Ireland’s daily broadsheet and online publication
Glen Hansard has died after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Lucan, on the outskirts of Dublin, in the early hours of 29 July 2026. His management has confirmed the 56-year-olds death. Hansard has won an Academy Award for "Falling Slowly," fronted The Frames and acted in The Commitments and Once.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have acquired Strancally Castle in County Waterford, a 440-acre Gothic estate. The off-market deal, valued at roughly €20-30 million, will see the castle serve as a base during visits to Ireland, where Meta operates its EU headquarters. The purchase follows a pattern of tech billionaires buying Irish castles, underscoring Ireland’s appeal as a strategic base for global firms.
Ireland has requested that UEFA separate it from Israel in future Nations League draws. UEFA has said requests are evaluated case by case and this is unlikely to be approved given no direct conflict. The Republic of Ireland and Israel are scheduled to meet in September fixtures, with one match to be played behind closed doors in Serbia.
Sally Rooney has agreed with publisher Faber that her books will no longer be supplied in the UK because current UK terrorism legislation has made it impossible for the publisher to pass UK earnings to her after she pledged to fund Palestine Action. E‑books have been removed; some physical stock remains. The Supreme Court will hear an appeal next month.
Portadown’s Drumcree dispute has intensified as legal actions intersect with police decisions. A judge has ruled on the legality of government intervention to stop a contentious Orange Order parade, with security concerns cited as the decisive factor.