Evelyn O'Rourke

Arts and Media Correspondent

RTÉ Radio 1, Raidió na Gaeltachta, RTÉ 2fm and Lyric FM are broadcasting from the GPO throughout the day

RTÉ marks 100 years of Irish radio with GPO broadcasts

RTÉ radio is marking 100 years of public service broadcasting in Ireland with a series of broadcasts from the GPO.

Ireland • 15 Jan

The final report from the expert advisory committee has now been submitted to the Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan

Arts Council IT project 'understated costs' - review

A new independent review into the abandoned IT project at the Arts Council at a loss of €5.3 million, has found that the business case for the project "understated" the costs involved and that it "did not include VAT" nor the cost of "streamlining business processes".

Ireland • 15 Jan

Steve Coogan as Mick McCarthy and Éanna Hardwicke as Roy Keane in a sauna in Saipan

McCarthy and Keane clash brought to life in Saipan

Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane infamously volcanic relationship is revisited in all its grubby glory in the movie Saipan.

Movie Review • 02 Jan

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 12: Bono of U2 sprays the crowd with champagne while performing on stage at Wembley Stadium on June 12th, 1987 on 'The Joshua Tree' tour in London, England. (Photo by Pete Still/Redferns)

5 things we learned today from the State Papers

Among the things we learnt today from the State Papers were the political campaign that Billy Wright's father David was organising to obtain an inquest into his son's death, and Bertie Ahern's concerns about the proposed roll-out of the Ethics in Public Office Act.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Ambassador frustrated with govt attitude to $1bn oil deal

An Irish ambassador's frustrations at department officials for their attitude to a proposed investment of $1bn from Saudi investors in the country's oil facilities is contained in newly released files from the National Archives.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Proposed SIPO legislation opposed by Ahern and Andrews

When Dick Spring, the tánaiste and minister for foreign affairs, proposed legislation aimed at creating more transparency around the "interest" of politicians in 1993, he met with some opposition from leading Fianna Fáil members.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Crossmaglen security forces morale 'at low ebb' in 1994

A leading politician's reaction to plans for extensive construction work at Crossmaglen Barracks in south Armagh in April 1994 is contained within newly-released files at the National Archive.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Billy Wright, known as 'King Rat', was shot dead at the Maze Prison in Co Down on 27 December 1997

Billy Wright's father accused govt of 'selective justice'

The father of Billy Wright accused the Irish government of "indulging in selective justice" in 1999 after being told then-taoiseach Bertie Ahern would not meet him to discuss holding a public inquiry into the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader's murder.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

The Edge and Bono of U2 perform on the Joshua Tree Tour at Nassau Coliseum in 1987

'Embarrassing situation' over limited U2 tickets in 1987

A telex sent from an Irish official based in Boston in April 1987, stating that a limit of ten complimentary tickets per U2 show in America, "puts us in an embarrassing situation" reveals the level of interest in the band's massively successful Joshua Tree tour there.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Fallout over 2003 publication of Stakeknife's identity

The fallout from the publication in the media in 2003 of agent Stakeknife's identity is discussed in documents newly released to the national archives.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25