The Rock of Cashel in Co Tipperary, lit up for St Patrick’s Festival last night (Image: Debbie Hickey/Flickr).

HERE ARE ALL the things we learned, loved and shared today.

THINGS WE LEARNED

#LOWRY: Gardaí are examining a tape containing a recorded conversation between independent TD Michael Lowry and land agent Kevin Phelan with details of a payment of £250,000 that the TD said that he never declared. The full telephone conversation between Lowry and Phelan was played on last night’s Tonight with Vincent Browne.

#HORSEMEAT: ABP Food Group has said it is ‘bitterly disappointed’ by comments made by the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney over the horsemeat scandal. Meanwhile QK Meats said today that it “has an exemplary record in terms of food quality and safety standards”, after it emerged yesterday that the company tested for horse DNA in June 2012 and got positive results.

#APPEALS: Gardaí have today appealed for information from the public following the shooting of a man in his 30s in Mayo yesterday evening. In Kilkenny, gardaí also renewed their appeal for witnesses to come forward with any information they might have about the death of 43-year-old Anthony Barrett whose body was found last week.

#PRIORY HALL: Minister of State for housing and planning, Jan O’Sullivan has said that the ex-residents of Priory Hall are “in a dreadful situation”. In an interview with TheJournal.ie, the junior minister also admitted that other developments could exist with “similarities” to the doomed Donaghmede development.

#ARREST: A Sky News reporter was arrested in Beijing today while filming with his crew in Tiananmen Square. Mark Stone managed to film the arrest for Sky News, explaining that he believed the authorities did not know the footage was being broadcast live.

Spot any familiar faces? US and Irish Business Leaders, in honor of Ireland Day, ring the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange on March (Image: Ben Hider/NYSE Euronext).

THINGS WE LOVED

• This amazing note from a dad to his gay son. We won’t lie, we teared up a little.
• This photography project entitled ‘I Collect Gingers’ by Anthea Pokroy. There’s bound to be a few Irish heads in there somewhere.
• There are a couple of things we love about this video. One of them is the incredible discipline shown by the street performer and we think you can guess the other…

(Video: oathyRICH/YouTube)

THINGS WE SHARED

• These quick tips for people unfortunate enough not to be Irish. Basically a guide on how to charm us and understand our ways.
• In true Ted Talk fashion, this video explains the evolution of photography in a simple and amusing way:

(Video: TEDEducation/YouTube)

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