The O2, Dublin
Encyclopedia
The O2 is a 14,000-seat amphitheatre located at North Wall Quay in the Dublin Docklands
in Dublin, Ireland
, which opened on 16 December 2008. The venue is jointly owned by Live Nation and Harry Crosbie (Amphitheatre Ireland Limited) with Live Nation in charge of programme booking and operating the venue. Amphitheatre Ireland Limited have owned and operated the venue led by Mike Adamson (Live Nation) CEO of Amphitheatre Ireland Limited since 1989. The venue has played host to many world renowned performers. Michael Flatley
's Lord of the Dance
first premiered at the O2 in 1996 and did a comeback in November 2010 during the European tour.
The O2 is the second busiest concert venue in the world, in terms of ticket sales, only behind its counterpart in London
.
, a smaller music venue which operated from 1988–2007, retaining only some of the outer facade. Following its closure, the site underwent major redevelopment and was renamed after the telecommunication
brand, O2, similar to The O2
in London
. O2 paid €25 million (not verified) and, as part of the deal, 10-15 per cent of concert tickets will be made available to their 1.6 million Irish subscribers up to 48 hours in advance of going on general sale and O2 customers will also get fast-track access to the venue on the night of gigs and have exclusive use of two of the 14 bars on site. The mobile phone company also plans to make music content from Live Nation events around the world available to its subscribers.
of Rome
. There are no corporate boxes inside the venue. The backstage area has a "substantial" loading bay for trucks.
Alcohol will only be available in a high-security area of the venue in an effort to curb under-age drinking. The venue is intended to stage 150 live events each year, catering to a projected target audience of one million customers annually. It is the largest indoor venue in the country. Prior to re-development, the seating capacity
was 8,500 standing or 6,300 seated.
could only stage three-quarters of his production in the Point. We're up there now with other venues in Europe." Developer Harry Crosbie said that the Point had had a "grungy" feel "which suited Dublin at the time". He claimed that The O2 would be a "stunning venue" created for a more "sophisticated" audience. Other artists have also played the O2 including Green Day
and My Chemical Romance
.
The old Point was closed in the summer of 2007 to make way for a refurbishment to a design by Populous architects and Buro Happold
engineers. The western wall was partially removed in accordance with a plan agreed with the historic buildings authorities and the DDDA. This allowed for the extension of the staging area and backstage facilities to create a unique amphitheatre style arena. According to Populous Architects lead designer for this project, Damon lavelle, the finished design represents several years of careful collaboration with the responsible planning authority, the DDDA, and extensive consultation with the Historic Buildings authority.The executed design sensitively combines a thoughtful and inventive restoration of the historic building with the new structures( the building volume has increased fivefold)that are designed to afford a counterpoint of diminishing scale and visual weight as one reads the building from the ground up. The announcement of the rebranding of the facility to The O2 took place in July 2008.
Working with Populous, the Lead Architect, JPDA and O2 Ireland as commercial rights partners helped to create some of the O2 themed spaces within the venue.
The architecture of the O2 is designed by Populous to provide a robust, flexible venue that shall be able to respond to change and the needs of the venue owners - including present and future commercial rights partners.
The venue has been universally hailed by production Designers, Performers and Patrons alike as a breakthrough design in terms of Audience and performer interaction.
The Design has won numerous prestigious Industry awards and has been recognised by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in its 2010 awards as an historic building renovation of distinction.
were the first band to play in the venue, when Bono
and The Edge
performed "Van Diemen's Land" and "Desire" to a private audience.
The first event to take place at the arena was the ChildLine Concert
on 16 December 2008.
There was a controversial Guns N' Roses
show in September 2010 during which the band had arrived a substantial amount of time late then had bottles hurled at them and stopped performing. Most of the audience then left the building in disgust, but the band later returned to finish the show.
, Britain's Got Talent Live Tour
, The X Factor Live Tour
. It has also hosted Saltimbanco
& Quidam
events by Cirque du Soleil
. Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
has also taken place at the venue. Cesar Millan
also performed at the O2. Lady Gaga brought her 'Monster Ball' tour to the arena on October 26th-29th 2010. British dance group and Britain's Got Talent Winners Diversity
and Michael Flatley
will also perform towards the end of 2010. Strictly Come Dancing
will play at the venue in 2011. Batman Live, the worldwide arena tour has also been confirmed for 2011. The cast of Glee
performed live at The O2 during summer 2011. WWE's Wrestlemania Revenge toured during April 2011. Also the Star for all Season Britney Spears
performed there live during October, 2011, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale
.
WWE RAW World Tour comes here on November 2nd with John Cena
vs Alberto Del Rio Being the current main event for the WWE Championship.
, Lee Evans
, Peter Kay
, Frankie Boyle
, and Ricky Gervais
. Also Bill Bailey
recorded his show "Dandelion Mind" at The O2 over 2 nights in Sept/Oct 2010. Alan Carr
and Michael McIntyre
have been announced for October 2011 and November 2012 respectively.
In addition to the ferry services and shuttle buses noted on the venue's web site, Dublin Bus number 53 provides a scheduled public service to the venue. A LUAS light rail extension from the Red Line to the square in front of the venue opened on December 8, 2009, and links the DART train services at Connolly Station to the venue.
Due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic leaving the venue after concerts, extensive traffic restrictions are put in place along the North Wall Quay
after such events, which can cause both the North Wall Quay and the East-Link (Dublin)
toll bridge to be restricted for vehicular traffic by the Garda Síochána
.
The Luas
Red Line extension to the Point opened on December 8, 2009 to coincide with a performance by Lily Allen
.
In addition, those traveling to the O2 from Dublin Airport can avail of either the Greystones or Dalkey Aircoach
services which stop outside the venue, whilst several other private operators also call at the venue.
The Point
Dublin Docklands
Dublin Docklands is the area of the city of Dublin, Ireland, on both sides of the River Liffey, roughly from Talbot Memorial Bridge eastwards to the Point Depot.It is currently undergoing a large amount of development.-Projects:...
in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, which opened on 16 December 2008. The venue is jointly owned by Live Nation and Harry Crosbie (Amphitheatre Ireland Limited) with Live Nation in charge of programme booking and operating the venue. Amphitheatre Ireland Limited have owned and operated the venue led by Mike Adamson (Live Nation) CEO of Amphitheatre Ireland Limited since 1989. The venue has played host to many world renowned performers. Michael Flatley
Michael Flatley
Michael Ryan Flatley is an American Irish dancer, choreographer, actor, musician and occasional television presenter. He became internationally known for Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger...
's Lord of the Dance
Lord of the Dance (musical)
Lord of the Dance is an Irish musical and dance production that was created, choreographed, and produced by Irish-American dancer Michael Flatley, who also took a starring role...
first premiered at the O2 in 1996 and did a comeback in November 2010 during the European tour.
The O2 is the second busiest concert venue in the world, in terms of ticket sales, only behind its counterpart in London
The O2 (London)
The O2, visually typeset in branding as The O2, is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London, England, including an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants...
.
Naming
The O2 was built on the site of the former Point TheatrePoint Theatre
The Point Theatre was a concert and events venue in Ireland, that ran from 1988–2007, enjoyed by in excess of 2 million people. It was located on the North Wall Quay of the River Liffey, amongst the Dublin Docklands...
, a smaller music venue which operated from 1988–2007, retaining only some of the outer facade. Following its closure, the site underwent major redevelopment and was renamed after the telecommunication
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
brand, O2, similar to The O2
The O2 (London)
The O2, visually typeset in branding as The O2, is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London, England, including an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. O2 paid €25 million (not verified) and, as part of the deal, 10-15 per cent of concert tickets will be made available to their 1.6 million Irish subscribers up to 48 hours in advance of going on general sale and O2 customers will also get fast-track access to the venue on the night of gigs and have exclusive use of two of the 14 bars on site. The mobile phone company also plans to make music content from Live Nation events around the world available to its subscribers.
Structure and design
The arena has a capacity of over 14,000 (standing) or 9,500 (seated). Retractable seating may be withdrawn to create space for 8,000 standing in front of the stage, with the remainder seated. The furthest seat is 60 metres from the stage, 20 metres closer than in The Point. This was achieved by arranging the seats around the stage in a gigantic "fan" formation which the architects likened to the ColosseumColosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. There are no corporate boxes inside the venue. The backstage area has a "substantial" loading bay for trucks.
Alcohol will only be available in a high-security area of the venue in an effort to curb under-age drinking. The venue is intended to stage 150 live events each year, catering to a projected target audience of one million customers annually. It is the largest indoor venue in the country. Prior to re-development, the seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
was 8,500 standing or 6,300 seated.
Events
Mike Adamson (CEO of The O2) claimed that Irish fans had been short-changed when attending major events in the previous venue due to size restrictions. "It wasn't always possible to get every show touring in Europe into the venue because of restrictions. It is now. Some shows couldn't fit. For example, George MichaelGeorge Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
could only stage three-quarters of his production in the Point. We're up there now with other venues in Europe." Developer Harry Crosbie said that the Point had had a "grungy" feel "which suited Dublin at the time". He claimed that The O2 would be a "stunning venue" created for a more "sophisticated" audience. Other artists have also played the O2 including Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
and My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is an American alternative rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, and bassist Mikey Way and have a diverse sound incorporating elements of punk, emo, glam metal, and progressive rock...
.
History
Buro Happold
Buro Happold is a professional services firm providing engineering consultancy, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of buildings, infrastructure and the environment, with its head office in Bath, Somerset...
engineers. The western wall was partially removed in accordance with a plan agreed with the historic buildings authorities and the DDDA. This allowed for the extension of the staging area and backstage facilities to create a unique amphitheatre style arena. According to Populous Architects lead designer for this project, Damon lavelle, the finished design represents several years of careful collaboration with the responsible planning authority, the DDDA, and extensive consultation with the Historic Buildings authority.The executed design sensitively combines a thoughtful and inventive restoration of the historic building with the new structures( the building volume has increased fivefold)that are designed to afford a counterpoint of diminishing scale and visual weight as one reads the building from the ground up. The announcement of the rebranding of the facility to The O2 took place in July 2008.
Working with Populous, the Lead Architect, JPDA and O2 Ireland as commercial rights partners helped to create some of the O2 themed spaces within the venue.
The architecture of the O2 is designed by Populous to provide a robust, flexible venue that shall be able to respond to change and the needs of the venue owners - including present and future commercial rights partners.
The venue has been universally hailed by production Designers, Performers and Patrons alike as a breakthrough design in terms of Audience and performer interaction.
The Design has won numerous prestigious Industry awards and has been recognised by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in its 2010 awards as an historic building renovation of distinction.
Notable/historic performances
U2U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
were the first band to play in the venue, when Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
and The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
performed "Van Diemen's Land" and "Desire" to a private audience.
The first event to take place at the arena was the ChildLine Concert
ChildLine Concert
The ChildLine Concert is an annual pop music charity event which has taken place in Ireland since 1997. As the name suggests the money raised by the concert is donated to the young person's charity, ChildLine and many of the attendants are also children...
on 16 December 2008.
There was a controversial Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
show in September 2010 during which the band had arrived a substantial amount of time late then had bottles hurled at them and stopped performing. Most of the audience then left the building in disgust, but the band later returned to finish the show.
Theatrical & Other Events
The O2 has hosted many theatrical events including AidaAida (musical)
Aida is a musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, and produced by Walt Disney Theatrical....
, Britain's Got Talent Live Tour
Britain's Got Talent
Britain's Got Talent is a British television talent show competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's TalkbackThames and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV in Britain and TV3 in Ireland...
, The X Factor Live Tour
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
. It has also hosted Saltimbanco
Saltimbanco
Saltimbanco is the oldest major touring show of Cirque du Soleil that remains active in some form. Saltimbanco ran from 1992 to 2006 in its original form, performed under a large circus tent called the Grand Chapiteau; its last performance in that form was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December 10,...
& Quidam
Quidam
Quidam is the ninth stage show produced by Cirque du Soleil. It premiered in April 1996 and has now been watched by millions of spectators around the world...
events by Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
. Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is a 1978 concept album by Jeff Wayne, retelling the story of The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. Its format is progressive rock and string orchestra, using narration and leitmotifs to carry the story via rhyming melodic lyrics that express...
has also taken place at the venue. Cesar Millan
Cesar Millan
Cesar Millan, is a Mexican-born American dog trainer. A self-taught expert, he is widely known for his television series The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan, now in its seventh season and broadcast in more than eighty countries worldwide...
also performed at the O2. Lady Gaga brought her 'Monster Ball' tour to the arena on October 26th-29th 2010. British dance group and Britain's Got Talent Winners Diversity
Diversity (dance troupe)
Diversity are an English street dance troupe based in London. They are best known for winning the third series of Britain's Got Talent, famously beating Susan Boyle in the live final. They also won the Families United Positive Role Models at the Spirit of London Awards. The group, initially known...
and Michael Flatley
Michael Flatley
Michael Ryan Flatley is an American Irish dancer, choreographer, actor, musician and occasional television presenter. He became internationally known for Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger...
will also perform towards the end of 2010. Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
will play at the venue in 2011. Batman Live, the worldwide arena tour has also been confirmed for 2011. The cast of Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
performed live at The O2 during summer 2011. WWE's Wrestlemania Revenge toured during April 2011. Also the Star for all Season Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
performed there live during October, 2011, in support of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale
Femme fatale
A femme fatale is a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype of literature and art...
.
WWE RAW World Tour comes here on November 2nd with John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
vs Alberto Del Rio Being the current main event for the WWE Championship.
Comedy events
Comedians who have performed at The O2 include The Mighty BooshThe Mighty Boosh
The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy troupe featuring comedians Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding. Developed from three stage shows and a six episode radio series, it has since spawned a total of twenty television episodes for BBC Three and two live tours of the UK, as well as two live shows in the...
, Lee Evans
Lee Evans (comedian)
Lee Evans is an English comedian, writer, actor and musician.-Personal life:Lee Evans was born in Avonmouth, Bristol, England to an Irish mother and a Welsh father, Dave Evans, a nightclub performer. He left Bristol at the age of 13 and then went to The Billericay School in Billericay, Essex...
, Peter Kay
Peter Kay
Peter John Kay is an English comedian, writer, actor, director and producer. His work includes That Peter Kay Thing , Phoenix Nights , Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere , Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and other independent productions which have included two sell out tours.-Early career:Peter Kay...
, Frankie Boyle
Frankie Boyle
Francis Martin Patrick "Frankie" Boyle is a British comedian and writer, well known for his pessimistic, often controversial sense of humour...
, and Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
. Also Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey
Bill Bailey is an English comedian, musician and actor. As well as his extensive stand-up work, Bailey is well known for his appearances on Black Books, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You, and QI.Bailey was listed by The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy in...
recorded his show "Dandelion Mind" at The O2 over 2 nights in Sept/Oct 2010. Alan Carr
Alan Carr
Alan Carr is an English comedian and television personality. Born in Weymouth, he was raised in Northampton before moving to Manchester during his early 20's....
and Michael McIntyre
Michael McIntyre
Michael Hazen James McIntyre is an English stand-up comedian. He is well known for appearing at many British stand-up comedy events and for several roles on television stand-up programmes such as Live at the Apollo and his own show, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow...
have been announced for October 2011 and November 2012 respectively.
Transport
Patrons are advised to use public transport to get to the venue. Parking services for the nearby Point Village are suggested.In addition to the ferry services and shuttle buses noted on the venue's web site, Dublin Bus number 53 provides a scheduled public service to the venue. A LUAS light rail extension from the Red Line to the square in front of the venue opened on December 8, 2009, and links the DART train services at Connolly Station to the venue.
Due to the high volume of pedestrian traffic leaving the venue after concerts, extensive traffic restrictions are put in place along the North Wall Quay
North Wall (Dublin)
North Wall is an inner city area on the Northside of Dublin.Dominated by a combination of older housing, dockland activities and new development, from apartments and offices to hotels and the planned multi-purpose Point Village, North Wall lies downstream of the city centre....
after such events, which can cause both the North Wall Quay and the East-Link (Dublin)
East-Link (Dublin)
The East-Link is a toll bridge in Dublin, Ireland, on the River Liffey, owned by Dublin City Council and operated by NTR plc. The lifting bridge, which links North Wall to Ringsend, is the last bridge on the Liffey, which opens out into Dublin Port and then Dublin Bay just beyond...
toll bridge to be restricted for vehicular traffic by the Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
.
The Luas
Luas
Luas , also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, is a tram or light rail system serving Dublin, the first such system in the decades since the closure of the last of the Dublin tramways. In 2007, the system carried 28.4 million passengers, a growth of 10% since...
Red Line extension to the Point opened on December 8, 2009 to coincide with a performance by Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
.
In addition, those traveling to the O2 from Dublin Airport can avail of either the Greystones or Dalkey Aircoach
Aircoach
Aircoach is a Republic of Ireland based subsidiary company of the United Kingdom based FirstGroup. It provides airport bus express coach services from Cork, Greystones, Bray, South Dublin and Dublin City Centre to Dublin Airport. It also operates contracted bus service for airport car parks...
services which stop outside the venue, whilst several other private operators also call at the venue.
The Point
Point Village
The Point Village is a new 'city quarter' in the North Wall area of Dublin, Ireland. The €800 million development is currently under construction and was planned to feature a shopping centre, a cinema complex, a museum, offices and a hotel plus a five-storey underground car park.-Projects:The O2...
External links
- Official site
- O2 Blueroom
- Hot Press on site at The O2
- RTÉ report on the venue's opening
- State Magazine photos of early shows: Kings of Leon Coldplay
- Hot Press photos: Kings of Leon AC/DC Beyoncé Knowles Def Leppard and Whitesnake Neil Young Britney Spears com/photos/photo.php?id=5712422 Leonard Cohen
- New Kids on the Block, Il Divo, Cirque du Soleil, Neil Young reviews at the Irish IndependentIrish IndependentThe Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
- Cirque du Soleil slideshow at The Irish TimesThe Irish TimesThe Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...