Ireland - news and events

Dublin Airport is one step closer to losing the passenger cap that has limited its growth for nearly two decades. Ireland's parliament has approved legislation giving the transport minister the power to change or scrap the airport's 32 million annual passenger limit, with the bill now heading to the Senate for further debate. Lawmakers also backed plans for a strategic liquefied natural gas storage facility in County Clare, although critics argued the move clashes with Ireland's climate commitments and accused the government of rushing both bills through parliament. The votes underline a familiar political balancing act: expanding infrastructure while trying to convince everyone that environmental promises still matter.

Ireland's tap water is among the safest around, but keeping it that way will require more work behind the scenes. The Environmental Protection Agency says 99.8% of the country's public drinking water supplies met safety standards in 2025, although 35 treatment plants serving about 467,000 people still need urgent upgrades to improve reliability. The report also highlighted persistent challenges, including leaks that waste 36% of treated water and ageing infrastructure that leaves some households exposed to lead pipes. For most people the water remains perfectly safe to drink, but the EPA says investing now is the best way to avoid bigger problems later.

Online shopping from outside the EU is about to get a little more expensive for Irish consumers. From July 1, every unique item imported into Ireland from countries including the UK, the US and China will face a new €3 EU customs charge plus VAT, even on orders worth less than €150, with retailers expected to collect the fee at checkout. Officials say the move is designed to protect consumers and create fairer competition with low-cost overseas marketplaces, while warning shoppers to watch out for scam messages pretending to collect customs payments. Sometimes the cheapest online bargain isn't quite as cheap once it reaches your doorstep.

Some of Ireland's biggest engineering history is hiding behind gates that rarely open to the public. This summer, ESB is offering free guided tours of the Ardnacrusha Power Station in County Clare, giving visitors a chance to explore the hydroelectric landmark that helped transform Ireland's economy while showcasing the company's modern renewable energy projects and net-zero ambitions. The experience traces nearly a century of Irish electricity generation, from the station's groundbreaking beginnings to today's cleaner energy technologies. Sometimes the most fascinating tourist attractions aren't castles or cliffs-they're the places that quietly powered a nation.

Ireland's humpback whales are arriving earlier than ever-and scientists think warming seas are changing the schedule. A new study found that the first annual sightings have shifted from mid-September in 1999 to as early as March in recent years, with researchers linking the trend to rising ocean temperatures and changes in where the whales' prey can be found. The analysis also showed many humpbacks return to Irish waters year after year, spending weeks feeding before heading back to breeding grounds near Cape Verde and the Caribbean. Sometimes the clearest sign of climate change isn't on land—it's in the calendar kept by the ocean's largest visitors.

Relief at the pump may soon start disappearing in Ireland. Government leaders are meeting to decide whether to phase out temporary fuel excise tax cuts that were introduced after nationwide protests over soaring fuel prices, with reductions on petrol and diesel currently set to expire at the end of July. The proposed rollback would take place in three stages between August and October, but opposition parties argue the cuts should remain while the cost-of-living crisis continues. Fuel prices may have eased since the spring-but convincing drivers they're ready to pay more could be a much tougher journey.

A plan to build more than 1,000 homes near the legendary birthplace of the Irish hero Cú Chulainn has sparked growing opposition in County Louth. Campaigners argue the proposed 1,058-home development beside the protected Dún Dealgan monument would permanently damage one of Ireland's most important mythological and archaeological landscapes, while supporters say the region urgently needs new housing and believe a compromise is possible. More than 6,000 people have already signed a petition calling for stronger protection of the site, and local planners are expected to decide the project's future on July 22. Sometimes the hardest planning decisions aren't about choosing between the past and the future-they're about finding a way for both to survive.

Ireland's homelessness figures have finally moved in the right direction-but only just. Official data for May showed the number of people in emergency accommodation fell by 101 to 17,447, including 11,864 adults and 5,583 children, marking the first small monthly decline after months of record highs. Housing groups welcomed the drop but warned that soaring rents, a shortage of affordable homes, and a wave of expected evictions mean the crisis is far from over. One encouraging month is good news, but no one is ready to call it a turning point just yet.

A passport is usually judged by where it can take you, but Ireland's newest version is also drawing attention for what's inside it. The redesigned Irish passport features artwork inspired by the country's heritage, with the Irish wolfhound earning a prominent place after being one of the public's favourite choices in a nationwide consultation involving 15,000 people. The updated document also includes advanced security features and environmentally friendly inks while continuing to offer visa-free access to 186 countries. Sometimes a passport says as much about a nation's identity as it does about its borders.