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Poll: Will you celebrate St Brigid's Day today?

TODAY IS ST Brigid’s Day.

With its origins in the Celtic festival of Imbolc, St Brigid’s Day was the festival of fertility and marked the beginning of spring. You can read more about it on the National History Museum’s site here.

Typically, it’s the day Irish children make crosses from rushes and reeds to honour the feast day of St Brigid.

This morning we want to know: Will you celebrate St Brigid’s Day today?

Yes
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Thursday 2 February

Today's Top Stories

# Demonstrations

Fianna Fáil politicians raise concerns about anti-immigrant protests at parliamentary meeting

# Andrew Gearns

Coroner says unresolved IT glitch a 'serious issue for entire prison system' at Cork man's inquest

# Protocol

EU reports 'very constructive' Northern Ireland Protocol talks but says there is no deal yet

# disability payments

State 'didn't have a leg to stand on' over non-payment of disability allowance, says Varadkar

# redress scheme

'Mothers had their children ripped out of their arms': 24,000 people excluded from redress

Show more Top Stories

THE MORNING LEAD

Ireland fares worst at managing protected nature sites in new EU report

A report by

Niall Sargent

Out of 10 countries, Ireland underperformed in every measure aimed at protecting at-risk species such as the curlew and corncrake.

Report examined the effectiveness of measures to protect vulnerable species in Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

No Irish case had targeted, measurable and time-bound conservation measures to deliver the favourable status of species

"Incomplete and/or irregular” monitoring of many species also found

842

2 hours ago

Yesterday

1st February 2023

# russian invasion

Two people killed by Russian strike on residential building in eastern Ukraine

At least seven people were wounded, according to the regional governor.

1.4k

3 hours ago

# downsized

Katie Taylor's Croke Park dream is over due to costs, with homecoming set for 3Arena

GAA HQ has proven too expensive to rent for a Taylor homecoming bout, with promoter Eddie Hearn expressing his frustration.

25.6k

4 hours ago

# anthony lowe

US cops fatally shoot double amputee fleeing from them

36-year-old Anthony Lowe abandoned his wheelchair as officers point their weapons at him after allegations he had stabbed someone.

19.3k

4 hours ago

Leap Card users can bring a +1 for free this February Bank Holiday

Sponsored

QUIZ: How much do you know about Irish dairy?

Take the National Dairy Council’s quiz to test your dairy knowledge.

# ozzy osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne cancels tour as he's not 'physcially capable' of performing

Osbourne was due to play the 3Arena in Dublin on 10 June, as well as gigs in the UK and Europe.

10.1k

4 hours ago

# redress scheme

'Mothers had their children ripped out of their arms': 24,000 people excluded from redress

The Mother and Baby Home redress scheme was sharply criticised by the opposition in the Dáil this evening.

12.1k

Updated 5 hours ago

# Court

Man with over 150 previous convictions sentenced to three years for burglary

Stephen Maher pleaded guilty to theft at an office at Point Square in Dublin 1.

13.5k

5 hours ago

# The Fix

Here's What Happened Today: Wednesday

Here’s your round-up of what made the headlines today.

3.9k

5 hours ago

# dog control

Politicians hear calls for 'mandatory' theory test for prospective dog owners

A working group on dog control was established by the Government earlier this month.

8.0k

5 hours ago

# tyre nichols

Funeral for police beating victim Tyre Nichols underway in Memphis

Five officers involved in the beating have been fired and are facing murder charges.

2.8k

6 hours ago

# Wonderkid

'He would do things that would just make you say, ‘Wow!''

Naas RFC man Jamie Osborne has risen swiftly through the ranks into the Ireland squad.

24.4k

6 hours ago

# hyperemisis gravidarum

Minister urges doctors to lobby drug companies so women can easily access pregnancy sickness meds

Women, doctors and pharmacists have criticised the over-complicated system set up.

4.2k

6 hours ago

SPOTLIGHT

Voices

A wide mix of viewpoints, analysis and first-hand experiences

Misinformation

How will Irish politicians cope with an increasingly angry electorate?

Larry Donnelly

Trauma

The law on pregnancy concealment is outdated and cruel to women

Lorraine Clifford-Lee

The squeezed middle

What we should learn from the Great Recession of 2007-2013

Yekaterina Chzhen, Ryan Alberto Ó Giobúin and Stefanie Sprong

Feast day

Make no mistake – history shows us that Brigit was a boss

Dr Niamh Wycherley

Listen Now

The Explainer helping make sense of challenging news stories every single week.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts:

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# Operation Thor

Man arrested and vehicles seized as part of probe into burglaries in mid-Leinster

The arrest and seizures were made as part of an investigation carried out under Operation Thor.

8.8k

6 hours ago

# 3RD LEVEL

CAO deadline closes with over 78k applications

A Change of Course Choices facility will become available on the CAO website this Friday.

6.2k

7 hours ago

# Corruption

Ukraine searches residences of billionaire and ex-minister in clampdown on corruption

The searches have targeted influential billionaire Igor Kolomoisky and former interior minister Arsen Avakov.

10.2k

7 hours ago

# drugs policy

'The war on drugs does not work': Fianna Fáil TDs call for reform to drugs policy

A report from the Oireachtas Justice Committee called for an acceleration of decriminalisation.

8.0k

7 hours ago

# Classified Documents

No classified documents found in search of Biden's beach home in Delaware, lawyer says

It’s the latest stage of an operation to track down improperly stored classified documents.

5.3k

Updated 7 hours ago

# Dublin

Man arrested after attempted vehicle theft at The George nightclub

A man in his late teens was arrested and enquiries are ongoing.

13.9k

8 hours ago

# Finance committee

Ulster Bank to freeze 2,000 active accounts after 'last attempt' to engage with customers

Ulster Bank and KBC appeared before the Oireachtas finance committee today.

21.1k

Updated 8 hours ago

# BACKLOG

Almost 50k Learner drivers to wait 19 weeks for a test, says RSA

The national average waiting time for a driving test is currently 19 weeks, almost double the RSA’s target.

20.5k

Updated 8 hours ago

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Contribute to The Journal to keep our news free &
open for everyone, always

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# Apology

UK MP apologises for describing Israeli government as ‘fascist’

Kim Johnson also said she recognised the use of the term, ‘apartheid state’, was ‘insensitive’.

7.5k

9 hours ago

Evening Wrap

The 5 at 5 Five minutes, five stories, five o’clock…

2.9k

9 hours ago

# mattletico

Opportunity and challenge - what Matt Doherty can expect at Atletico Madrid

Doherty’s move to Madrid is as challenging as it is intriguing.

11.1k

Updated 9 hours ago

# Courts

Man who stabbed former boss 19 times found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity

Neil O’Dowd was remanded on continuing bail until 15 February.

16.4k

9 hours ago

# Kinshasa

Pope Francis slams 'brutal atrocities' of conflict during Congo visit

The pontiff also appealed to those who ‘plunder, scourge and destabilise’ the turbulent region to lay down their weapons.

3.2k

9 hours ago

# Romania

Andrew Tate to be detained for a further 30 days, Romanian court rules

The 36-year-old former kickboxer is being held on suspicion of organised crime and human trafficking.

12.9k

Updated 9 hours ago

# Protocol

EU reports 'very constructive' Northern Ireland Protocol talks but says there is no deal yet

The Times earlier reported the EU has accepted a plan that would avoid routine checks on goods going into the region.

29.6k

Updated 9 hours ago

# Look Up

Green comet to make its closest approach to Earth in 50,000 years tonight

The comet will be visible in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

13.8k

10 hours ago

# Finglas

Gardaí issue fresh appeal over Finglas assault due to 'significant volume of disinformation'

It comes in the wake of erroneous claims made by right-wing groups that a migrant was involved in carrying out the assault.

31.2k

10 hours ago

# Goat

'I'm retiring, for good' - NFL quarterback great Tom Brady bows out

Quarter-back calls it a day with seven Super Bowl victories.

15.7k

11 hours ago

# Active travel

National Transport Authority allocates €290m for walking and cycling infrastructure

The investment will fund around 1,200 Active Travel projects.

8.7k

11 hours ago

# Arrest

Special Detective Unit gardaí arrest prominent anti-refugee protester after garda threat video

Graham Carey is being held at a south Dublin garda station.

20.5k

12 hours ago

# Dáil

Legislation that would allow gardaí to wear body cameras set to be tabled today

The Bill will allow for recording from body worn cameras, helicopters, aircraft, Garda dogs, drones, mobile devices and tablets.

5.4k

12 hours ago

# Cancer

People in Ireland's most deprived areas have higher risk of dying from cancer, report finds

The study also found differences in the types of cancers diagnosed in the most and least deprived areas.

5.4k

12 hours ago

# disability payments

State 'didn't have a leg to stand on' over non-payment of disability allowance, says Varadkar

A secret Cabinet memo revealed that the State could have been liable for up to €700 million in DPMA claims.

14.6k

12 hours ago

# colm horkan

New jury to be sworn in at Stephen Silver murder trial after initial jury was discharged

A note was handed to the judge this morning to say that one of the jurors had a difficulty serving.

16.1k

12 hours ago

# nursing home charges

Public Accounts Committee to probe whether Government hid information about nursing home charges

The committee is meeting this afternoon to discuss the strategy.

6.6k

Updated 13 hours ago

# Roderic O'Gorman

Minister: 'No level of consultation' would change views of some on housing asylum seekers

Minister Roderic O’Gorman also expressed concern about the impact of some ‘untrue, online rumours’.

17.0k

Updated 13 hours ago