These four trends reshaped Irish politics in 2024
The Dublin riots changed politics, but not in the way anyone expected
Pat Leahy
Pat Leahy columns
Explain Irish politics to visiting foreign relatives with Pat Leahy’s informed sceptic’s guide
Wondering about how you’ll explain Irish politics to visiting foreign relatives – or to yourself? Wonder no more
Smart people still insist the truth of a patent absurdity – that Gerry Adams was never in the IRA
The observation that ‘the past is never dead – it’s not even past’ seems especially true in Northern Ireland
Ireland’s five biggest problems: War, climate change, an EU crisis, housing and Trump
The next government faces immense challenges that require guile, nerve, judgment and luck
Someone should take Simon Harris’s phone away before he bankrupts the country
The Taoiseach isn’t the only one losing the run of himself – the election is turning into a massive auction
Here’s what we should be asking politicians in the aftermath of Trump’s victory
Political insulation from the cost-of-living crisis has been paid for by bumper corporation tax receipts – and now those receipts are under threat
Dilemma about how Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are going to manage being partners and rivals remains unresolved
A campaign dominated by Simon Harris and Micheál Martin would suit Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. I don’t think it’s going to happen
Three things the Irish election should be about - but won’t
Climate, immigration and the sustainability of our economic model are subjects no one wants to talk about but they are not going away
Sinn Féin chief Mary Lou McDonald should have a word with Bertie Ahern
Voters often ignore the conclusions of the political bubble, as the former Fianna Fáil leader demonstrated time and again
Two signposts to an early election: Sinn Féin’s troubles and a glimpse of Micheál Martin’s election posters
Mattie McGrath spoke for the whole Dáil – an unusual occurrence, this – and maybe the rest of us too when he told the Chamber on Tuesday that all the election speculation was driving everyone 'demented'
Trouble at the top? Relations between Simon Harris and Micheál Martin are frayed
Fianna Fáil and the Greens are absolutely adamant that they will not be hustled into an early election to suit Fine Gael
Whatever about the best country to be a child, it’s one of the best to be a finance minister
Budget 2025: No big new policies, no inspired plans, just more than €2 billion in a budget-day giveaway
Mary Lou McDonald’s hope of pulling off another Lazarus act is not great. Sinn Féin’s confidence is rattled
Campaigns are dynamic, unpredictable and volatile, but the party faces an uphill battle
Ireland’s wealthiest pensioners will benefit from raised tax threshold while 800,000 workers have no pension at all
The reason senior gardaí – and a small number of other senior public servants – would have faced a huge tax bill is because their pensions are huge
Apple windfall is not the EuroMillions. We need to get a grip
Apple’s billions threaten to transform our entire political debate into a massive auction, but this would be a big mistake
Schools abuse inquiry: Redress scheme could cost €5bn
We have an opportunity to learn from the very clear lessons of the past if we are to avoid a massive inquiry running for years
Budget one-offs are economically indefensible and politically smart
Everyone - within Government and without - is preparing for a November election
Three lessons in leadership from the careers of the great rivals, FitzGerald and Haughey
Haughey understood the ambiguity many felt about the Northern conflict. FitzGerald understood the yearning of middle class urbanites to be modern, European, more secular. The leaders who will prosper now are those who intuit where the country really is in 2024
Here’s my prediction for when the general election will happen
The Fine Gael feel-good factor isn’t going to last forever. Throw in the expectation in Government of a Trump victory on November 5th and the possibility of a “flight to safety” by Irish voters afterwards, and one date starts to look most likely
You could see Donohoe and looking at Chambers and thinking: this lad is going to fit in just fine
Between the once-off measures that occur every year and the rule that must be broken, the Department of Finance is like something from Flann O’Brien
Trickle of Fine Gael departures risks turning into a flood as election moves closer
Eleven FG TDs have said they will not run in next election, and the party faces a headache finding electable new candidates
If Brexit Britain was an inflamed appendix, Eurosceptic France would be a malignant cancer
Make no mistake: A far-right government in France would be an earthquake for the EU
Two notices pinned up in a country pub offer an insight into the paradox of Eamon Ryan
Even those who don’t like the departing Green Party leader take him seriously
A Labour-Social Democrats alliance makes political sense. Voters have already worked this out
If the two parties don’t commit to a pact before the general election, voters may reasonably conclude they are not really serious about being in government and having their policies implemented
Local and European elections: Four big trends that emerged from campaigns
Nastier lead-in, more focus on migration and less on green issues, and Sinn Féin’s need to get back to basics
A giveaway pre-election budget is inevitable - the only question is just how generous will it be?
The message from the two budget boyos is that with inflation under control there is little justification for another glut of one-off giveaways
Bertie Ahern thinks directly elected mayors are a ‘stupid idea’. Here’s why he’s wrong
The new mayor of Limerick will have a job unlike any other in Ireland, with potential to strengthen local government and local democracy
Three things to watch in the upcoming European and local elections - including immigration on the ballot paper
The local and European elections are not a crystal ball. But they are a huge political event, which will both tell us things about the state of Irish politics
Nobody can answer one simple question about the hate speech Bill
What exactly will it be illegal to say in future that it is not currently illegal to say? Nobody seems to know
A tougher asylum system is now a political necessity. That might not be pretty
There needs to be a second half of the plan beyond telling the continuing arrivals that they’re on their own. All this just plays to the “Ireland is full” gang
Dream of a left-wing government slipping away and not just because of Sinn Féin slump
Too many on the left are content to whine from the sidelines, wary of the responsibility of power and unwilling to make the compromises that forming a Government require
Simon Harris brings one big advantage to the job of Taoiseach – and one big disadvantage
Already there are four key signs about where his priorities will lie - and they don’t include scrapping with the Opposition
Joe Brolly and Sinn Féin are sick of experts. Have any of them heard of Brexit?
The united Ireland conversation involves listening to people who don’t agree with you and whose advice you don’t want to hear
Tough, lucky and clever (but not too clever): what makes a good taoiseach?
It’s like no other job in the country. If you think anyone can do it, you have no idea what’s involved
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Election 2024
Full general election coverage including analysis and results for all 43 constituencies
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices