A hub of the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO)
EDMO Ireland is providing media literacy training to a panel of trainers from Media Literacy Ireland (MLI). Both organisations share the goal of increasing media literacy in Ireland. However, neither EDMO Ireland nor MLI is in a position to deliver training nationwide. Instead, the MLI-certified trainer panel will identify individuals with expertise in different aspects … Read More “EDMO Ireland Supports Media Literacy Trainer Development” »
A claim circulating on social media falsely alleges that the Premier League has banned players from wearing rainbow-coloured bootlaces and captain’s armbands linked to the Rainbow Laces campaign. This claim is untrue. While the Premier League has ended its formal partnership with the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, which launched the Rainbow Laces initiative, players remain free to wear rainbow laces, armbands, or other inclusive symbols if they choose to do so.
In early August 2025, Fox News aired a segment claiming Dublin had experienced a 114% rise in “murder/assault attempts”, attributing this surge to increased immigration. A fact-check by The Journal thoroughly debunks this claim. The report notes there is no official crime category labelled “murder/assault attempts”, and statistics from An Garda Síochána or the Central … Read More “Debunked: Fox News claims about an Irish crime wave are based on discredited claims and bad stats” »
As Ireland’s 2025 presidential race unfolds, the integrity of its democratic process faces new challenges from foreign interference and smear campaigns to misinformation spread by bots. Writing in The Irish Times, Eileen Culloty, assistant professor in communications and deputy director of the DCU Institute for Media, Democracy and Society, together with David Farrell, Professor of Politics at University College Dublin and expert in electoral systems, argue that institutional safeguards alone are not enough. And advocate empowering ordinary citizen through tools like citizen panels and grassroots vigilance to actively defend democratic norms and ensure fair and trusted elections.
The controversy was reported by Belgian publications back in 2018. A viral video showing children praying in a mosque has been falsely presented as evidence of school indoctrination, but in truth, it dates back to 2018 and features a visit organised by a non-profit aiming to promote religious understanding—a trip not part of any school … Read More “Debunked: Old video of a Belgian mosque claims to show “what they’re teaching kids now in school”” »
On 04 July, Dr Eileen Culloty was invited to participate in an expert workshop at the Council of Europe. The workshop provided specialist insight into a draft strategic document on countering disinformation and promoting information integrity. Dr Culloty contributed insights from her role as coordinator of EDMO Ireland and as a member of the working … Read More “EDMO Ireland Contributes to Council of Europe Workshop on Countering Disinformation” »
On Monday, 23rd June, EDMO Ireland and Media Literacy Ireland co-hosted the inaugural Disinformation Forum at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. The event marked a key milestone in Ireland’s newly launched National Counter Disinformation Strategy (NCDS) and was supported by the media literacy and user education team at Coimisiún na Meán. Opening the forum, Minister for … Read More “Inaugural Disinformation Forum Launched in Limerick” »
EDMO Ireland was invited to deliver a two-hour workshop on disinformation as part of the Dublin Region Public Participation Networks (PPN) Summer School. The session, led by Eileen Culloty, was attended by a wide range of community representatives. PPNs provide a vital link between local authorities and community groups across Ireland, giving citizens a greater … Read More “EDMO Ireland Leads Disinformation Workshop at PPN Summer School” »
The Be Online Smart campaign continues to raise awareness about the impact of recommendation algorithms on our online experience. Be Online Smart is an initiative by the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) and its network of 14 national hubs. On Tuesday, Dublin City University (DCU) introduced the campaign to participants in a media literacy workshop … Read More “Be Online Smart Campaign Engages Irish Librarians” »
Factcheckers will be central to new European Commission plans to safeguard democracy under the EU’s Democracy Shield, according to Commissioner Michael McGrath. Speaking at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), McGrath outlined the Commission’s efforts to build resilience against disinformation. McGrath, who became EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and … Read More “Factchecking will play a key role in EU Democracy Shield” »
