Ireland - news and events

Filling up the car has suddenly become much more expensive in Ireland. Diesel prices jumped 19 cents in a month to an average of €1.92 per litre in early August, while petrol rose 9 cents to €1.84, adding €9.50 and €4.50 respectively to a typical 50-litre fill. AA Ireland says higher global oil prices are behind the increase, and drivers could face another rise when temporary fuel-tax cuts begin to be reversed in September. For motorists, the autumn road ahead may be an expensive one.

For one day, a 250-acre Irish farm became what organisers like to call the “Olympics of agriculture.” Up to 70,000 people attended the 35th Tullamore Show in County Offaly, where thousands of cattle and sheep competed alongside displays of huge farm machinery, while a sustainable livestock village took centre stage. The gathering also brought a serious debate over the future of EU farm funding, with Irish farmers warning about a proposed €2.5 billion reduction in targeted support and the government promising to make the issue a priority during Ireland’s EU presidency. Tomorrow the showground becomes a working farm again - perhaps the quickest transformation at an event full of impressive machinery.

Ireland’s passport presses have been busy, with more than half a million passports issued in the first six months of 2026 alone. Dublin led the country with 93,223, while more than 50,000 were issued across Northern Ireland’s six counties, including nearly 18,000 in Antrim. With the summer travel season still in full swing, Irish citizens are being urged to check expiry dates before booking or heading to the airport, while new applicants are now receiving redesigned passports and passport cards. Few holiday surprises are worse than discovering at check-in that your passport stayed home in spirit - by expiring months ago.

Belfast has turned into one enormous stage, with more than a million visits recorded during its first Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Around 5,000 musicians and dancers from 22 countries have filled the city with competitions, street performances and spontaneous sessions, while groups from loyalist, unionist and ethnic minority communities have also joined the celebrations. Organizers say the turnout has exceeded every expectation and shown how traditional music can bring very different communities together. The Fleadh returns next year - although after a debut this big, Belfast has already set itself a difficult encore.

Ireland is about to watch the Sun almost disappear - and there may not be another chance like it for decades. On the evening of August 12, a partial solar eclipse will cover up to 98% of the Sun in western and southern Ireland and around 94% in the north and east, while parts of Spain, Iceland, Greenland and elsewhere will experience totality. Interest is already huge, with many public viewing events sold out, while an Irish research team plans to observe the eclipse from an aircraft over the Atlantic. Experts have one crucial warning: ordinary sunglasses are not enough - certified eclipse glasses are essential for looking directly at the Sun.

Giving birth in water is becoming a more clearly defined option in Ireland, with the country introducing its first national clinical guidelines for birthing pools. The new standards cover everything from water temperature and depth to monitoring and emergency procedures, replacing the different approaches previously used by individual maternity units. For now, water birth is mainly recommended for healthy women with low-risk pregnancies, while 12 of Ireland’s 19 maternity units already have birthing pools, though not all offer water births. The idea is simple: more choice for mothers, but with the same safety standards wherever they give birth.

Electric cars have just overtaken hybrids as Ireland’s most popular new-car choice, with a record 9,682 EVs registered in July and a 26% market share. The appeal is easy to see: driving 17,000 km a year can cost around €800 in electricity, compared with roughly €2,000–€2,200 for petrol or diesel, while fuel prices have risen sharply. But the transition still has weak spots - EVs make up only 4% of Ireland’s total fleet, public charging infrastructure remains limited, and buyers worry about ageing batteries, expensive repairs and long-term software support. Electric may be the future, but Ireland is discovering that buying the car is only one part of getting there.

Galway is buzzing ahead of a huge camogie showdown at Croke Park. The defending All-Ireland champions face Cork on Sunday, hoping to repeat last year’s dramatic victory and claim a sixth title in their history. Young fans across the county are already dreaming of following their heroes onto the field one day, while the team says it is focused and ready for another fierce battle. One more win, and the O’Duffy Cup stays in Galway.

Payment scams are surging in Ireland, with AIB reporting a 59% jump in cases in July. Fraudsters are increasingly using convincing texts and phone calls to impersonate banks and other trusted organisations, pressuring victims to transfer money, reveal security codes or even hand over cards and cash. AIB says it will never ask customers to move money to a “safe account” or share passwords and security codes. Sometimes a few seconds of hesitation can save a lot of money.