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Articles by Eunan McKinney
Press release: 43,000 young people aged 15-24 in Ireland living with alcohol dependence as youth drinking levels continue to surge – new report - Alcohol Action Ireland
Alcohol Action Ireland press release (Thursday, 29 January 2026 ) Alcohol Action Ireland (AAI), the national independent advocate to reduce alcohol harm, has published an updated edition of its dial-moving report into youth drinking in Ireland, ‘Youth drinking in Ireland: What’s the real picture?’ The report is updated with data from the 2025 Healthy Ireland Survey carried out by the Department of Health and is expanded to include sections on digital alcohol marketing, home deliveries of...
Ireland brings into law the world’s first comprehensive health labelling of alcohol products
Ireland brings into law the world’s first comprehensive health labelling of alcohol productsAdmin As someone who has spent much of the last decade of my professional time advocating for these changes both in, and outside of government, I cannot really express how pleased I am with this major development by Ireland’s Minister for Health. By commencing these regulations another measure within the historic Public Health Alcohol Act of 2018 becomes operational.
On St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland’s Alternative to Drowning the Shamrock
St. Patrick’s Day has a special resonance for Ireland this year. For the first time since 2019, traditional parades and gatherings will take place in communities throughout the country during our public holiday on March 17. The celebrations were canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year, the government granted an additional special public holiday on March 18, providing an opportunity for people to celebrate with friends and family.
Too much, too often - the truth behind Ireland’s unique relationship with alcohol
THE Irish and drink: what’s that all about? That was the question posed recently by Joe Horgan in his provocative piece in his regular column. In his piece, Joe considered reasons for our obsession with alcohol – poverty, Catholicism, colonialism, even our cherished communal instinct was brought to check.
Trump demands Biden take drug test before or after first TV debate
US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump HAS demanded That his Democratic rival Joe Biden take a drug test for their first debate, which will bring them face to face for the first time in the volatile US presidential campaign. Tuesday’s clash, coming as Biden leads the charge against Trump’s bid to install conservative Amy Coney Barrett in the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s lifetime seat on the Supreme Court, will thrust the contest into a new stage.
'I’ve never felt so low in my life': The week in quotes
Source: PA Images If we follow these simple rules together, we will get through this winter together. There are unquestionably difficult months to come. UK prime minister Boris Johson made a televised address after announcing new restrictions which could last six months. A file photo of Dundalk. Source: Shutterstock They were trying to smash into the house to get at my brother. And then my brother had to go up upstairs and jump out the back window from the top floor.
Two men due in court after firearm and ammunition seized in Dublin
TWO MEN ARE due in court tomorrow morning charged in connection with the seizure of a firearm and ammunition in Dublin on Friday. The items were recovered from a car that had failed to stop for gardaí in the Pinewood Green area of Balbriggan. Two men fled the scene on foot after abandoning the car and were arrested a short time later. A sawn-off shotgun and six rounds of ammunition were discovered.
Coronavirus: No deaths and 430 new cases confirmed in Ireland
The latest figures were confirmed by health officials this evening. Share Tweet Email Image: Sam Boal HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE reported no new deaths of people with Covid-19 in Ireland. The National Public Health Emergency Team has also said that a further 430 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed, bringing the total number of cases in Ireland to 34,990.
Crowd limits prompt cancellation of Dublin's New Year’s Festival
FÁILTE IRELAND HAS confirmed that Dublin’s New Year’s Festival (NYF) will not go ahead this year. More than 100,000 people attended the three-day event last year, with 80,000 attendees at the iconic firework display on New Year’s Eve alone. However, significant crowds like this are not permitted under the government’s Living with Covid framework.
Three network users in several counties report outage
The DownDetector.ie outage map. Source: DownDetector.ie USERS OF THE Three phone network have reported outages across Ireland. DownDetector.ie recorded a sharp spike in reported problems after 3pm today. Users several parts of the country – ranging from Donegal to Cork and Kerry to Meath – have tweeted the network citing issues with their data or phone connection. Some are reportedly unable to make calls.
Gardaí investigate alleged rape of teenage girl in Mayo playground
GARDAÍ HAVE ISSUED an appeal for information after the alleged rape of a teenage girl in Mayo. Gardaí said the alleged attack took place at a playground in the Lowpark area of Charlestown yesterday afternoon. The scene has been forensically examined.
'A step away from large-scale war': Fighting erupts between Azerbaijan and Armenia over disputed region
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressing the nation. Source: PA Images HEAVY FIGHTING HAS erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenian separatists, claiming military and civilian casualties on both sides, including at least one child. The worst clashes since 2016 have raised the possibility of a fresh war between the two counties, which have been locked for decades in a territorial dispute over the Armenia-backed breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh.
Swiss voters appear to reject proposal to limit number of EU citizens living and working in country
VOTERS IN SWITZERLAND are casting their ballots today on a nationalist party’s proposal to limit the number of European Union citizens allowed to live and work in the country. Projections based on partial counts indicated that most voters had rejected the measure – championed by the populist Swiss People’s Party – according to public broadcaster SRF.
Cuts to Covid-19 unemployment payments are unfair, Mary Lou McDonald says
MARY LOU MCDONALD has warned the cut in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will lead to economic hardship. The Sinn Féin leader called for the government to reverse the reduction. The €350-a-week payments have dropped to between €200 and €300, which has affected the 150,000 people still in receipt of the benefit.
Irish businesses being asked to upskill workforces in preparation for Brexit
IRISH BUSINESSES ARE being called on to upskill their workforce to prepare for the increased customs regulations that will be needed from 1 January 2021. Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins is today highlighting the support available through Skillnet Ireland’s Clear Customs programme.
HSE boss issues 'call to arms' for public to stick to health advice as hospitals come under increasing pressure
HOSPITALS ARE COMING under increasing pressure as the number of people with Covid-19 who require hospitalisation continues to rise. The number of new cases of the virus diagnosed has been rising for several weeks now, leading to the need for further restrictions for Dublin and Donegal. A time lag between the rise in new cases and people developing severe illness means the impact of recent increases is now being felt in Ireland’s healthcare system.
North Korea accuses South Korea of intrusion to find official’s body
NORTH KOREA HAS accused South Korea of sending ships across the disputed sea boundary to find the body of a man recently killed by North Korean troops, warning the alleged intrusion could escalate tensions. South Korea said earlier that North Korea sent a message including a rare apology by leader Kim Jong Un over the shooting death last week of a South Korean government official found on a floating object in North Korean waters.
Lone whale rescued from among hundreds of carcasses in Australia's worst mass beaching
A LONE WHALE has been rescued from among hundreds of carcasses, taking to 110 the number of creatures that survived a mass stranding in southern Australia. The country’s largest-ever mass stranding saw around 470 pilot whales become stuck in a remote harbour on Tasmania’s rugged western seaboard last week, sparking a major effort to save the animals.
'It's clear he has to go': Macron calls for Belarus president Lukashenko to resign
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL Macron has said that Belarus’s leader Alexander Lukashenko must step down, after the EU refused to recognise him as the legitimate president of the ex-Soviet country. “It’s clear he has to go,” Macron told French weekly the Journal du Dimanche ahead of a trip to EU states Lithuania and Latvia, which border Belarus. “It is a crisis of power, an authoritarian power that cannot accept the logic of democracy and which is hanging on by force.
Man (30s) dies following single vehicle collision in Co Wexford
A MAN HAS died following a single vehicle collision in Co Wexford last night. The incident happened at around 11.30pm at Newtown, Taghmon. The driver of the car, a man in his early 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other occupants in the vehicle. The road is currently closed for a technical examination by forensic collision investigators. Local diversions are in place.
Sitdown Sunday: The election 'that could break America'
IT’S A DAY of rest, and you may be in the mood for a quiet corner and a comfy chair. We’ve hand-picked the week’s best reads for you to savour. 1. The dangers of space junk Floating around in space is a lot of… junk. Human artifacts and debris, just hanging about. But they can pose danger by being out there.
Poll: Do you plan to get the flu vaccine this upcoming winter?
ANY SIGNIFICANT LEVEL of flu in the community could lead to the Covid-19 test and trace system being overwhelmed as people present with similar symptoms, health experts say. Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry told TheJournal.ie that because flu and Covid-19 both seriously impact on vulnerable and older groups, health officials want to “avoid a twin attack on the same populations” in Ireland.
The 9 at 9: Sunday
EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you all the news you need to know as you start the day. 1. #COVID: Ahead of a meeting with unions in July, the government expressed concern that classifying Covid-19 as an “occupational illness” could have serious consequences for both employers and the State in terms of liability. 2. #FLU: Health experts are looking to the Southern Hemisphere for an insight into how the season flu and Covid-19 interact. 3.
Overnight curfew in Melbourne to be lifted after almost two months as Covid-19 cases drop
AN OVERNIGHT CURFEW in Australia’s second-biggest city will be lifted from Monday, almost two months after it was imposed across Melbourne to counter a surging coronavirus outbreak. Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said Melbourne residents would be free to leave their homes at any time for work, exercise, to buy essentials or provide care.
Who exactly is Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett and what happens next?
Judge Amy Coney Barrett reacts as US President Donald Trump introduces her as his the Supreme Court Associate Justice nominee Source: Gripas Yuri/ABACA via PA Images US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has chosen Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, sending the nomination to the Senate in the hope of a quick confirmation fewer than 40 days before the presidential election.
INMO backs decision to publish ethnicity data for healthcare workers who contract Covid-19
DATA ON THE ethnicity and the place of birth of healthcare workers who test positive for Covid-19 is now available for the first time, in a move that’s been welcome by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), as part of its weekly report on Covid-19 and healthcare workers, now publishes data on healthcare workers’ ethnicity and their place of birth.
Protesters march for fourth straight night in Louisville against Breonna Taylor death
A DIVERSE CROWD of hundreds marched in Louisville’s streets chanting “Black Lives Matter” last night, the fourth night of protests after a grand jury declined to charge officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. People in the crowd also chanted “No Justice, No peace” as cars honked along a busy downtown artery in this Kentucky city that has seen more than 120 days of demonstrations over the death of the 26-year-old black woman in a police raid gone wrong.
Looking to extend or upgrade? Your biggest home renovation questions, tackled by an expert
HAS A HOME renovation been on your mind over the last few months? You’re not the only one. When hardware stores re-opened in May after weeks of closure, outlets like Woodies and B&Q reported a boom in sales of “project” items like paint, power tools and construction materials. But if you’re planning a larger-scale home makeover, there’s a bit more to it than just picking up a drill and a few pots of paint.
Flu levels may be lower this year - but with Covid-19 around winter could be more dangerous than ever
HEALTH EXPERTS ARE looking to the Southern Hemisphere for an insight into how the season flu and Covid-19 interact and are warning that compliance with public health measures will be more important than ever this winter. Any significant level of flu in the community could lead to the test and trace system in particular being overwhelmed as people present with similar symptoms, they say.
Documents show government unease at campaign to designate Covid-19 an 'occupational illness'
AHEAD OF A meeting with unions in July, the government expressed concern that classifying Covid-19 as an “occupational illness” – where incidences in work would have to be reported and investigated – could have serious consequences for both employers and the State in terms of liability.
Trump nominates Amy Coney Barrett to be new Supreme Court Justice
US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has officially nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, his third such nomination. “Professor Barrett is a woman of remarkable intellect and character. She is eminently qualified for the job. And I can tell you I did,” Trump said at a press conference in Rose Garden.
Quiz: Can you name these towns from their location on a map of Ireland?
Test your knowledge of the country from above. Share Tweet Email IRELAND. YOU’VE SEEN it a million times and you know it like the back of your hand. So you definitely know all these towns and cities just by looking at a map of the country, right? Test your knowledge of the country from above below. An easy one to start, this is... Dingle Tralee Killarney Kenmare This Co Meath town is... Kells Ashbourne Navan Trim Heading out west now. This is...
Investigation underway to identify organisers of anti-Covid-19 restriction rally in Donegal
GARDAÍ HAVE SAID they are carrying out an investigation to identify the organisers of an anti-Covid-19 restriction demonstration in Co Donegal this afternoon. The demonstration took place in the Market Square area of Letterkenny at 2pm, just hours after the county had been upgraded to Level 3 of the government’s living with Covid-19 plan. Around one hundred people attended today’s rally which encouraged people to challenge the health regulations, according to local media.
Letter from China: Life is back to normal after Covid-19, but under strict conditions
HELLO AGAIN FROM China. I thought I’d give you an update as the word was spreading that China was back to normal, and I can confirm that that’s pretty much the case. I work in a place called Weihai teaching for a British university, Lancaster, and am now in my second week back in the classroom after eight months out. I live five minutes off-campus, and when I ride through the gates each morning my temperature is scanned and once it’s ok, life inside is pretty much as it was last year.
'It's going to be difficult': Biden ready to face Trump's 'lies' in debate
Screen grab of Biden's interview on MSNBC Source: Msnbc/Zuma Press/PA Images US DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL candidate Joe Biden said he expects “personal attacks and lies” from Donald Trump in their first televised debate on Tuesday. “It is going to be difficult,” the former vice president acknowledged in an interview broadcast on MSNBC. “My guess is, it’s going to be just straight attack. They’re going to be mostly personal.
Here's What Happened Today: Saturday
NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news. IRELAND Dublin's O'Connell Street this afternoon. Source: Sam BoalRollingsnews A further 248 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland, the Department of Health has said this evening. A further five people confirmed to have Covid-19 have died. Health officials in Northern Ireland reported 319 new cases – the biggest daily rise in cases there since the pandemic began.
Where is the troublesome Internal Market Bill at?
THE INTERNAL MARKET Bill arrived with a thud, but may have petered out of the headlines since, despite significant developments with it this week. As a quick recap: the UK and EU negotiating teams are locked in tense trade negotiations, which appear as though they could collapse at any moment over any of the three main obstacles of State aid rules, fisheries, or an agreed dispute mechanism.
Pedestrian (70s) killed after being struck by van in Cork
A PEDESTRIAN HAS died after being struck by a van in Cork this afternoon. The incident, involving a pedestrian and a van, happened shortly after 3.30pm in the car park of a sports ground in Donnybrook, Douglas. The pedestrian, a man in his 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The scene is currently being examined by forensic collision investigators.
Coronavirus: Five deaths and 248 new cases confirmed in Ireland
A FURTHER 248 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland, the Department of Health has said this evening. The total number of confirmed cases is now at 34,560. In a statement, it said that a further five people confirmed to have Covid-19 have died. The death toll from Covid-19 in Ireland is 1,802.
American threatened with jail in Thailand over negative Tripadvisor review
AN AMERICAN HAS been sued by an island resort in Thailand over a negative TripAdvisor review, and could face up to two years in prison if found guilty. Domestic tourism is still happening in Thailand, where coronavirus numbers are relatively low, with locals and expats heading to near-empty resorts – including , famed for its sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
Police officer shot dead in London moved into custody work because he thought it was 'safest option'
Metropolitan Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana died after being shot at Croydon Custody Centre in south London Source: Aaron Chown/PA Images A POLICE OFFICER shot dead by a handcuffed suspect at a south London station had moved into custody work because he thought it was safer as he approached retirement, a friend has said.
'We will win': Thousands gather in central London for anti-lockdown protest
THOUSANDS OF PROTESTERS have gathered for an anti-lockdown demonstration in central London. Crowds massed in Trafalgar Square carrying a variety of signs, flags and placards to take part in a “we do not consent” rally, none appearing to wear face coverings or to social distance. The demonstrators, who are protesting against UK government lockdown measures, cheered and clapped, shouting “we will win”. Earlier, police searched a man and confiscated a makeshift riot shield that he was carrying.
Shotgun seized and two men arrested after garda pursuit in north Dublin
A SHOTGUN HAS been seized and two men have been arrested after they were pursued by gardaí in Co Dublin yesterday evening. As a result of an intelligence-led operation as part of Drogheda’s Operation Stratus, gardaí attempted to stop a vehicle in the Pinewood Green area of Balbriggan at around 6pm. The two male occupants of the vehicle failed to comply with gardaí and attempted to reverse at high speed in an attempt to flee the scene. The two men then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
Further restrictions in other counties 'not inevitable', says Acting Chief Medical Officer
THE ACTING CHIEF Medical Officer has said there is every chance that further restrictions may be implemented in other areas in the country, but it was not inevitable. In a video message, Dr Ronan Glynn appealed to people – particularly people in Donegal, Dublin, Louth, Cork, Kildare, Wicklow, and Galway - to pay special attention to the public health advice.
WHO warns virus death toll could surpass two million without collective action
CORONAVIRUS DEATHS COULD more than double to two million without collective action against the pandemic, the World Health Organization has warned, as Australia’s prime minister urged any nation that develops a vaccine to share it with the world. The number of cases worldwide has soared past 32 million, with deaths approaching one million, the global economy devastated, and major cultural and sports events disrupted.
Thousands of people in China given Covid-19 vaccine approved for emergency use despite concerns
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people in China have been given a Covid-19 vaccine which has been approved for emergency use. The Chinese vaccines have been administered before final regulatory approval for general use. It is an unusual move that raises ethical and safety questions, as companies and governments worldwide race to develop a vaccine that will stop the spread of the coronavirus. A popular writer and columnist who has been given the vaccine said he had no reaction after the first dose.
Martin describes toll of Covid-19 on society ahead of address at UN General Assembly
THE COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on society, particularly on those who have lost loved ones to the virus, the Taoiseach has said. Micheál Martin said the pandemic had impacted “every community in every country and indeed our entire way of life”. Martin made the comments ahead of his address at the 75th annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly today.
Suspect in stabbing outside former Charlie Hebdo offices ‘was not on police radar for radicalisation’
A TERROR INVESTIGATION is under way after a young man stabbed two people outside the former offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, where 12 people were killed in 2015. The suspected assailant had been arrested a month ago for carrying a screwdriver, but was not on police radar for Islamic radicalisation, France’s interior minister Gerald Darmanin said. He said the screwdriver was considered a weapon, but did not explain why.
Gardaí investigating death of e-scooter user in 'unexplained circumstances' after body found
GARDAÍ ARE INVESTIGATING the death of a scooter user in “unexplained circumstances” after a body was found in Co Meath in the early hours of the morning. The body was found on the N51 in Harmanstown, Slane. Gardaí attended the scene at around 2.50am following reports of an unconscious man lying on the road. The man, whose age has not been confirmed, had been travelling on an electric scooter from the Slane direction. He was treated by ambulance services but was later pronounced dead.
The 9 at 9: Saturday
EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you all the news you need to know as you start the day. 1. #DONEGAL: New restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 in Donegal have kicked in. 2. #COLLEGE: Thousands of third-level students will next week begin the new academic term in colleges across Ireland. Here’s a look into the rapidly changing face of Irish college life this year. 3.
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