EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the stories you need to know as you kick off your day.

1. #NOT HAPPY: In a letter written to the Irish Independent, former President of Ireland Mary McAleese criticised comments made by Pope Francis about slapping children.

2. #IS: The family of a US hostage who Islamic State group said is dead are still hopeful she is alive.

3. #FIRE: A woman in her 80s has died in a house fire in Limerick city.

4. #PROTECTION: A village near Tralee are demanding more of a police presence after criminals broke into the local Garda station, reports The Irish Examiner.

5. #FLU: No visitors are allowed to attend St James’s Hospital this weekend due to a flu outbreak.

6. #REBEL SONG: Sinn Féin said it ‘didn’t intend’ to use U2 sound-alike song for their 2016 video.

7. #INTERVIEW: Michael Healy-Rae told TheJournal.ie about one of his pet peeves – the National Road Authority’s ‘insane’ approach to building motorways.

8. #INFORMATION: Parents are worried about data being stored about their children online.

9. #SIX NATIONS: Ireland begin the defence of their Six Nations title away to Italy at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico this afternoon.