Europe, Ireland | featured news

When comedians feast on Ireland's terrifying debt situation, it's time to laugh - or cry. Hard, cold truths will emerge in either case.

Ireland’s most popular local radio talk host has admitted he indecently exposed himself to passengers and crew on a London to Cork flight.

Ireland's government moved to reassure anxious investors by announcing it will split nationalized lender Anglo Irish Bank in a bid to contain the impact of the bank's bailout on the country's economy.

Britain and the Netherlands shut or planned to close major airports because of volcanic ash from Iceland on Monday, threatening large-scale air traffic disruption in Europe at the start of the working week.

A mammoth cloud of ash is stretching 1,250 miles across the North Atlantic and forcing aircraft to divert south into a long-haul traffic jam, Irish and European air authorities said.

Airports in Ireland and parts of Britain were closed for hours on Tuesday because of a cloud of volcanic ash drifting south from Iceland that shut European airspace last month and could threaten summer holiday travel.

A no fly zone may have to be imposed over Ireland on Tuesday due to volcanic ash drifting south from Iceland, the Irish Aviation Authority said on Monday.

The resignation of the bishop, John Magee, added to the fallout of a scandal that has rocked the Catholic church in Ireland and throughout Europe.

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson temporarily stood down on Monday after facing calls to resign over disclosures about his family's finances that threaten the province's power-sharing system.

The euro region finally sees some modest growth, as Spain and Ireland straggle behind.