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RTÉ News
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Kneecap: 'We're getting upper hand on British Empire'
DJ Próvaí of Belfast rap trio Kneecap has thanked fans who turned out to support them ahead of bandmate Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh's court case in London for an alleged terrorism offence. Speaking to RTÉ News ahead of their gig at Fairview Park in Dublin this evening, DJ Próvaí said that there was "great support there from a 1,000 people" and that fans had gathered because "they know we're going to win." Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged in a London court on Wednesday and has been granted unconditional bail until his next hearing on 20 August. DJ Próvaí, whose real name is JJ Ó Dochartaigh, said the band "dealt a good blow to the courts in Westminster," and added that "we have them on the back foot". Asked about the impact that the court case has had on the band, he said that there was "a bit of relief" and that their court appearance on Wednesday went well "because it seems like we're getting the upper hand on the British Empire." DJ Próvaí also addressed the high calibre of Kneecap's legal team, which includes some heavyweight names. "We have top class world class lawyers there including Gareth Pierce, Darragh Mackin, Blinne, all of them top class," he said. He also addressed the atmosphere outside the court yesterday in London, saying that there was even a stage outside but he said "he was not surprised at all" at the level of support with the crowd chanting messages of support for free speech and for a free Palestine. Looking forward to tonight's gig in Fairview, DJ Próvaí said that Kneecap were "buzzing for it" as they have not played in Ireland for a while so "it's brilliant to be back". "The crowd will be giving it stacks and we want it to be one of the special nights of the year." He added: "We haven't been in Dublin in a good while and there's nowhere better than Fairview to do it!" Standing outside of the venue, a large crowd holding a mixture of Irish and international flags gathered this evening, with some saying they were attending the gig because of Kneecap's commitment to the Irish language, and others citing their pro-Palestinian political views as the reason they like them.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Watch: 5 key takeaways from Reuters news study
The annual Reuters Digital News Report for Ireland 2025 shows that 5% of Irish people say they are getting their news from AI chatbots. This is one of the most eye-catching figures revealed in the annual report published today, and it offers a fascinating, if sobering, snapshot of media consumption. What is your 'level of interest' in news? The report shows that 56%, more than half the adult population in Ireland, is "extremely" or "very interested" in news. This figure, which is up 3 points from last year, is heartening for Irish newsrooms when compared to our neighbours in the UK (39%), and (51%) in the US. However, when we flick back ten years, to the report in 2015, the level of interest in news was 71% amongst adults. The report also notes wider trends over the years that show that engagement with news is clearly on shifting terrain. Rónán Ó Domhnaill, from Coimisiún na Meán, said that "what we are looking at is a gradual but managed decline in the amount of trust and interest in news". Who do you trust? At a time when fake news and misinformation are constant themes in newsrooms when faced with newsgathering and verification challenges, editors will be reassured that trust levels are solid. When asked about trusted sources of news, RTÉ News came out on top, at (72%), with local radio news in total clocking up (72%) trust levels too. They are followed by the Irish Times, with 70%, with the same percentage for the BBC, levels of 68% for the Irish Independent, and 66% for Newstalk, Today FM and Sky News. At a time when there are endless options available for people to consume their news, and when questionable content bleeds through our online world, these figures will bolster those who argue that resources should continue to be channelled to trusted news-gathering sources. For newspapers, there was good news for local papers as, at 71%, they emerge as the most trusted source, however Dave O'Connell, editor of the Connacht Tribune, said "it's great to have these trust levels," but "with the good news with trust level, it's not so great news in relation to sales". He asked "how do we leverage this trust into surviving as an industry?". For Dr Eileen Culloty from DCU who was involved in the research for this report, she said that the figures show that "local media enjoys strong public trust" however, in tune with Dave O'Connell she added, "trust alone doesn't pay salaries or sustain newsrooms so the big challenge is to convert trust into viable careers in local journalism so that local media can continue informing communities". Mr O'Connell pointed to Coimisiún na Meán, saying that their support with schemes such as the recent local journalism and court reporting schemes were vital to plug the gap between the cost of providing quality news coverage and funding. He believes that the need for external funding is key in this area. Are you worried about fake news? All age groups shows concern about fake information online with 68% of respondents saying that deciding what is 'real' and what is 'fake' is a factor in their consumption of news. This figure will be considered a strong mandate for journalists to continue to be vigilant in their news-gathering and verification processes. In an era when everyone can go 'live' on their phones to an audience, these figures will be seen as demonstrating the resilience and importance of verified content for news providers. The standards for good quality, well-researched journalism is important to Irish people and this figure from across the age groups reinforces that work. Will you pay for news? The report said that one in five people, 20%, are now paying for subscriptions for their news content. Casting an eye back to 2015, a decade ago, the figure for digital news subscriptions stood at 7% and the only national news title that had moved behind a paywall then was The Irish Sun which was followed by a 'soft paywall' from the Irish Times. Scroll on ten years and the levels of subscription have moved on, with Irish Independent publisher Mediahuis recently celebrating reaching 100,000 paid subscribers this year. Samantha McCaughren from Mediahuis spoke at the launch of the report today and she said that "what we did 20 years ago, we don't do now". Ms McCaughren explained that their processes have moved on and that "when we think about a story, we think about all the angles. Is there a podcast element, a video element, can our journalists talk to each other about a story? We have completely changed how we look at stories," she told RTÉ News. This describes the approach that any vibrant newsroom has to adopt now to stay relevant. Multi-platform approaches to a story is considered the norm now, but with shrinking resources across newsrooms, the perennial question remains - how do you monetise your content and stay on top of the financial demands of managing a multi-platform model? As more and more content goes behind paywalls, this report will offer some comfort as it seems that Irish people are more willing to pay for content so the juggling act of balancing commercial realities with the quality news content gathering continues across news organisations. The Reuters Digital News Report finds that 5% of people are turning to chatbots for their content. This one line in a report of thousands of words was for many, the break-out news line. The figure emerged in response to the question "which platforms you have used in the last week as a source of news" and it was the first time that this digital platform had emerged and is a new entry into the charts. Top of the choices was television with 58% saying that this was a platform they turned to. That same figure also said they turned to online news. Meanwhile, 47% of Irish people said social media was a source, while radio was a news source for 36%. This figure has been pointed to as a sure sign of the resilience of this platform with the Irish people's long celebrated affinity with radio continuing to power where audio offerings have changed significantly in recent years. Back ten years ago in 2015, the reach for 'traditional' newspapers was 69%. That has declined significantly with 20% of respondents in this report saying they went to printed newspapers for their information. Down the bottom are the two entries from the digital platforms with 12% saying podcasts provided them with news and the eye catching 5% stating that AI chatbots was a source. The figure may have just snuck into the bottom of the list but it is a figure that is sure to rise over the coming years. The figure just above it too is worthy of note as 12% point to podcasts as a platform they use for news sourcing. This figure is higher than the UK (7%) and USA (15%). When we consider that 19% of people said that they were either "very" or "somewhat" comfortable with the use of AI for news with some human oversight and the under 35s almost twice as comfortable when considering the same measure, it is clear that digital platforms will continue to steer future developments in newsrooms. Ms McCaughren discussed the pivotal role that podcasts play in the Mediahuis newsroom now with a full time team of 16 people working on their podcast content. From daily news, to sport to crime, the appetite for podcasts is clearly growing and is yet another new frontier that this report tracks. This evening I asked an AI chatbot for a short one line summary of this report, and it offered the following words of wisdom: "Irish audiences remain highly engaged and trusting in news at 56%, and strong local radio/newspaper trust levels at 72% but they are cautious about AI." Humble. Cautious for now, but when next year's report is published, checking the figure for use of AI chatbots as a source will be one of the first things I will watch out for.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- General
- RTÉ News
Excavation in Co Sligo recovers over 1,000 artefacts from 17th century
More than 1,000 historical artefacts have been recorded during a three-week excavation of a seventeenth century fort in Co Sligo led by ATU archeologists. One of 65 bastioned forts in Ireland, the Green Fort located on Fort Hill in Sligo town is the last visible reminder of the seventeenth-century town fortifications. The Green Fort which was in existence during the Williamite Wars and the Confederate Wars is thought to have been built during the Nine Years War (1594-1603). The archeological excavation involved opening an excavation trench in the fort interior. Recorded discoveries included military artifacts as well as other artifacts which display evidence of the food, drink and smoking habits of those once stationed at the Green Fort. Dr Fiona Beglane who led the excavation told RTÉ News the artefacts recorded "include clay pipes for smoking tobacco". "We also have glass, pottery and animal bones, which are evidence of food. On the military side we have found musket balls, buttons and part of a mortar bomb." Dr Beglane also said the dig found "evidence of historic drainage works, destruction and renovation of the interior of the fort". The excavation was carried out by ATU students of the Certificate in Archaeological Excavation and Post-Excavation and the Certificate in Archaeological Field Studies. Students also came from USA, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Kosovo and the Ukraine as well as community volunteers funded by Sligo County Council. The team hoped to gain an insight into the nature of the buildings, structures and features that once occupied the fort, thus shedding light on the lives of those stationed there. A fort's primary function was to mount artillery and protect a garrison during periods of warfare. The spear-shaped bastion fort was a strategic base during the Williamite Wars as Sligo lay on the main passage between Ulster and north-west Connacht. A copy of a commemorative medal of the 1691 capture of Athlone, Galway and Sligo held in the British Museum depicts Sligo, with the Green Fort on the lower right of the medal. In 2017, Sligo County Council commissioned a conservation plan for the Green Fort in Rathquarter townland to address the long-term preservation of the monument. As part of the conservation plan, the council commissioned geophysical surveys of the Green Fort, one of seven such sites in the county. A circular feature, about 25 metres in diameter, was identified in the centre of the monument, possibly an early medieval ringfort mentioned in the Annals of the Four Masters, which recorded the presence of an early medieval ringfort known as Ráith dá Briotócc at the location where the Green Fort now stands within O'Boyle Public Park. Since the 1980s, different community groups have celebrated the Green Fort through enactments of Williamite attacks, public lectures, guided tours and conservation works. The Green Fort Archaeology Project was conceived two years ago following discussions between the ATU archaeologists, Dr Fiona Beglane and Dr Marion Dowd, Sligo County Council, and the National Monuments Service. The Green Fort which commands a 360-degree view of Sligo town is recognised as a national monument and it is protected under the National Monuments Act.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Interest in news among Irish adults remains high
The annual Digital News Report for Ireland 2025 shows that at 56%, more than half the adult population in Ireland is 'extremely' or 'very interested' in news. The figure for Irish people is higher than for the UK (39%), the US (51%) and above the European average (45%). The figure is included in the 11th edition of the annual report published today in Galway by Coimisiún na Meán. Up 3 points from last year, the figure represents the highest level of interest in news since 2022, but down from a peak of 70% in 2021, during the Covid pandemic. When asked about trusted sources of news, RTÉ News (72%), local radio news (72%) and local newspapers (71%) emerge as the most trusted brands. Meanwhile 70% of Irish respondents described the Irish Times as trustworthy, with the same percentage for BBC News; 68% for the Irish Independent and 66% for Newstalk, Today FM and Sky News. When asked for their thoughts about online news, 68% of Irish respondents said they are concerned about what is real and what is fake online. All age groups showed concern about fake information online, with the highest rate (72%) among those aged 65+ and the lowest rate (62%) among those aged 18-24. The report also reveals that one in five Irish people are now paying for their news. Digital news subscription figures in Ireland now stand at 20%, which is a three-point increase from this time last year. When asked which digital news service they subscribed to, 36% of people said they paid for the Irish independent and 33% paid for the Irish Times' service. Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner at Coimisiún na Meán, said that they recognise that An Coimisiún's ambition for developing the media landscape requires "ongoing and sustainable levels of funding for media outlets to support high-quality journalism, and news that people can trust". When asked if Irish audiences trust the news "most of the time", 50% of respondents in Ireland 'agreed' or 'strongly agreed', compared to 35% in the UK, 30% in the US, and 39% for merged data from Europe. In response to the questions "which platforms you have used in the last week as a source of news", the results reveal that 58% of Irish respondents said television, with the same percentage (58%) citing online media (excluding social media and blogs). Meanwhile, 47% said they have used social media as a source of news in the last week, with 36% saying radio, 22% saying printed newspapers, 12% saying podcasts, and 5% citing AI chatbots. In 2025, 11% of Irish respondents said they use radio as their primary source of news, which is significantly higher compared to the UK (8%), and when asked about the use of radio as a source of any news consumed, this figure increases to 36%. Figures for podcast listenership are growing as 12% listened to podcasts as a source of news in the last week, higher than in the UK (7%) and the European average (9%) but lower than the US (15%). Audiences' attitudes to the use of AI for news are changing. Last year, those 'very' and 'somewhat' comfortable with news mainly produced by AI with some human oversight were 15%. This has increased to 19% this year, with under-35s almost twice as comfortable as over-35s when considering the same measure. Commenting on the report, Dr Eileen Culloty, Deputy Director of the DCU Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo) who worked on the survey, said: ''Local media enjoy strong public trust, But trust alone doesn't pay salaries or sustain newsrooms. "The big challenge is to convert trust into viable careers in local journalism so that local media can continue informing communities." Earlier this year, Coimisiún na Meán awarded €5.7m through new journalism schemes, funded by the Department of Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport and which covered local democracy and courts reporting. These schemes have facilitated over 100 new or enhanced journalism roles in Ireland to date.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
One in six Irish very interested in news, significantly higher than UK and US
Irish people are more interested in the news and have better trust in mainstream media compared to the UK and US, a new study has revealed. Some 56 per cent say they are extremely or very interested in the news, according to the Irish Digital News Report 2025 published on Tuesday. This is higher than the UK (39 per cent), the US (51 per cent) and ahead of the European average at 45 per cent. While Irish people have a high interest in news, up 3 per cent on last year, it has fallen significantly from a peak of 70 per cent in 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Just 3 per cent of those surveyed in this country said they are "not at all interested" in the news. Irish audiences also trust mainstream news outlets more compared with other countries, with 50 per cent saying they trust the news "most of the time". This compares to 35 per cent in the UK, 30 per cent in the US and 39 per cent for all of Europe. Traditional news outlets continue to hold the most trust from the Irish audience. RTÉ News (72 per cent), local or regional radio (72 per cent), and local or regional newspapers (71 per cent) are the most trusted brands. Some 70 per cent described the Irish Times and BBC News as trustworthy, followed by 66 per cent for the Irish Independent, Sky News, Newstalk and Today FM. However, Irish people remain concerned about misinformation with 68 per cent saying they worry about what is real and fake online. Television and news websites are the most popular way that Irish people are consuming news. Some 58 per cent of respondents said they have watched TV or consumed online media in the past week to stay up to date on news, while 47 per cent said they used social media as a source of news. A further 36 per cent said they listened to the radio, 22 per cent read a printed newspaper, 12 per cent listened to a podcast to get the latest headlines and 5 per cent used AI chatbots. Radio listenership remains high in Ireland, with 11 per cent of respondents saying they use radio as their primary source of news. This is 3 per cent higher than the UK, 8 per cent more than the US and 4 per cent above the European average. Podcasts are also very popular in this country, with 12 per cent saying they used them as a source of news in the last week. The number of Irish people willing to pay for digital news has significantly increased over the past decade. Some 20 per cent of the population are now paying for news, which is up from 7 per cent in 2015 and 3 per cent on last year. Of those that pay for a digital subscription, 36 per cent are subscribed to the Irish Independent and 33 per cent to The Irish Times. Rónán Ó Domhnaill of Coimisiún na Meán said the Digital News Report shows that most Irish people "can't get enough of news". He added: "It is encouraging to see that interest in news remains high in Ireland when compared internationally, even as the formats used to consume news continue to change. "We are heartened to see the continuing trend of the Irish public's unique and longstanding relationship with radio, which remains a cornerstone of Ireland's media landscape. It is also important to see the trust Irish people place in local news sources, with local radio and local newspapers among the most trusted brands for Irish audiences."
