What influenced culture in 2025?

Every month, we speak to 1,000 adults across Ireland, asking them about the biggest stories shaping that moment in time - spanning politics and public affairs, sport and entertainment, pop culture, economics and more. We measure not just what happened, but what truly broke through.

First, we ask which stories people were aware of, giving us a clear read on national attention and engagement.

More importantly, we explore how significant each story felt in people’s own lives - whether it influenced their thinking, affected their behaviour, or shaped conversations in their homes and communities.

By combining these two dimensions - awareness and personal importance - we create the Cultural Index: a single score that identifies which moments, news events and cultural flashpoints have the greatest impact on public sentiment. It reveals what really resonates, what fades, and what defines the cultural climate of Ireland each month.

#1 News Event of 2025

Storm Éowyn hits Ireland with highest ever recorded winds, and resulting in the highest number of people without electricity, water and telecommunications.

80% of people said this was of great significance to them.

Top Stories Impacting Ireland in 2025

In a year shaped by disruption and resilience, several locally grounded stories significantly influenced Irish culture, confidence and everyday conversation. Early in the year, Storm Eowyn in February delivered record winds and widespread outages, becoming the most personally significant story of 2025 for the public (80%). In the months that followed, affordability pressures came to define much of the national mood. By October, grocery inflation had reached its highest level in nearly two years, a quietly powerful story reflecting the strain on household budgets (68%). Around February, the decision to reduce rural speed limits from 80 km/h to 60 km/h gained strong public traction, highlighting daily commuting realities and shared concerns about road safety (68%).

Economic anxieties continued to shape sentiment. In January, the minimum wage rose to €13.50 per hour, perceived as an essential measure for workers most exposed to the high cost of living (66%). Yet November brought stark reminders of inequality, with homelessness numbers rising again - including more than 5,000 children without a home (65%).

Political and societal debates also intensified. Late in December, the Government moved to tighten immigration rules (65%), while April saw major concern over EU tariffs that threatened up to 80,000 Irish jobs (64%). But the year also offered moments of renewed optimism: in November, Catherine Connolly’s election as President - earning a record 914,143 votes - was viewed by 64% as a significant and hopeful moment for Ireland.

Several clear themes unite these stories. Affordability and economic insecurity remained dominant, shaping reactions to grocery inflation, wage increases and job-threatening tariff disputes. Daily-life safety and social wellbeing also featured strongly, seen in debates on speed limits, rising homelessness and the impact of severe weather.

Societal cohesion and identity emerged as another major thread, reflected in heightened discourse around immigration and in the public’s strong endorsement of new presidential leadership.

Together, these themes point to a nation balancing immediate pressures with a continued desire for fairness, stability and a sense of collective direction.

“We saw the emergence of hope, we saw the emergence of joy, along with the courage and determination of people to use their voices to shape a country that we can be proud of.

As President of Ireland, I will ensure that all voices are represented, heard and valued, and promote a public discourse that nourishes inclusivity, tolerance and active citizenship.

President Catherine Connolly.

Inauguration speech.

28 February 2025

Trump and Vance argue with Zelensky in the White House.

70% of the public said this was significant.

Top Stories Beyond Ireland in 2025

In contrast to the locally grounded stories shaping daily Irish life, a parallel set of global events exerted a more indirect - yet deeply influential - pressure on national sentiment and confidence. In February, Donald Trump’s return as US President (70%) immediately set the tone for a year marked by geopolitical uncertainty. This was reinforced in March, when Trump and Vice President Vance clashed publicly with President Zelensky in the White House (70%), amplifying perceptions of instability among global powers.

Across the year, Gaza remained a central emotional and moral focus. By August, reports of soaring starvation levels as the US and Israel withdrew from peace talks (67%) sharply heightened public concern, especially following earlier hopes when in February Israel and Palestine agreed a ceasefire (67%).

The contrast between anticipation and disappointment deeply shaped public consciousness.

War-related humanitarian crises extended far beyond the Middle East. In February, wildfires in California (67%) underscored the escalating human and environmental toll of global disasters. In May, Trump’s imposition - and subsequent suspension - of US tariffs (66%) added to economic unease.

That same month, US airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran (66%) intensified public fears around escalating conflict. In April, Ukraine peace talks between the US and Russia (66%) signalled fragile progress, while the Myanmar earthquake in April (64%) served as another reminder of global vulnerability.

These events, though not directly impacting daily Irish routines, significantly shape national mood.

They reinforce a sense of global instability, driven heavily by Trump’s highly visible actions across the year. Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and failed ceasefires resonated deeply with Irish audiences, while ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran sustained anxieties about the future.

Collectively, these stories cultivated an environment where uncertainty feels ever-present.