EVERY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you the five big news stories you need to know.

1. #GREEN ARMY: Tens of thousands of people have been taking part in celebrations around the country to mark St Patrick’s Day. And it’s not just in Ireland – famous landmarks around the world have been turned green to mark the day.

2. #COURTS: Four men charged over an incident that happened in Dublin on Monday have been warned to stay away from Stoneybatter.

3. #BAD LOANS: The number of sub-prime mortgage arrears in Ireland has increased dramatically, with almost 20,000 in arrears of more than 90 days, according to new figures.

4. #OFFENCE: A BBC investigation has cleared Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson over the use of the word ‘pikey’ in an episode last year. The decision has been criticised by organisations representing Travellers.

5. #ISRAEL: Turnout is reported to be unexpectedly high in the Israeli general election, with a close fight expected between sitting prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Isaac Herzog.

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The 5 at 5 5 minutes, 5 stories, 5 o’clock…

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.