interesting options on your TV screen today and tonight… Die Another Day – RTÉ One – 3.20pm Because what screams ‘Paddy’s Day!’ louder than […]

4 years ago

Over 7,000 Ukrainian citizens have arrived into Ireland since the Russian invasion began. Some hotels in Ireland are cancelling bookings due to the influx of Ukrainian refugees arriving into the country. Over 7,000 refugees have arrived into Ireland as of Thursday, 17 March. According to the Department of Children, 2,589 people who have fled war-torn […]

4 years ago

A breakthrough may be on the cards, yet fears remain. Ukrainian and Russian officials have reportedly made significant progress on potentially bringing their conflict to a close. 21 days since Russia invaded Ukraine under the auspices of a “special military operation”, both sides are said to have found common ground on a “tentative” 15-point peace […]

4 years ago

A new documentary airs on RTÉ One on Wednesday. One year on from an initial documentary project examining the historic practice of illegal adoptions in Ireland, RTÉ is set to present new in-depth analysis on the difficult subject. RTÉ Investigates: Ireland’s Illegal Adoptions – Still Searching will reveal how many adoptees, 12 months on, continue […]

4 years ago

The very best in Irish talent will be celebrated. St. Patrick’s Day is upon us, so you know what that means. Why yes, The Late Late Show is pivoting to patriotism. With the strains of ‘Ireland’s Call’ still ringing in our ears from weeks ago, Ryan Tubridy will go even further on the Irish pride […]

4 years ago

Russian forces “have already begun to understand that they will not achieve anything by war”, said President Zelensky. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that peace negotiations with Russian officials are progressing, noting that the latest round of talks featured “more realistic” dialogue. Speaking in his latest address on Tuesday night, Zelensky said that the […]

4 years ago

100% and you’re going to WrestleMania… Hailing from Parts Unknown, this quiz is here to grasp you by the throat, hoist you high into the air, slam you to the canvas and cover you for the impressive pin-fall victory. In a manner of speaking. It’s pretty simple, guys. We name a finishing move by a […]

4 years ago

The incident took place last month. Five people have been arrested following incidents of public order and assault which occurred outside a fast food outlet in Mayo in February. The incident took place on the Dalton Street area of Claremorris between 2.40am and 3am in the early hours of Sunday, 6 February. On Tuesday morning […]

4 years ago