LAST UPDATE | 20 Apr

GOOD MORNING.

Here’s all the news you need to know as you start the day.

Bed spaces for rent

1. A former office on Clare Street in Dublin 2 has been converted into a residential property, with up to 22 bed spaces available to let for up to €890 each per month.

It is one of many examples of multiple-person room sharing being advertised across rental sites and social media as housing supply remains critically low across Ireland. 

Louisiana

2. A Louisiana father fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own, during an early morning attack on his family yesterday, police said.

Officials said the children — who were all killed in the same house — ranged in age from three to 11 years old.

Strait of Hormuz

3. The United States said it attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to get around a naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, the first interception since its blockade of Iranian ports began last week.

GRA

4. The annual delegate conference for rank and file gardaí will hear an emergency motion to call for action against threats made to members during the recent fuel protests. 

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) will meet in Westport, Co Mayo this week to discuss a range of topics. 

Council of State

5. President Catherine Connolly will hold a meeting of the Council of State to discuss the constitutionality of the International Protection Bill 2026 this afternoon.

The meeting will be held at Áras an Uachtaráin at 2.30pm. 

Middle East

6. The Israeli army said an image circulating on social media that shows a soldier in south Lebanon hitting a statue of Jesus Christ is authentic and depicts one of its troops.

The image appears to show an Israeli soldier using a sledgehammer to strike the head of a statue of a crucified Jesus that had fallen off of a cross.

Vacant

7. Boarded-up house and crumbling buildings are a common feature of towns and cities across Ireland.

Last month, the compulsory purchase order (CPO) process was used via An Coimisiún Pleanála for two properties – a drop on the seven applications made in February.

Screen-free schooling 

8. In a digital-first world, a Dublin primary school is pushing back, as parents increasingly ask why more schools aren’t doing the same.

The principal of Dublin Waldorf School sets out why the school operates on a screen-free basis.

Weather forecast

9. A dry and sunny week kicks off today – although of course it’s never that straightforward.

Today will be mainly dry, with “just the chance” of a light shower amidst sunny spells, Met Éireann said. Starting crisp, temperatures this afternoon will range from 12 to 16 or 17 degrees.