Your Say

Daily Poll

Poll: Are you going away this Bank Holiday weekend?

IT’S A BRAND new bank holiday weekend.

This holiday is being designated “in recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic”, the Government said in a statement last year.

This morning we want to know: Are you going away this Bank Holiday weekend?

Yes
No
I wish

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See Results

Saturday 4 February

Today's Top Stories

# Dublin Airport

Ryanair calls for government intervention as flights diverted from Dublin due to drones

# war effort

Western allies pledge precision rockets and missile systems to help Ukrainian war effort

# Breeding

Gardaí seize six dogs in Sligo in joint operation with ISPCA

# Refugees

Minister asks sports bodies to help provide refugee accommodation during 'time of extreme need'

# spying claims

Suspected Chinese spy balloon over US will be 'taken care of', says Biden

Show more Top Stories

# spying claims

Suspected Chinese spy balloon over US will be 'taken care of', says Biden

Biden was initially wanted the surveillance balloon to be blown out of the sky, but was advised this could be hazardous to people on the ground.

18.5k

Updated

42 minutes ago

# Breeding

Gardaí seize six dogs in Sligo in joint operation with ISPCA

A German Shepard Malamute, four American Staffordshire Terriers and one mixed-breed dog are now in the care of the ISPCA.

3.2k

58 minutes ago

# Dublin Airport

Ryanair calls for government intervention as flights diverted from Dublin due to drones

Flights were also diverted yesterday for a short time due to a drone sighting.

15.5k

Updated

1 hour ago

# Ukraine

Bacik says that lack of information from government on asylum seekers is helping far-right

The Dublin Bay South TD has stated that a ‘NPHET-style’ public information campaign should be launched to combat disinformation.

3.1k

1 hour ago

Sponsored

5 great things to do in Dublin to make the most of the February Bank Holiday

Not sure what to do this weekend? We’ve teamed up with Absolut Vodka to bring you some bank holiday ideas.

# war effort

Western allies pledge precision rockets and missile systems to help Ukrainian war effort

Kyiv is also asking for fighter jets.

8.3k

Updated

2 hours ago

# Job Done

Farrell's Ireland get Six Nations tilt rolling with bonus-point win in Cardiff

The visitors played some stunning rugby in the first half but had a wobble after the break.

22.9k

3 hours ago

SPOTLIGHT

Island Nation

Investigation reveals islanders waiting 25 years for policies to thrive and not just survive

PODCAST

Is the State ignoring island depopulation?

HOUSING CONSTRAINTS

'Serious risk’ for islanders trying to sustain populations

'FRAGMENTED & UNPREDICTABLE'

Healthcare services failing island communities

'ON ITS KNEES'

Future of island fishers on a knife edge

# freezing cold

Temperatures to drop as low as -51 degrees Celsius as US and Canada experience 'Arctic blast'

Frostbite to exposed skin can occur within five minutes in such conditions.

20.4k

4 hours ago

# Derailed

Residents evacuated as train derailment causes large fire in Ohio

The train was carrying a variety of freight from Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania, rail operator Norfolk Southern said.

5.5k

4 hours ago

# Perth

Shark kills teenage girl in Western Australia

The girl was pulled from the water but pronounced dead at the scene after efforts to revive her failed.

24.0k

6 hours ago

# sport ireland campus

Planning permission granted for Ireland's first indoor velodrome

The facility will include 12 badminton courts and the new headquarters for Cycling Ireland and Badminton Ireland.

30.5k

7 hours ago

# Refugees

Minister asks sports bodies to help provide refugee accommodation during 'time of extreme need'

Sports Minister Catherine Martin has written to over 70 sporting bodies and organisations to seek assistance.

26.9k

8 hours ago

# partnership

A very Irish love story behind Hull's Premier League ambitions

Music, GAA and childhood sweetheart form bedrock of Sean McLoughlin’s rise under guidance of Liam Rosenior.

13.8k

9 hours ago

# Your Say

Poll: Are you going away this Bank Holiday weekend?

Let us know.

19.9k

9 hours ago

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Defence Forces issues, cocaine seizure and Ireand’s Eurovision entry.

4.9k

10 hours ago

SPOTLIGHT

Voices

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

Magic of music

Music can unlock memories and evoke emotions for people with dementia

Lisa Kelly

Economics

Why news headlines about Irish GDP are still irritatingly misleading

Ciarán Casey

E-scooters

Please legislate to keep e-scooters off footpaths

Anne Marie Kearney

Sultans of Ping

It was a crazy sight to behold – every gig was exciting

Paul McDermott

Listen Now

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

Apple Soundcloud Google Podcasts Spotify

# Explainer

Explainer: What is the difference between ‘economic migrants’, ‘refugees’ and 'asylum-seekers'?

False claims about asylum seekers often use terms in confusing and contradictory ways

11.2k

10 hours ago

# memphis

Sixth officer fired after beating death of Tyre Nichols

Five Memphis officers have already been fired and charged with second-degree murder in Mr Nichols’ death.

8.8k

10 hours ago

# operation tara

Organised crime gardaí seize €700k of cocaine in Dublin

A man in his 30s was also arrested.

15.4k

11 hours ago

# impasse

Nobody really to blame for Taylor's Croke Park night falling through

Sometimes, things don’t work out. It’s just a pity that we had gotten our hopes up.

19.6k

11 hours ago

# cleared

Jury clears Musk of wrongdoing related to 2018 Tesla tweets

The trial pitted Tesla investors represented in a class-action lawsuit against Mr Musk.

4.6k

11 hours ago

# Opening Day

Gatland's return gives Wales bounce but Ireland are deserved favourites

Andy Farrell’s men will be targetting a Six Nations title and it all starts in Cardiff this afternoon.

8.9k

12 hours ago

Voices

Recipes: Pastry chef Shane Smith has some seasonal dishes for you to try

If baked cheese and tasty biscuits work for you, you’ve come to the right place.

8.8k

12 hours ago

# Trucking for Creeslough

Truck run organised by one of the first responders to Creeslough tragedy taking place today

It’s being organised by Colin Kilpatrick, who was one of the first people on the scene the day of the explosion.

10.2k

12 hours ago

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# troops abroad

Lebanon troops on what the military needs: 'Pay could be better - we're months away from home'

The coming week marks the first anniversary of the Commission on the Defences Forces report.

12.6k

19 hours ago

Yesterday

3rd February 2023

# eurovision 2023

Eurosong result: Dublin band Wild Youth to represent Ireland at Eurovision

The song contest will take place in Liverpool on 13 May.

70.8k

19 hours ago

# Reach For the Stars

Jupiter has just broken the record for most moons in the solar system

It’s taken out Saturn.

17.7k

20 hours ago

# Up and Running

Ireland U20s get Six Nations campaign off to winning start after 10-try thriller in Wales

Richie Murphy’s side played some brilliant attacking rugby at Colwyn Bay.

31.5k

Updated

20 hours ago

Sponsored

The #StandStrong movement for Women's Aid needs your help this bank holiday

Here’s how you can get involved and show solidarity with women subjected to domestic abuse.

# Summit

EU prepares more Russia sanctions as Kremlin readies offensive

Top EU officials met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv today.

19.4k

Updated

21 hours ago

# eurovision 2023

Hearing from the six artists hoping to end Ireland's 25 years of Eurovision hurt

Tonight’s Eurosong will decide Ireland’s Eurovision 2023 contestant.

30.7k

Updated

21 hours ago

# News Fix

Here's What Happened Today: Friday

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

4.5k

22 hours ago

# No replay

Glen withdraw appeal against Kilmacud's All-Ireland club final win

The club have stated they “do not believe the conditions exist for a replay to be contested.”

51.6k

22 hours ago

# Air Traffic

Flights briefly diverted from Dublin Airport due to drone activity

The affected flights included arrivals from London, Alicante, Glasgow and Malaga.

19.9k

22 hours ago

# Transfer

KBC closes major deal with Bank of Ireland ahead of Irish market exit

Bank of Ireland is acquiring substantially all of KBC Bank Ireland’s performing loan assets and deposits.

16.9k

23 hours ago

Voices

Opinion: Enough talk - we need to decriminalise the possession of drugs for personal use

Criminologist Dr Ian Marder proposes a paradigm shift away from criminalising drug use and towards a health-led approach.

6.6k

23 hours ago

# Inquest

Date set for inquest into death of Coast Guard volunteer Caitriona Lucas

The inquest will be held on 12 April.

11.8k

Fri 7:19 PM

# ethics probe

Labour submits ethics complaint against former junior minister Damien English

Damien English resigned as a junior minister in January.

13.1k

Fri 6:29 PM

# Monkey Business

Man who stole two monkeys from Dallas Zoo arrested after visiting city aquarium

The two missing monkeys were discovered in an abandoned home 25 kilometres away.

14.6k

Fri 5:52 PM

# food recall

Check the labels: More batches of raw chicken recalled over Salmonella risk

The recall was issued by the FSAI earlier today.

44.0k

Fri 5:01 PM

# Test

Know your sport? Take our weekly quiz

How closely were you paying attention to the sporting headlines in recent days?

24.9k

Fri 5:00 PM

# Belfast

Martin 'very anxious' that power sharing institutions are restored as quickly as possible

The Tánaiste says the meetings with the parties in Northern Ireland were ‘constructive’.

5.2k

Fri 4:57 PM

# Tune in

Here's your essential TV sport guide for this Bank Holiday weekend

Plenty to get stuck into over the next few days.

26.6k

Fri 4:56 PM