#Rural Affairs

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Irish government cabinet meeting
Leo Varadkar previously warned against 'creating an artificial divide' between rural and urban Ireland
During a 2021 speech, made when he was tánaiste, he said he had always 'rejected attempts to create such a split

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

'Sword of Damocles' hangs over North Cork village
'Sword of Damocles' hangs over North Cork village
Villages under threat because of a lack of critical water infrastructure, councillors claim

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Emma deSouza: So much more needs to be done to support rural resettlement
Emma deSouza: So much more needs to be done to support rural resettlement
It is a privilege to be a part of a rural community, but it's not without its challenges

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

The Mick Clifford Podcast: How Iveragh is fighting back against rural depopulation
The Mick Clifford Podcast: How Iveragh is fighting back against rural depopulation
South Kerry leaders outline how the Iveragh peninsula is responding to rural decline and fears for GAA clubs

 Listen | Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

 Listen |
Trillick v Crossmaglen Rangers - AIB Ulster GAA Football Senior Club Championship Quarter-Final
Irish Examiner view: South Kerry taskforce on population decline is a welcome initiative
Taskforce could become a template for all of rural Ireland, addressing a problem affecting communities up and down the country

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

'We know that it is a viable business': Cork residents plan to buy last pub in village
'We know that it is a viable business': Cork residents plan to buy last pub in village
The village has a population of fewer than 100 people and the parish has approximately 400

Sat, 08 Nov, 2025

Irish Examiner view: Garda appointment is a welcome step to tackling rural crime
Irish Examiner view: Garda appointment is a welcome step to tackling rural crime
The appointment of Fermoy-based Superintendent Michael Corbett as An Garda Síochána's rural crime lead will help reassure communities that feel vulnerable

Thu, 16 Oct, 2025

Cork superintendent appointed as first-ever Rural Crime Lead
Cork superintendent appointed as first-ever Rural Crime Lead
Fermoy-based Supt Michael Corbett has identified farm machinery theft, illegal hunting, burglary, and drugs as some of the key areas he is looking to tackle.

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Energy storage system or battery container unit
Rural communities ‘deserve transparency’ on energy storage developments
Senator raises concerns about proposed battery energy storage system in Newmarket, Co Cork

Fri, 03 Oct, 2025

Country's first state-of-the-art wildlife rehab and training hospital planned for Co Meath
Country's first state-of-the-art wildlife rehab and training hospital planned for Co Meath
Specialist centre will be situated on four acres and will include a veterinary hospital dedicated to wildlife, and a teaching area for vets from across the country

Sun, 21 Sep, 2025

Something to celebrate: Kerry village buys the local pub rather than let it disappear
Something to celebrate: Kerry village buys the local pub rather than let it disappear
As one local man says: 'There would be nothing in the place if you didn’t have somewhere to meet. It is the centre of what is a very rural community' 

Fri, 19 Sep, 2025

Close-up on school lunches at the cafeteria
'No new legislation' on hot school lunches, says food safety body
Suppliers have said that updated guidance has been delivered to suppliers by a division of the Department of Education

Fri, 05 Sep, 2025

Vanished without a trace: What happened to Kerry’s missing farmer Michael Gaine?
Vanished without a trace: What happened to Kerry’s missing farmer Michael Gaine?
As days pass and hope fades, a Kerry community struggles with heartbreak, suspicion, and the chilling silence of loss

Sun, 24 Aug, 2025

Inside Alcatraz Prison - Row of Bars and Cells
Cork Crime: People in County Cork have strong communities. All they need is local gardaí
Here we provide a station-by-station breakdown of Cork crime stats — and journalist Ann Murphy talks to gardaí, public representatives, and community activists about their concerns

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Two bar stools
Two pubs a week now closing in Ireland, one in three in Cork and Limerick gone since 2005
A new report shows a quarter of Irish pubs have shut since 2005, with rural areas worst affected

Mon, 14 Jul, 2025

Sinn Fein launch alternative health budget
Opposition give a guarded welcome to Taoiseach's pledge to restore local councils
'There’s no point restoring them if they don’t have powers and resources': Sinn Féin and Social Democrats respond to Micheál Martin's interview in the 'Irish Examiner'

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

Achill island coastal scenery
Colin Sheridan: Better late than never for Achill’s broadband lifeline
State has finally delivered on the promise of reliable fast broadband connectivity

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

Fox hunting
'Unprecedented': Two TDs will oppose first stage of fox hunt bill 
The bill is being opposed by Danny Healy-Rae and Michael Collins, who said if hunting foxes was banned, the next thing is there would be people seeking to protect rats or mice

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Christina McHugh: As Storm Éowyn swept in, I prayed that the roof would remain on the house
Christina McHugh: As Storm Éowyn swept in, I prayed that the roof would remain on the house
We’re into day eight as I write this without power, and up to a few minutes ago, without water

Sat, 01 Feb, 2025

Donal Hickey: Remember the 'Big Freeze' of 1963? Jog your memory with these images
Donal Hickey: Remember the 'Big Freeze' of 1963? Jog your memory with these images
Blocked roads, frozen seas, school closures... and hard work and good neighbours

Thu, 16 Jan, 2025

Large scale peat excavation with machinery from a bog in County Tipperary which can be used for garden centre fertiliser Ireland
Election 2024: Seamus Boland — it all boils down to the economy and rural Ireland has been sidelined
CEO of Irish Rural Link tells the Irish Examiner what he feels needs to be done by the next government to address the challenges facing those who live and work in rural areas

 Listen | Fri, 22 Nov, 2024

 Listen |
'My Message to the next Dáil' podcast: Seamus Boland on securing sustainable rural communities
'My Message to the next Dáil' podcast: Seamus Boland on securing sustainable rural communities
We also travelled to a local mart to gauge the opinions of people on this issue

 Listen | Fri, 22 Nov, 2024

 Listen |
Election 2024: Rural Life — Few want to engage on election in Macroom
Election 2024: Rural Life — Few want to engage on election in Macroom
If the level of apathy in Macroom is anything to go by, the system better watch out. Mick Clifford asks locals what are the main election issues for them

 Listen | Fri, 22 Nov, 2024

 Listen |
Boarded up shop
Much dereliction in our towns and villages, but also glimmers of hope
Would ‘derelict housing swat teams’, like those in operation in the US, help speed up the process of purchasing houses and other buildings left vacant by absentee, or disinterested, property owners?

Thu, 19 Sep, 2024

Derelict pub
More than 2,000 pubs shut down since the peak of the Celtic Tiger, report finds
The pub sector in rural areas has been more vulnerable to closures than those in urban locations

Wed, 28 Aug, 2024

Fine Gael eyes John Mullins as third candidate for Cork South Central seat
Fine Gael eyes John Mullins as third candidate for Cork South Central seat
It comes as speculation continues about the possible addition of businessman John Mullins as a third candidate on the Fine Gael ticket

Thu, 01 Aug, 2024

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan to step down
Paul Hosford: Are the Greens chasing voters that are unlikely to come back? 
The party is, rightly or wrongly, perceived to be anti farmer and anti rural

Sat, 22 Jun, 2024

Creeslough allocated €12.1m for regeneration project
Creeslough allocated €12.1m for regeneration project
Allocation part of a €164m funding package for 30 regeneration projects across the country

Mon, 13 May, 2024

Letters to the Editor: ‘That They May Face the Rising Sun’ is a movie masterpiece 
Letters to the Editor: ‘That They May Face the Rising Sun’ is a movie masterpiece 
One reader writes in praise of the film adaptation of John McGahern's final novel, while others consider a range of issues including climate change and mental health 

Thu, 02 May, 2024

Sarah Harte: McGahern leaves us pondering what we have lost and gained
Sarah Harte: McGahern leaves us pondering what we have lost and gained
These are the men and women who took the boat in droves in the second half of the 20th century, to find work, and to flee institutional abuse

Wed, 01 May, 2024

Film Review: That They May Face The Rising Sun is delicate but unsentimental
Film Review: That They May Face The Rising Sun is delicate but unsentimental
"The landscape is quintessentially Irish with its reed-choked fields and drystone walls, but religion is every bit important a backdrop here as Catholic Ireland begins to slough off the authoritarian Church..."

Fri, 26 Apr, 2024

TOPSHOT-PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-AID
Irish Examiner view: US aid, arms, and mixed messages
Ceasefire in Gaza is needed more than ever

Thu, 25 Apr, 2024

Sorry we are closed sign board hanging on door of cafe stock
Letters to the Editor: Rate hikes will hollow out communities
One reader writes in to say that 'many towns are facing an existential threat as businesses shutter their doors, streets become deserted, and communities dwindle'

Wed, 24 Apr, 2024

Herd of Friesian cattle
Sarah Harte: Could a new crop of independents harness anger and come together?
The lens in rural Ireland has always been different. Ignoring their concerns just plays into the hands of populists

Wed, 17 Apr, 2024

Letters to the Editor: Who gets more should give more 
Letters to the Editor: Who gets more should give more 
I used to be able to donate €150 per month to some charities from my CIÉ pension.

Mon, 15 Apr, 2024

GP role in Kerry advertised four times since last summer with temporary doctor filling role
GP role in Kerry advertised four times since last summer with temporary doctor filling role
A GP role in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, has been advertised four times since last summer as the HSE struggles to fill this role permanently despite significant changes recently in how GPs are supported.

Fri, 26 Jan, 2024

Kerry's Connor Pass among new national parks under consideration
Kerry's Connor Pass among new national parks under consideration
Among the key actions is the expansion and enhancement of national parks in Ireland within the next few years

Thu, 25 Jan, 2024

Government has failed farmers, new IFA president claims 
Government has failed farmers, new IFA president claims 
Call for retailers to publish their data on their margins and profits

Tue, 09 Jan, 2024

New rural party expects more TDs to join soon
New rural party expects more TDs to join soon
Cork South West TD Michael Collins says established parties don't understand rural Ireland 

Tue, 02 Jan, 2024

44 nursing homes closed during covid pandemic up to December 2022
44 nursing homes closed during covid pandemic up to December 2022
While the figure for 2020 is distorted by some HSE-owned homes being re-purposed during the first wave of covid-19, Hiqa still raised concerns about the closures

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

An Bord Pleanála refuses permission for 'overbearing' telecommunications mast in Kerry village
An Bord Pleanála refuses permission for 'overbearing' telecommunications mast in Kerry village
Applications to construct the mast at the former Eir exchange in the village had been refused on three occasions over the past four years by the local authority

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Irish Budget
Rural independents: Budget gives 'little to rural Ireland' 
Leader of the Rural TDs Mattie McGrath said 'while the Government claims to empathise with the challenges faced by struggling citizens, it is, in reality, burdening them with higher expenses for essentials

Tue, 10 Oct, 2023

Tractor mounted hedge cutter
'Young drivers should be tested on rural roads as well as urban ones'
Councillors also believe cutting speed limits alone is not the answer amid mounting death toll on roads

Thu, 14 Sep, 2023

Varadkar to discuss delivery of key department plans at special meeting
Varadkar to discuss delivery of key department plans at special meeting
RTÉ report, forestry targets, and energy support schemes among agenda

Wed, 06 Sep, 2023

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