Your Say

Daily Poll

DON’T WORRY, WE won’t tell anyone.

With a little over a week left until Easter and the end of Lent, we’re wondering whether you’ve been able to stick to your Lenten vows so far.

The earthly calendar doesn’t exactly make it easy, what with St Patrick’s Day and multiple Six Nations weekends to tempt us in the intervening weeks between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.

Plenty of people also carve out personal exceptions for birthdays, Sundays, and whatever else you might be having yourself. This is a safe space and we’re not judging, we’re just curious.

So, today we want to know… Have you stuck to your Lenten promise?

I've stuck with it
I've broken it but I'm trying again
I've given up completely
Wasn't doing Lent in the first place

You've already voted

See Results

Friday 31 March

Today's Top Stories

# Unprecedented

Grand jury votes to indict Trump over hush money payments before 2016 election

An early morning commuter train passes over a bridge in Rushbrooke, Co Cork

# all ireland rail review

'It doesn't have to be expensive': Eamon Ryan says 'idle' rail lines could be revived

People stand around a structure built over an old temple well in India that collapsed yesterday.

# Indore

Death toll from India temple collapse rises to 35

Gwyneth Paltrow appearing in court in Utah

# US Courts

Gwyneth Paltrow cleared of all fault in high-profile skiing lawsuit

# Balbriggan

Three men arrested after gardaí seize cannabis herb worth over €600,000 in Co Dublin

Show more Top Stories

# DCI Caldwell

Two men arrested over attempted murder of PSNI officer in Omagh

One of the men arrested yesterday has since been released following questioning.

2 minutes ago

Good Morning

The 8 at 8 Trump indicted, Ryan’s rail review and Gwyneth Paltrow wins skiing case.

4 minutes ago

# Balbriggan

Three men arrested after gardaí seize cannabis herb worth over €600,000 in Co Dublin

Cannabis herb worth over €600,000 and €15,000 in cash was seized.

909

18 minutes ago

# Indore

Death toll from India temple collapse rises to 35

Women, children and an 18-month-old baby were among those standing on the grill covering the well when it buckled and gave way.

1.3k

29 minutes ago

DAFT.IE PROPERTY MAGAZINE

A sprawling estate with a gym, tennis court and luxury touches throughout for €1,850,000

# Greece

Greek rail inspector detained in connection with last month's train disaster

The employee was charged with the crime of ‘disruption of traffic safety’ causing the death of many people.

885

42 minutes ago

SPOTLIGHT

Voices

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

Housing crisis

We could improve our planning law – instead the public is being excluded

Alison Hough & Gavin Elliott

Cost of living

We know of 'shrinkflation' but what role is 'greedflation' playing in our economy?

Victor Duggan

Stormont

If the SDLP decline continues, Northern Ireland's politics will suffer

Emma DeSouza

Diversity

Having a therapist who understands your race, sexuality and gender is important

Niamh Jimenez

# US Courts

Gwyneth Paltrow cleared of all fault in high-profile skiing lawsuit

Following a high-profile two-week trial in Utah, jurors returned a verdict in favour of the Oscar-winning actress after just over two hours.

3.4k

44 minutes ago

# Unprecedented

Grand jury votes to indict Trump over hush money payments before 2016 election

No former or sitting US president has been charged with a crime before.

22.0k

Updated

1 hour ago

# pushback

People Before Profit to protest 'double standards' in US foreign policy as Biden visits Ireland

The US President is making a trip to Ireland next month to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

3.0k

1 hour ago

THE MORNING LEAD

'It doesn't have to be expensive': Eamon Ryan says 'idle' rail lines could be revived

A report by

Tadgh McNally

Ryan suggested that some rail lines could be reopened easily and at at low expense.

Ryan has said there are rail lines that could be opened easily and at little cost.

He said an existing lines from Rosslare, through Waterford on to Limerick Junction was one example.

All-Island Strategic Review is ready to be published should Stormont return.

9.9k

7 hours ago

Yesterday

30th March 2023

# Defence

Turkey becomes final Nato country to ratify Finland joining alliance

Finland – and Sweden – had been blocked from the alliance by Turkey and Hungary.

8.3k

8 hours ago

# Seema Banu

Inquest hears woman found dead with two children had expressed fear of being killed by husband

The bodies of Seema Banu and her two children were discovered in their home in Co Dublin on 28 October 2020.

34.5k

Updated

9 hours ago

# South William Street

Gardaí appeal for witnesses to fight in Dublin city centre last Friday

One of the men, who was in his early 30s, later died as a result of injuries during the incident.

16.6k

10 hours ago

# news roundup

Here's What Happened Today: Thursday

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

4.1k

10 hours ago

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

# jeremy renner

'I'd do it again': Jeremy Renner opens up in first interview since snowplough accident

His nephew said that he didn’t think Renner was alive after seeing him in a ‘pool of blood’ coming from his head.

21.8k

11 hours ago

# Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Cork man who bound and gagged young woman in Dublin alleyway sentenced to 10 years in prison

The judge said Fitzgerald had ‘a plan’, and had bought duct tape and a hammer that day.

24.9k

12 hours ago

# military abuse

Ex-army officer tells Dáil of offence culture & need for Chief of staff powers to suspend wrongdoers

Cathal Berry, TD, calls for discipline powers to be given to Chief of Staff to deal with alleged abusers in military.

8.2k

12 hours ago

# Equality

Taoiseach says trans people are 'no more threat than any other group in society'

The Taoiseach said today that transgender people are a “small minority” and that many are “very vulnerable people”.

9.4k

12 hours ago

# CervicalCheck

All CervicalCheck samples to be tested in US after Irish lab has accreditation suspended

The National Cervical Screening Laboratory lost its accreditation due to “administrative delays”.

14.7k

13 hours ago

# PSNI

Loyalist drug feud has led to attacks on 'homes of young children' in Co Down

Four men were arrested today after a gathering of individuals, some of them masked, in Newtownards.

9.7k

13 hours ago

# bernard phelan

Family of jailed Irishman accused of spying in Iran bring their fight to the Embassy in Dublin

Supporters showed up with pictures of 64-year-old Bernard Phelan

9.9k

14 hours ago

Evening Wrap

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

3.9k

14 hours ago

Support Us

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

Support us now Learn more

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

# Press Ombudsman

Complaints about the media on the increase relating to recent protests

Readers distinguishing between comment and fact is an issue, says Susan McKay.

12.9k

14 hours ago

# LGBT Rights

EU condemns Italian violation of same-sex parents' rights

The far-right government has ordered the city of Milan to stop registering children of same-sex couples.

14.8k

15 hours ago

# ASAI

'Environmentally friendly' lawnmowers and 'best' credit union claims fall foul of advert watchdog

The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) today released its latest Complaints Bulletin.

11.8k

15 hours ago

# Incoming

Officials now planning for Biden to arrive in Belfast on 11 April and Dublin the following day

The US President is expected to be in Ireland for a total of five days.

12.8k

15 hours ago

# Good Friday Anniversary

UK's Northern Ireland Secretary says peace 'must not be taken for granted'

MPs acknowledged the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement during a debate in the House of Commons.

4.6k

16 hours ago

# Clondalkin

Man charged with manslaughter of Dublin businessman tells court he is 'very sorry'

Ian McDonnell was fatally injured while trying to prevent the theft of his car in January 2022.

25.7k

16 hours ago

# Manchester Crown Court

Man found guilty of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool

The girl was fatally shot while at home in Liverpool last August.

13.0k

16 hours ago

# blackhawk

Several dead after two helicopters collide at Kentucky military base

Two Blackhawk helicopters crashed into each other during a routine training mission last night.

16.0k

Updated

17 hours ago

# High Court

Deputy principal says he was surprised by Enoch Burke's opposition to school request

John Galligan told the High Court that Burke had been a good teacher prior to May 2022.

22.2k

17 hours ago

# IEA

Eamon Ryan elected co-chair of International Energy Agency for 2024

2024 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Paris-based organisation that provides recommendations to shape global energy policies.

9.9k

17 hours ago

# country music

Yeehaw! The Late Late Show's Country Music special will return tomorrow night

Daniel O’Donnell, Philomena Begley, Cliona Hagan and Nathan Carter are set to unveil a new project dedicated to Big Tom on tomorrow’s show.

8.5k

17 hours ago

# Jets

Private jets in firing line as report shows over 6,000 flights left Irish airports last year

People Before Profit is to bring a Bill to the Dáil after Easter to ban private jets in Irish air space.

18.7k

Updated

17 hours ago

# Russia

American journalist Evan Gershkovich arrested in Russia on spying charge

Announcement of his detention provoked criticism from Western authorities and media freedom groups.

10.6k

Updated

18 hours ago

# eviction ban

Barry Cowen sorry 'if people find' comparison between eviction ban and free sweets offensive

‘It wasn’t my intention to offend them. Sure what more much more do you want me to say?’ the TD told Claire Byrne.

13.8k

18 hours ago

# kicking off

Ceann Comhairle threatens to suspend Dáil amid shouting, says public would be 'disgusted'

The Ceann Comhairle got to his feet to call for order after a tense exchange between Pearse Doherty and Micheál Martin

14.6k

18 hours ago

# meals programme

Government announces plans to extend hot meal programme to all primary schools by 2030

The programme will also be extended to all Deis schools by September.

11.4k

Updated

18 hours ago

# Courts

Galway farmer Michael Scott found guilty of manslaughter of his aunt Chrissie Treacy

It was the prosecution’s case that Scott deliberately ran over Treacy following a long-running dispute over land.

27.9k

18 hours ago

# Public Transport

Changes to BusConnects Cork plan unveiled as fresh public consultation opens

BusConnects Cork is a €600 million programme of work that aims to improve the city’s bus system.

6.4k

19 hours ago