As (very early) Christmas wreaths were hung, and a president newly inaugurated, we all learned a lot about ourselves. Here are all the best bits from the month of November.

1. President Catherine Connolly is inaugurated

Catherine Connolly is officially the tenth President of Ireland after her inauguration ceremony at Dublin Castle earlier this month. The ceremony was attended by members of the Government, former presidents, the judiciary, the First Minister of Northern Ireland as well as ambassadors and religious leaders.

On a day of pomp and celebration, the 68-year-old former barrister said that as Ireland’s 10th president, she would ensure “all voices” were heard and would promote climate action, tolerance and a Gaelic revival.

2. COP 30 summit

COP30 was held in Belém, Brazil, this month, and focused on accelerating climate action implementation with key outcomes including renewed commitments to transition away from fossil fuels, initiatives to tackle organic waste and methane emissions, and a renewed focus on water as a cornerstone of climate policy.

The conference also highlighted themes like climate, biodiversity, and Indigenous rights, and saw the launch of new plans to support sustainable agriculture, freshwater access, and a “Jobs & Skills for the New Economy” initiative.

The summit was a reality check on just how much global consensus has broken down over what to do about climate change, named a ‘COP of truth’ by many. At it, the future of COP itself was also called into question, with many suggesting the idea of flying thousands in from around the world to discuss climate action as nonsensical.

3. Paschal Donohue fled the governmental nest for the World Bank

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe resigned this month from his role in Government to take up a position at the World Bank. In a statement, Donohoe confirmed that he was “departing from public life” in Ireland and resigning as Minister for Finance “effective immediately”. He confirmed that he would also stand down as a TD for Dublin Central.

He soon after took up the second most senior position in the World Bank, as Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer. The organisation’s president is Ajay Banga, and the bank provides low-interest loans to developing countries.

4. Ireland’s services sector hits 3-year high

This November saw a rebound in Ireland’s services sector, which accelerated at its fastest pace in three-and-a-half years, according to a new survey. The AIB Ireland Services Business Activity Index climbed to 58.5 in November from 56.7 in October, the fastest rate of growth in the sector since May 2022. PMI readings above 50 indicate growth in activity.

The biggest expansion was in financial services, followed by technology, media and telecoms. Transport, tourism and leisure saw the first increase in activity since February.

5. US tariffs haven’t hit just yet, but are looming, according to IFAC

Most of Ireland’s big corporate taxpayers have, so far, escaped the direct impact of US tariffs, but American trade policies have made the outlook for this critical source of government revenue increasingly uncertain, according to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.

They noted on Wednesday that the pharmaceutical and technology sectors, which together represent about 87% of corporate tax payments from US-owned firms, had avoided US tariffs so far. In fact, the watchdog said pharmaceutical exports to the U.S. had benefitted from frontloading, with Ireland’s shipments exceeding the record total for all of 2024 by April, as companies moved to stay ahead of potential trade barriers. It added that the data also pointed to a structural increase in exports of an active ingredient used in weight-loss drugs, boosting short-term corporate tax receipts.

However, IFAC warned the sector’s outlook remained “very uncertain”.

6. Inflation & Employment 

Regarding inflation, the EU Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices for Ireland is estimated to have risen by 3.2% in the 12 months to November 2025 and fallen by 0.2% since October 2025. This compares with inflation of 2.8% in Ireland in the 12 months to October 2025 and an annual increase of 2.1% in the HICP for the Eurozone in the same period. “The latest flash estimate indicates that prices for consumer goods and services in Ireland are estimated to have increased by 3.2% in the past year,” Anthony Dawson, Statistician in the Prices Division, commented on the data. “Food prices are estimated to be unchanged since last month and increased by 4.2% in the last 12 months. Transport costs have grown by 0.1% in the month and rose by 3.0% in the 12 months to November 2025.”

As per unemployment, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9%, down from 5.0% in October 2025. On an annual basis, the unemployment rate increased from 4.2% in November 2024 to 4.9% in November 2025.

7. Record-breaking rainfall makes November one of the wettest on record

November 2025 was the fifth wettest November in 85 years of records for Ireland, Met Éireann has shared. The national gridded average rainfall of 189mm made November the fifth wettest in 85 years and 136% of its 1991-2020 long-term average.

The wettest November was in 2009 (278.8 mm), and the driest was in 1942 (33.2 mm). Of the top 10 wettest Novembers, four have occurred since 2001 (highest first 2009, 2015, 2002, and 2025).

8. M&A’s November 2025

This month included:

Tara Financial Planners acquired by Gallivan Financial

Kerry-based Gallivan Financial has acquired Dublin-based Tara Financial. It is the fifth new business that the financial planning and wealth management firm has acquired in the past two years.

Genesis Automation acquired by Diversis Capital

Cork-based company Genesis Automation Healthcare is merging with two US tech firms, Kermit and Meperia, as part of a multimillion-dollar acquisition by US private equity firm Diversis Capital. The combination aims to create a larger, more competitive healthcare technology company by integrating its complementary technologies for the healthcare supply chain.

Blackwell Associates acquired by Medmark Occupational Health

Medmark Occupational Healthcare has acquired Blackwell Associates. (Deal consideration was not disclosed.) Medmark’s acquisition signals a strategic move into Northern Ireland, expanding its footprint beyond its existing practices across major Irish cities. By taking over one of Northern Ireland’s leading occupational health providers, the firm broadens its geographic reach.

BHSM LLP merges with OBH Partners

Irish-owned law firms BHSM LLP and OBH Partners have announced that are to merge this December. The new firm, to be known as BHSM LLP incorporating OBH Partners, will be based at BHSM’s office at 76 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2. It will comprise 70 legal professionals, including 40 solicitors.

In summary…

There’s something about the festive season that turns everyone a bit feral, isn’t there? Whether it’s the chaos of Christmas parties or the darker evenings, it can turn even normally drab office workers into frenzied festive hams. Before the hangovers take them down a peg, naturally.

Meanwhile, a new day is dawning. And with it, a new suite of content from Fitzgerald Power. As such, this means that this Lessons column will be our last. Thank you for all the joy, reading and (hopefully) learning we all took from this, and looking forward to seeing you on the flip side with lessons, albeit in a different format, new.

And, hey, we’ll always have Paris. Here’s to a happy festive season and a brilliant new year!

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