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#Insight

A specially curated collection of content highlights from across the Irish Examiner.

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Martin Farrell and his brother Michael standing outside Widow Scallan’s pub, where the attack took place in 1994. </p>

spotlight

Answers sought over killing during UVF's attempted bombing in 1994

In act described as 'mindless savagery' at the time, Martin Doherty was shot dead during an UVF attack at the Widow Scallan's pub in Dublin, writes Mick Clifford

<p>Minna Murphy and her son Ronan pack freshly harvested vegetables in the sorting room at Our Farm at Bushy Park near Kildinan in East Cork. Pictures: Chani Anderson</p>

spotlight

Going Dutch: Meet the Cork volunteer farmers growing their own 'gorgeous' organic vegetables

Michael Clifford

SMick Clifford: Political abuse is rising — and Ireland risks losing the people democracy needs

Who owns the land? The decades-old dispute unfolding on Achill Island

S spotlight

Who owns the land? The decades-old dispute unfolding on Achill Island

Suzanne Harrington

Suzanne Harrington: The Irish artists on Ed Sheeran’s tour did a very traditional Irish thing — they said no

Tommy Barker: I'm back in love with Cork's urban core — What are your favourite city sights?

development and construction

Tommy Barker: I'm back in love with Cork's urban core — What are your favourite city sights?

Yotam Ottolenghi: 'I don’t think food should be used as a tool of war'

Yotam Ottolenghi: 'I don’t think food should be used as a tool of war'

From tahini and sumac to his famous colourful salads, Yotam Ottolenghi has transformed the way many of us eat at home. As he prepares to publish his 12th cookbook, he tells Jordan Mooney why his focus has shifted to keeping things simpler

Sun, 13 Sep, 2026

Meet the new generation of farmers adapting to an evolving world: 'It’s a very different way of farming'

Meet the new generation of farmers adapting to an evolving world: 'It’s a very different way of farming'

From direct-to-consumer beef to TikTok careers, young farmers are finding innovative ways to keep family farms viable

Sat, 12 Sep, 2026

‘This looks interesting’: The Google search that led to Killarney Brewing's €5.5m rescue

S ‘This looks interesting’: The Google search that led to Killarney Brewing's €5.5m rescue

Swiss owner Spirit Capital plans to revive beer, gin and hospitality before developing a premium whiskey brand for international markets

Sat, 12 Sep, 2026

Eoin Warner: Nature is my refuge in times of intense grief — and times of joy and wonder

Eoin Warner: Nature is my refuge in times of intense grief — and times of joy and wonder

In 1979, at just two years of age, Eoin Warner lost his father when an oil tanker exploded in Bantry Bay. The natural world would become his refuge. In his new memoir, he writes vividly about his deep connection with nature

Sat, 12 Sep, 2026

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: The lasting impact of 9/11 on the people of New York

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: The lasting impact of 9/11 on the people of New York

In New York, people are still picking up the pieces of their lives, with many of those who helped on that day left to fight for justice.

Listen | Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

STATUE OF LIBERTY WORLD TRADE CENTER

S 25 years on from 9/11: Shock, grief, and resilience as New York is attacked from a clear blue sky

Reporting from New York on the 25th anniversary, Paul Hosford hears stories of people who lived through the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center on this day in 2001

Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

SEPTEMBER 11 ANNIVERSARY

S 25 years on from 9/11: How New York’s firefighters paid the highest price on September 11

From Father Mychal Judge to the 343 firefighters who died, the FDNY’s losses reshaped a department and its enduring bond

Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

25 years on from 9/11: The profound loss suffered by New York’s Irish community

S 25 years on from 9/11: The profound loss suffered by New York’s Irish community

From Ground Zero to memorials in Kildare and Cork, Ireland has a deep connection to those lost on September 11

Fri, 11 Sep, 2026

From the Athenaeum to the Opera House: A history of Cork's finest venue

From the Athenaeum to the Opera House: A history of Cork's finest venue

In advance of his talk at the Cork Histories conference at UCC, Pat Duggan looks back on the early days of the riverside venue

Wed, 09 Sep, 2026

'I fully intend to sing again': Jimmy Crowley updates on his health and future plans

'I fully intend to sing again': Jimmy Crowley updates on his health and future plans

Cancer and a stroke are just two of the blows the Cork music legend has had in recent times, but he's now back home in Cobh and keeping himself busy as ever

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Six of Ireland's greatest female athletes speak about their role models and inspirations

Six of Ireland's greatest female athletes speak about their role models and inspirations

From athletics and boxing to football, camogie and racing, Ireland’s champions reveal the women who helped shape their journeys

Sun, 06 Sep, 2026

'It's crying out for a film': The most audacious Irish escape you've never heard of

'It's crying out for a film': The most audacious Irish escape you've never heard of

Colin Sheridan meets author Michael B. Barry to hear the story of Catalpa.

Sat, 05 Sep, 2026

Annmarie O'Connor: What Parkinson’s forced me to confront about control, food and myself

Annmarie O'Connor: What Parkinson’s forced me to confront about control, food and myself

A Parkinson’s diagnosis brought unexpected relief from old patterns, but also forced Annmarie O’Connor to confront them anew

Sat, 05 Sep, 2026

The Mick Clifford Podcast Live in Cork: Paul Howard on what a united Ireland would look like

The Mick Clifford Podcast Live in Cork: Paul Howard on what a united Ireland would look like

Paul Howard, the creator of Ross O’Carroll-Kelly, has written a satirical novel set in a government department charged with planning for a united Ireland. He is this week's guest on The Mick Clifford Podcast which was recorded in Waterstones in Cork in front of a live audience.

Listen | Thu, 03 Sep, 2026

50 years on, how a Cork couple became the big cheese of farming

50 years on, how a Cork couple became the big cheese of farming

When their cow was producing too much milk in 1976, Veronica and Norman Steele made a life-changing decision, says Robert Hume

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Fergus Finlay: In 10 years our population may return to pre-Famine levels — I hope I'm here to see it

S Fergus Finlay: In 10 years our population may return to pre-Famine levels — I hope I'm here to see it

I love history, but it doesn’t usually make me angry. Emotionally, spittingly angry. Maybe it’s taken me too long to understand what things really mean. But that’s how I left the Skibbereen Famine Centre the other day.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Crash on M9 in Co Kildare

Sara Cullen: I work with young offenders — they watch and learn from adults

When children cause devastating accidents, the internet turns on them and attacks them and their parents

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

'Growing up, I never saw a female bus driver... so I became one'

'Growing up, I never saw a female bus driver... so I became one'

As Dublin Bus launches a recruitment campaign for more female drivers, Cara O'Doherty talks to women who have succeeded in the company

Mon, 31 Aug, 2026

Meet Traitors contestant Fionula Linehan — also known as the Everyman's first female panto dame

Meet Traitors contestant Fionula Linehan — also known as the Everyman's first female panto dame

Deirdre McArdle talks to Fionula Linehan (now a contestant on Traitors Ireland) and Catherine Mahon Buckley about bringing the Everyman’s first female panto dame to life

Mon, 31 Aug, 2026

Kyla Cobbler: 'If you grew up Catholic, the idea of asking for more can be hard to come to terms with'

Kyla Cobbler: 'If you grew up Catholic, the idea of asking for more can be hard to come to terms with'

With raw honesty and her trademark humour, Kyla Cobbler’s new memoir charts her journey to self-love — and the international stage

Sun, 30 Aug, 2026

James Connolly

S Mick Clifford: James Connolly would have a thing or two to say about the modern Irish left

More than a century after his death, James Connolly’s political legacy remains claimed by a left divided over ideology, strategy and power.

Sun, 30 Aug, 2026

Clodagh Finn: The Irish flappers who gave bishops sleepless nights by embracing jazz and fashion

Clodagh Finn: The Irish flappers who gave bishops sleepless nights by embracing jazz and fashion

New research reveals how Irish women embraced jazz, fashion and dance despite bishops’ warnings about the supposed dangers of modernity

Sat, 29 Aug, 2026

How Cork couple Norma Murphy and Frankie Sheahan finally brought Oprah Winfrey to Dublin

How Cork couple Norma Murphy and Frankie Sheahan finally brought Oprah Winfrey to Dublin

The Cork couple behind Pendulum Summit reveal how persistence, connections and a little Westlife intervention secured Oprah Winfrey

Sat, 29 Aug, 2026

Sydney Swans Press Conference

Jack Anderson: Sydney Swans scandal puts AFL culture under scrutiny again

As the controversy plays out, wider questions are being asked about the AFL’s culture.

Fri, 28 Aug, 2026

Mother and Daughter Enter New College Dorm Room with Personal Belongings

My daughter is going to UCC — Which type of accommodation offers the best value for money

High rents, travel time, housemates... all things to consider when picking somewhere to live while going to college

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Arena: Well-coached teams, Cian O’Neill to Cork, two-point defence

Arena: Well-coached teams, Cian O’Neill to Cork, two-point defence

On this week's episode of Arena, Maurice Brosnan is joined by Ballincollig basketball coach Ciarán O'Sullivan

Listen | Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

My mother was 'trafficked': Daughter's search uncovers family link to Bessborough's missing children

My mother was 'trafficked': Daughter's search uncovers family link to Bessborough's missing children

Six years after her mother's death, Mary Donovan discovered she had twin siblings among the missing children of Bessborough

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

For the first time, Mayo's All-Ireland winners bring Sam Maguire to Achill Island

For the first time, Mayo's All-Ireland winners bring Sam Maguire to Achill Island

Thousands turned out for an emotional crossing of the bridge onto Achill Island, and everywhere you looked, there were tears of joy

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

'127 prison guards applied': I visited The Traitors Ireland set — here's what to expect this year

'127 prison guards applied': I visited The Traitors Ireland set — here's what to expect this year

After last year's stunning debut series, where retired prison officer Paudie Moloney excelled, The Traitors Ireland is returning. Deirdre McArdle has a tour of the set, pokes around the round table and conclave, and hears a little about this year's "not so sweary" contestants

Mon, 24 Aug, 2026

FILE PHOTO The Government is under increasing pressure to reopen live events after Dr Tony Holohan said outdoor events like Elec

Ireland's festival posters are a time capsule for music — and the country

From indie rock and international superstars to Irish acts commanding top billing, Ireland’s festival posters are time capsules of how our music — and our culture — have evolved, writes Holly Warren.

Sun, 23 Aug, 2026

Walkers on the Dingle Way above Slea Head, Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland.

S From Spain to Ireland: why overseas buyers are turning to Irish property as temperatures rise

Extreme heat, geopolitical uncertainty and political upheaval are prompting more European and American buyers to consider Irish homes

Sat, 22 Aug, 2026

Restaurant Chestnut

Restaurant Chestnut owners reveal why they are closing the Michelin-starred West Cork restaurant

Rob Krawczyk and Elaine Fleming reflect on Chestnut’s extraordinary rise, Michelin success, Covid challenges and decision to close

Sat, 22 Aug, 2026

Annmarie O'Connor: When menopause and Parkinson's overlap, you don't know which to blame

Annmarie O'Connor: When menopause and Parkinson's overlap, you don't know which to blame

Parkinson’s is unpredictable. Add menopause to the mix and deciphering what’s happening in my body becomes a daily detective exercise, Annmarie O'Connor writes

Sat, 22 Aug, 2026

CECILIA AHERN

Cecelia Ahern: I am drawn to books with heart — I don’t want to read an AI novel

As she prepares to publish her 21st book, Cecelia Ahern talks to Kathy Donaghy about the joy of creating, why AI has no place in fiction and how the removal of a love lock bridge inspired her latest novel

Fri, 21 Aug, 2026

'Cancer doesn’t wait for your 50th birthday — it didn’t wait for my 40th'

'Cancer doesn’t wait for your 50th birthday — it didn’t wait for my 40th'

Anna O’Donoghue was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39, more than a decade before the national screening programme begins. She asks why women should wait until their 50th birthday to receive a BreastCheck invitation

Fri, 21 Aug, 2026

Mick Clifford on the Healy-Rae documentary: A political soap opera turned Greek tragedy

Mick Clifford on the Healy-Rae documentary: A political soap opera turned Greek tragedy

Jerry Kennelly’s documentary turns the Healy-Rae family’s political saga into a compelling tale of loyalty, power and betrayal

Thu, 20 Aug, 2026

Arena: Wright Thompson on Conor McGregor backlash, being there and the future of sports writing

Arena: Wright Thompson on Conor McGregor backlash, being there and the future of sports writing

The renowned American sportswriter joins Maurice Brosnan on this week's episode.

Listen | Wed, 19 Aug, 2026

Tim Pope: I've shot music videos for Freddie Mercury, George Michael, and Paul McCartney

Tim Pope: I've shot music videos for Freddie Mercury, George Michael, and Paul McCartney

He squashed The Cure into a wardrobe underwater, dressed Freddie Mercury as a giant prawn, and quite literally gave Neil Young the psychedelic-patterned shirt off his back. Suzanne Harrington meets legendary music video filmmaker Tim Pope

Sun, 16 Aug, 2026

Annmarie O'Connor: Parkinson's is progressive — for me that means meeting it halfway

Annmarie O'Connor: Parkinson's is progressive — for me that means meeting it halfway

Being early onset, I’m among the estimated 10% of the Parkinson’s population who’ve been diagnosed under the age of 50

Sun, 16 Aug, 2026

'No weddings, but we will have funerals': How Adare village is preparing for Ryder Cup 2027

'No weddings, but we will have funerals': How Adare village is preparing for Ryder Cup 2027

A year out, is the County Limerick village experiencing the Ryder Cup effect yet? Gemma Tipton pays a visit

Sun, 16 Aug, 2026

Clodagh Finn: The Cork women who helped build the State were left with almost nothing

Clodagh Finn: The Cork women who helped build the State were left with almost nothing

New research uncovers the poverty, neglect and quiet desperation faced by Cork women who fought during Ireland’s revolutionary period

Sun, 16 Aug, 2026

Mick Clifford: How I almost fell for a possible AI scam

S Mick Clifford: How I almost fell for a possible AI scam

AI is being increasingly used to scam creative folk, including writers and musicians, because their work is digitally available and can be easily harvested. Mick Clifford almost became a victim of it

Sun, 16 Aug, 2026

European and local elections

S John Moran vows to run again as Limerick mayor faces rows with councillors and city traders

Limerick's first directly elected mayor faces mounting criticism over road closures, council relations and the future of the role

Sun, 16 Aug, 2026

The real threat to the Rose of Tralee isn’t its age — it’s the online abuse

S The real threat to the Rose of Tralee isn’t its age — it’s the online abuse

Former Rose Kirsten Mate Maher says online abuse risks deterring diverse contestants as Tralee prepares for its biggest week

Sun, 16 Aug, 2026