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Nenagh / Hartford, Connecticut, Tipperary footballer Barry Coffey has been confirmed as a new signing for Hartford Athletic, who compete in the USL Championship, the second tier of professional men’s soccer in the United States.
The 24-year-old, from Nenagh, in Co. Tipperary, joins the Connecticut-based club after a standout 2025 season with Cobh Ramblers in the SSE Airtricity League First Division.
Coffey finished the campaign as the First Division’s leading scorer, with 26 goals and four assists in 35 league matches, a remarkable return from an advanced midfield role.
His impact was recognised by his peers when he was named PFAI Men’s First Division Player of the Year (2025).
Coffey’s career pathway has included time in the Celtic development system, a spell on loan with Cliftonville, and spells in the League of Ireland with Cork City and Cobh Ramblers, before securing his move stateside.
Thirty-three Polish and Lithuanian citizens have been removed from the Irish State on a charter flight departing Dublin Airport this afternoon, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.
All of those removed had received custodial sentences in Ireland for a range of criminal offences, the department said. The group comprised 31 men and two women, with ages ranging from the early 20s to the early 60s.
An Garda Síochána said 20 of those removed were currently serving custodial sentences, while 13 others had been arrested and detained at locations across Ireland and were lodged in prison in advance of their removal.
The offences associated with those removed ranged from multiple road traffic offences, including driving without insurance, to sexual assault, drug offences, and alleged involvement in organised crime, according to the department and garda statements.
Legal basis under EU free movement rules.
As citizens of EU member states, Polish and Lithuanian nationals have the right to reside in Ireland under the EU Free Movement Directive. However, the directive allows for the removal and exclusion of an EU citizen, or their family member, where they are considered to represent a danger to public policy, public security or public health.
The Department of Justice said such orders may be made where an individual’s personal conduct is deemed to represent a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society.
In a statement, the Minister for Justice said that freedom of movement is among the most fundamental rights available to EU citizens, but that restrictions can be applied where a person’s behaviour means they should no longer be entitled to avail of that right. The Minister added that enforcement action would be taken where individuals are considered a danger to society, while stressing that the vast majority of Polish and Lithuanian nationals living in Ireland respect the law and contribute positively.
Flight details and cost.
The charter flight departed Dublin Airport at 12:30pm, travelling first to Warsaw before continuing to Vilnius, the Department of Justice said. The department stated that the cost to the State for the provision of the aircraft was €122,000.
The returnees were accompanied by garda personnel, medical staff, two interpreters and a human rights observer, the department said. No separate cost was provided for accompanying personnel.
Recent enforcement figures
The department said 56 people were removed from Ireland under the Free Movement Directive in 2025, up from 18 the previous year. The 2025 total included 23 removed on a charter flight to Romania, with others removed on commercial flights and a number leaving the State voluntarily, according to official figures.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Saturday 24th January 2026, of Mr Tommy O’Dwyer, No. 3 St Brigid’s Villas, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Pre-deceased recently by his beloved wife Joan, parents Denis and Maureen and his sister Anne; Mr O’Dwyer sadly passed away unexpectedly at his place of ordinary residence.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving daughters Denise (Gould) and Lorraine (Carroll), grandchildren Harry, Jack, Charlie and Clodagh, sons-in-law James and John, brother Noel, sisters Mary, Collette, Bernie and Eileen, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended relatives, neighbours and many friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mr O’Dwyer will repose at Kennedy’s Funeral Home, Castlequarter, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, (Eircode E41 VX81), on tomorrow afternoon, Monday January 26th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the nearby Church of the Sacred Heart Church, Pallas Street, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, on Tuesday morning, January 27th, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in St Brigid’s Cemetery, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr O’Dwyer, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended O’Dwyer family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Thurles & Tipperary Says Stop The “Junket” Slur – Start the Accountability – Publish the Outcomes of St Patrick’s US Missions.
Ireland must travel, must engage, and must report back, in black and white.
Ireland should maintain the St Patrick’s Day diplomatic programme within the United States, including the Taoiseach’s White House engagement, because it is one of the few annual moments when a small island reliably gets direct access to the world’s most consequential decision-makers, investors and influencers.
But if we are truly serious about ‘people before posturing’, then every travelling politician and councillors must also be required to prove value for money and publish measurable outcomes on return.
That is the missing piece in this annual debate: loud accusations of “junkets” on one side, defensiveness on the other, and far too little mandatory, standardised reporting to the public.
It has been reported that nine or ten ministers are expected to travel to up to 15 US states around St Patrick’s Day. Meanwhile, FOI figures reports show €1,096,493 spent on 569 St Patrick’s Day events globally, with an average cost per event of €1,927.
That is not inherently scandalous. It can be excellent diplomacy. But it must be auditable diplomacy.
Engagement is not endorsement, it’s statecraft.
Tourism matters too; and we should never insult the American people. The United States is one of Ireland’s most important tourism markets and supports jobs right across this island, from hotels and restaurants to visitor attractions, guides and local festivals.
Tourism Ireland notes that in 2023 the island welcomed over 1.2 million US visitors, who spent about €1.7 billion here, making the US the most important overseas market for revenue.
Tourism Ireland’s USA Market Profile 2024 reports 1.3 million American tourists, €2.0 billion in spend, and 11.4 million bed nights; figures that underline just how much Irish employment depends on maintaining goodwill with ordinary American people, not just the political class in Washington.
You can disagree robustly with any US administration, while still showing respect to the American public, the diaspora, and the millions who choose Ireland in good faith.
Diplomacy that drifts into contempt is not “taking a stand” – it is self-harm.
Some opposition voices argue our Taoiseach should not go to Washington at all. People Before Profit TD Mr Richard Boyd Barrett has said it is “not appropriate” for Mr Martin to present President Donald Trump with shamrock this year.
Labour MEP Mr Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has also publicly taken a “No to the Shamrock ceremony” position. Labour leader Ms Ivana Bacik has also ‘raised conditions’ around any visit if threats continue.
Whatever the merits of ‘snub the White House’ rhetoric, it is just gesture politics unless those calling for such a boycott can set out a credible alternative strategy, which of course they haven’t.
Yes, they are entitled to their stance. But the public is entitled to ask a harder question: what is their alternative plan to protect Irish jobs, Irish exports and Irish leverage, in real time, when the stakes are highest?
Ireland cannot clap itself on the back for moral purity, while leaving Irish workers, exporters and inward investment exposed.
The national interest is not served by boycotts that make headlines at home and achieve nothing in Washington.
The public interest test: show the receipts and the results.
If critics insist on calling these trips “junkets”, and who can blame them, then the answer is simple: remove the ambiguity.
From this year onwards, every minister and senior office-holder travelling on St Patrick’s missions should be required to publish a short, standard “Outcomes Report” within 30 days of returning, laid before the Oireachtas and posted publicly.
That report should include:
- Full itinerary (meetings, organisations, purpose).
- Total cost (travel, accommodation, hospitality), itemised.
- Concrete outcomes (investment leads, trade barriers raised, diaspora commitments secured, cultural/tourism campaigns launched).
- Follow-up actions with named officials/agencies and deadlines.
- What did not happen (meetings refused, issues parked, risks flagged).
This is not bureaucracy, it is basic democratic accountability. If nearly €1.1m is being spent globally on St Patrick’s Day events, the public should see, clearly, what Ireland gets in return.
A direct challenge to the “boycott brigade”.
It is easy to demand that Ireland “takes a stand” from a safe distance. It is harder to sit across the table from power and argue Ireland’s case, on trade, immigration, investment, peace and international law, and then come home and account for what was achieved.
If the likes of People Before Profit and a Labour MEP want to oppose engagement, let them publish their own alternative: a costed, credible strategy that protects Irish livelihoods and advances Irish values, without access, without dialogue, and without influence. Otherwise, it is politics as performance. Who elected these people anyway?
Ireland should go – and Ireland should know.
Ireland should absolutely maintain the St Patrick’s diplomatic programme in the US, and Irish politicians should visit American cities beyond Washington because that is where investment decisions, diaspora networks and industry clusters live.
But also the era of “trust us” travel must end.
Go. Engage. Promote Ireland. Protect jobs. Defend values, and then report back to the over taxed individuals who fe..ing paid for it all.
Tipperary among counties hit, as two Dublin men face court over alleged DoneDeal/Facebook vehicle thefts.
Gardaí say vehicle sellers in Tipperary were among those targeted in an alleged “nationwide” series of thefts involving motorbikes and cars advertised online, with “fake” or “simulated” proof of bank transfers used to obtain vehicles.
Mr Edward Collins aged 21 years, of Collinstown Crescent, and Mr Sean Hutchinson aged 24 years, of Cooleven Green, both in Clondalkin, appeared before Dublin District Court facing 13 and 24 charges respectively. The allegations relate to the theft of vehicles valued at €49,258, taken from advertisers using DoneDeal and Facebook Marketplace.
The court heard it is alleged the pair stole vehicles from advertisers across multiple counties, with Tipperary listed among the affected areas, alongside Dublin, Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Kilkenny, Kildare, Wexford, Offaly, Laois and Louth, on dates ranging from June 27th to October 15th 2025.
Gardaí alleged the two men are jointly accused of stealing seven motorcycles, including Kawasaki, Yamaha and Honda models, and two cars, a BMW and a Ford Focus, as well as fuel from filling stations.
The court was told Mr Hutchinson faces additional charges alleging he separately took part in a burglary in Lucan, during which four motorbikes were stolen, and that he is also accused of further fuel thefts and the taking of three additional cars, an Audi A4, a Toyota Yaris and a Volkswagen Golf.
Gardaí Mr Ian Galvin and Mr Sean Egan, of Pearse Street Garda Station, told Judge Ms Paula Murphy the defendants made no reply when charged. The prosecution objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the scale of the investigation.
In evidence opposing bail for Mr Collins, Garda Egan alleged the accused responded to ads and contacted vendors using another person’s identity and documents. It was claimed meetings were arranged and that Mr Collins showed sellers what appeared to be proof of a transfer on his phone before taking possession of the vehicle; however, the funds did not arrive and the image displayed was described in court as “fake” or “simulated”.
The court also heard Gardaí believe further charges may be sought, potentially bringing the value of the alleged thefts to up to €300,000, and that distress was caused to the person whose identity was allegedly used.
Mr Hutchinson deferred his bail application. Mr Collins was granted bail on a €10,000 bond, with a €20,000 independent surety (to be approved). If he takes up bail, he must comply with a curfew and is not permitted to leave Dublin. Judge Murphy said the decision to grant bail had been “borderline” and refused to reduce the amounts sought by the defence.
Both men were granted legal aid and are due to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday next, 29 January 29th 2026. The court heard directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions are required and the case is likely to be sent forward to the Circuit Court, where wider sentencing powers apply.
DoneDeal’s safety guidance warns sellers not to hand over goods solely on the basis of screenshots or “proof” shown on a phone, and to ensure payment has been received in cleared funds before completing a sale.
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