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<p>Three years ago, police in Stanhope, Kent, took away park benches and low-lying shrubbery from small parks because, they explained, the benches had provided 'places to gather' and their removal would help 'design out crime'.</p>

S columnists

Michael Moynihan: Park benches can be a much hotter topic than you'd expect

From Paris to Cork, the debate over benches reveals deeper tensions about design, policing, community needs and who public spaces serve

SFergus Finlay: Europe must stand against the worst appeasement since Munich

STerry Prone: He was a labourer. Now his family reveals the secret life of artist Eric Tucker

SMick Clifford: Ivan Yates plays the victim while stamping on integrity of the media

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SJennifer Horgan: Is it possible to maintain our friendships when we have children?

SMichael Moynihan: Cork asked for a park — and got a pathway of concrete instead

S Sarah Harte: We need to dismantle the racialised stereotypes of Muslims in Ireland

The perception that being Irish and Muslim are mutually exclusive no longer holds true, writes Sarah Harte

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

S Fergus Finlay: Labour's vision has never been to force a unity vote

An aspect of Ivana Bacik's speech at the Labour conference last weekend felt more like something Mary-Lou McDonald would say, writes Fergus Finlay

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

S Terry Prone: It's current affairs or nothing in my house — that sends my speechifying cat to sleep

Specs underwent a complete personality change after her brother’s death

Mon, 17 Nov, 2025

Classic radio tuner panel close-up. Black background

S Gareth O'Callaghan: The enduring magic of radio as RTÉ unveils new presenters and a new era

RTÉ’s new schedule prompts veteran broadcaster Gareth O'Callaghan to reflect on why radio remains a timeless, intimate companion woven into Irish daily life

Sat, 15 Nov, 2025

S Michael Moynihan: Anything’ll do for Cork? Bishop Lucey Park reopens — but not completed

Bishop Lucey Park reopens after a €7m, year-long revamp — but with works unfinished and questions over Cork’s ‘it’ll do’ attitude

Thu, 13 Nov, 2025

S Catherine Connolly will speak her mind as President — the template is already there

As Catherine Connolly begins her presidency, echoes of Michael D Higgins’ outspoken style suggest Ireland may not mind a president with convictions

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025

S Fergus Finlay: I was always proud of the Irish flag — now it is just a symbol of hostility

Behind the flags there is more than racism. We need to debate this — and we need to do it honestly

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025

S Could this be a sexual revolution? No, it's RTÉ Radio 1's new schedule

Launching a schedule of such magnitude on Ireland’s most-listened-to station is a huge gamble, but the early signs are encouraging, writes Gareth O'Callaghan.

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025

A crucifix on a book against the background of a chalkboard

S Mick Clifford: Survey on school patronage should be conducted beyond the current crop of parents

Parents of all children up to the age of 12 are being asked to take part in an online survey to determine what kind of patronage they want for their local school. Don’t hold your breath in anticipation of change, writes Mick Clifford

Sun, 09 Nov, 2025

S Michael Moynihan: Cork needs to be a city which facilitates both the elderly and very young

There are people for whom large pools of water on road surfaces and footpaths present significant physical challenges

Thu, 06 Nov, 2025

S Mick Clifford: DJ Carey — hurling legend who sank to the depths in pursuit of a life full of lies

If he is so minded, DJ Carey may be in a position to make amends and show that there can be second acts in GAA lives. But it will be a long, long road back

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025

S Terry Prone: Digital payments are fine but, like most of us, I still prefer to carry cash

Flexible as my phone payment system is, it won’t talk to supermarket trolleys

Mon, 03 Nov, 2025

S Mick Clifford: Catherine Connolly’s win shows how Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil keep getting elections wrong

Catherine Connolly’s landslide wasn’t just a win — it was a warning to the establishment about how politics now works

Sun, 02 Nov, 2025

S Michael Moynihan: Louvre heist to Rebel raid — would it fly on the streets of Cork?

Watch out Cork City Library! Mr Mayfield, Mr Near But Not Quite Douglas, Mr Northern Carrigaline and the gang are coming for Rory Gallagher

Thu, 30 Oct, 2025

S Fergus Finlay: The nomination process has to change before the next presidential election

Connolly’s victory was decisive but exposed deep flaws in Ireland’s presidential process — and the anger now consuming public debate

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

S Terry Prone: We were told vote spoiling was pointless — but it sent a message

This wasn’t just rejection of candidates. This was people bringing their own Sharpies in sufficient numbers to leave messages which — as it turned out — made it efficiently into mainstream media

Mon, 27 Oct, 2025

S Mick Clifford: Catherine Connolly rises from respected fringe figure to Ireland's first citizen

At each small gathering, the Independent presidential candidate picked up not just voters but followers — many of whom signed up as volunteers, expanding eventually into the thousands

Sun, 26 Oct, 2025

S Mick Clifford: Let's talk about immigration — but let's do it using facts

There are challenges with the international protection system. However, people with warped agendas are not truly interested in discussing immigration properly, writes Mick Clifford

Sun, 26 Oct, 2025

S Jennifer Horgan: Irish is a storied language and means different things to all of us

Tá Gaeilge agam, you may say, to which I ask: cén saghas Gaeilge?

Fri, 24 Oct, 2025

S Michael Moynihan: The (Cork) questions we should be asking presidential election hopefuls

Here are some sample questions which our candidates should really answer if they claim to represent us all. And by all I mean, of course, all of us on Leeside

Thu, 23 Oct, 2025

Googles AI Data Protection Practices Probed by Irish Regulator

S Ireland is the world's second-largest importer of Israeli goods. We've sold our morals

Ireland has become the world’s second-largest importer of Israeli goods, because we’ve become a middleman in the transfer-pricing maze of the tech sector, a new report shows