NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

A colourful painting decorates the closed shutters of a Dublin restaurant. Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Leah Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

• The Department of Health said another 18 people have died and a further 386 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Ireland.
• One of Ireland’s foremost poets Eavan Boland died aged 75.
• The government has said it’s aware some Irish people are “getting fed up of social distancing measures”. 
• A lobby group has said it seeking the government’s help to save 90% of restaurants from permanent closure.
• An investigation was launched into the unexplained deaths of two women at a hostel in Tullamore.
• There are “deep concerns” about the lack of reporting of Covid-19 deaths among people with intellectual disabilities.
• Tiede Herrema – the Dutch businessman kidnapped by the IRA in 1975 – died aged 99.
• Donegal locals were “angry and frustrated” that Northern Ireland day trippers are not covered by Covid-19 laws.
• The Rose of Tralee festival has been cancelled for the first time in its history due to Covid-19.

INTERNATIONAL

Travellers walk beneath a 'thank you NHS' message displayed at a largely empty Waterloo station, in London Dominic Lipinski / PA Images Dominic Lipinski / PA Images / PA Images

#UK: Boris Johnson returned to Downing Street today and said the UK has “wrestled Covid-19 to the floor” but that lockdown must remain for now.

#SPECULATION: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is “alive and well”, South Korea has said.

#JACINDA ARDERN: New Zealand is set to ease its strict lockdown measures as Covid-19 numbers fall.

PARTING SHOT

RTÉ reporter Philip Bromwell was on hand today as family members formed a guard of honour for 86-year-old Barbara Holmes as she was released from hospital after recovering from Covid-19.

It’s a lovely sight.

Philip Bromwell / Twitter Philip Bromwell / Twitter / Twitter