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Annual 2016
Affairs of the Nation
DANIELLE’S TWEET
GOLDHAWK was curious to read a report of defamation proceedings by the father of rugby player Paddy Jackson over comments circulated on Twitter by two Dublin women in the wake... Read more »
MATT DEMPSEY’S CAMPAIGN
BEEF FARMERS make unlikely victims but former editor of the Irish Farmers Journal (IFJ), Matt Dempsey, has fought back against the “virulent vegan” vilification of the poor farmers. Dempsey, a... Read more »
FINE GAEL CABINET PUTSCH
IS Fine Gael about to pull off a cabinet coup by recruiting two of the three Independent non-FG members in cabinet? After months of tortuous political wrangling Enda Kenny produced... Read more »
Sponsored Content
XtraPension – Helping Thousands Globally Boost Their UK State Pension
John Ring, Operations Director, XTraPension For many people who previously worked in the UK but then left, the idea of receiving a UK State Pension (SP) feels... Read more »
KEVIN THORNTON’S ROUGH RIDE
SPARE A thought for Swiss-based Irish showjumper Kevin Thornton who has become the target of a lot of nasty online comment following the death of showjumping horse Flogas Sunset Cruise... Read more »
SEE NO ARMY, SPEAK NO ARMY
EVERY now and then, some EU leader makes a statement that lets slip the dogs of warlike EU intentions and makes a mockery of Irish political leaders in particular given... Read more »
HALAWA ABANDONED BY GOVERNMENT
RESPONSES from both Taoiseach Enda Kenny and foreign minister Charlie Flanagan to Ibrahim Halawa’s effective internment in Egypt – held now for over three years with his ‘trial’ postponed recently... Read more »
MICHAEL FENLON’S GUN TROUBLE
THE HIGH Court ruled last month that Michael Fenlon, chairman of the National Association of Region Game Councils (NARGC) – the body that represents shooters in Ireland – and three... Read more »
IRISH TV’S MIXED SIGNALS
THERE HAS been plenty of coverage of the appointment of an examiner to the ‘private’ Teilifís Mhaigh Eo Teo (TME) – the company behind the Irish TV channel established by... Read more »
Alternative Savings in Ireland: Beyond the Traditional Pension Pot
For most Irish workers, the word “pension” still conjures up the familiar structures of occupational schemes or private PRSAs. These remain essential but, with shifting economic conditions and increasing... Read more »
Fit to Print?
NO ‘ST’ HACKS IN TABLOID OSCARS
THE side deals and caballing that went on behind the scenes at the News Brands Ireland Journalism Awards 2016 would do credit to a crisis session of the United Nations... Read more »
Last Refuge
WHEN WILL FINTAN TAKE THE PLUNGE?
THE Social Democrats hold their inaugural national conference this weekend and the main speaker is neither of its two TDs – Catherine Murphy and Roísín Shortall – but Irish Times... Read more »
Fowl Emissions
FOR PEAT’S SAKE!
When it comes to failing on climate dialogue, it would be hard to beat the mess over Ireland’s peat and coal burning power stations, and the Government’s baffling refusal to... Read more »
Bird's Eye View
UUP AND SDLP IN DISARRAY
COLUM EASTWOOD became leader of the SDLP at the party’s annual conference on November 14 last year at the age of 32. Three days later, after 10 weeks of glacial... Read more »
Wigs on the Green
BARRISTERS BEARDED
THE energetic and voluble barrister, Maura King has swamped the Bar Council and Law Library with allegations of all manner of deficiencies in the council’s procedures, including the manner in... Read more »
Shatter v Kenny
WHO ever knew that Alan Shatter was endowed with such graciousness, munificence even, as evidenced by his intimation that he would not be pursuing the state or anyone else for... Read more »
The Hot Air Brigade
The Hot Air Brigade – Election Special
“We need to have a love-in with [Trump’s] people as soon as possible.” Bertie Ahern, Irish Mirror, Submitted by reader “What if Trump does a good job as president? Nobody... Read more »
High Society
ALI BARKER’S BACKERS
RESTAURATEUR Ali Barker has saved one of her companies from being struck off thanks to a last minute filing, which reveals some new investors.... Read more »
CYRIL O’BRIEN’S COSTLY CASTLE
IT’S A case of déjà vu as Cyril O’Brien – the Kerryman who opened The George gay bar in Dublin in 1985, almost 10... Read more »
Cindy Cafolla’s lifestyle
ALTHOUGH FORMER ‘Sexiest Legs in Ireland’ Cindy Cafolla suffered something of a fall from grace when the boom here came to an abrupt end, she has been getting on rather... Read more »
BELINDA STRUDWICK’S SPORT OF KINGS
THE RACING of thoroughbred horses is a notoriously expensive business and only the wealthy can afford to play the game seriously. One such moneybags is English property developer Roy Strudwick,... Read more »
Auto-enrolment: What Will this Mean for Employers?
Auto-enrolment is a new retirement savings scheme for employees that will be introduced on 1 January 2026. It will apply to those who do not already have a workplace... Read more »
Behind the Scenes
ARTS COUNCIL TO MOVE?
A RULING from An Bord Pleanála could herald the exit of the Arts Council from Merrion Square if it is as stuck for space as it claims. At least Dermot... Read more »
Jim Sheridan’s bright idea
FILM DIRECTOR Jim Sheridan had an interesting take on the poor critical reaction to his latest film, The Secret Scripture, when he popped up on RTÉ television on Saturday night.... Read more »
WHAT PRICE PÁDRAIG PEARSE?
GOLDHAWK WAS not surprised to see the upcoming sale of a Padraig Pearse surrender letter generating headlines last weekend. Given its estimate – north of U1m – Adam’s Auctioneers must... Read more »
Sport of Kings
FROM MAHON snr TO MAHON jnr
THE RACING and bloodstock industry features a lot of family connections. The latest examples include former Galway Racecourse manager John Molony passing the baton to his son, Michael, and a... Read more »
IRISH EYES ON BREEDERS CUP
THE BREEDERS Cup Classic is traditionally one of the best races in the world and this year’s edition was no different, with Arrogate and California Chrome serving up one of... Read more »
TSUI MOVE HITS OXX HARD
JOHN OXX’S ailing training business was dealt another serious blow recently with the news that Chris Tsui and his mother, Ling, have removed all 11 horses they had in training... Read more »
LASIX USE COSTS HANLON €1,500
THE FIRST week of November was busy for the Turf Club. First order of business was the sanctioning of jockeys Kevin Sexton and Danny Grant, who got slapped with lengthy... Read more »
Forestry as a Smart Investment for 2025 and Beyond
As global markets continue to face uncertainty, many investors are seeking stable and reliable options that offer strong returns and long-term growth potential. In 2025, Green Belt Ltd is... Read more »
Brief Cases
Bitter taste for steakhouse directors
SPARE a thought for the directors of the Spur (Liffey Valley) Restaurants Ltd who were restricted from acting as company directors in the High Court at the end of October.... Read more »
Grand Master Mahon’s losses
A DONEGAL company called David Mahon Properties Ltd (DMPL) recently filed accounts with the Companies Office after obtaining a filing extension in Donegal District Court. The company is named for... Read more »
Niall Linehan hits bum note
GOLDHAWK spotted an interesting company that was wound up in the High Court recently called Balestrand Ltd. The company, with a registered office on Grattan Street in Cork City, is... Read more »
Whelehans Wines Leads the Way with Green Initiatives and Industry Recognition
Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or a novice, Whelehans Wines offers a personalised experience that brings the world of wine to your doorstep. As a leading wine retailer,... Read more »
Popular Stories
KEARNS SIBLINGS’ LEGAL LESSON
GOLDHAWK SPIES an interesting-looking case filed in the High Court, with two ...
JENNY KEANE’S OH! MOMENT
GOLDHAWK’S FAVOURITE “trail-blazing holistic sex educator”, Jenny Keane, was generating media attention ...
DECLAN RYAN’S DISCOUNT
GREAT NEWS for fans of saunas and minted publishers. One of the ...
SUTHERLANDS SELLING UP
INTERESTING TO see a modern three-bedroom house in the gated ‘Shrewsbury’ development ...
JOE LEWIS’S TACTICS
CONTROVERSIAL BILLIONAIRE Joe Lewis – familiar in these parts thanks to his ...
MOLING’S MISSION
AS REVEALED by Goldhawk (see The Phoenix 25/7/25), culture minister Patrick O’Donovan ...
MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL
CONGRATULATIONS to Nigel Flegg, who has landed one of the most prestigious ...
MOLI’S SCARY PLOT
ALMOST 20 months on from when it first emerged that the Museum ...
JOE ELLIOT’S GARDEN
LAST WEEKEND it emerged that veteran rock-n-roller Joe Elliott was in yet ...
INTERVIEW WITH THE JOCKEY
THREE JOCKEYS – Ben Harvey, Alex Harvey and Tom Harney – were ...