A performer, Charlie Warner, holds a cast of his own head to promote Edinburgh Festival Fringe show ‘Salome’, on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, during the opening day of the world’s largest arts festival. (Danny Lawson/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

THINGS WE LEARNED:

#QUINN RALLY Fr Brian D’Arcy has defended his appearance at a rally in support of the Quinn family in Cavan last week. Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning, he told Charlie Bird that he makes no apology for being there as a priest, and that “a community has a right to get together and be supportive”.

#HSE Health Minister James Reilly and Taoiseach Enda Kenny “did not mislead the Dáil” on HSE difficulties, it was said today. The minister’s spokesperson made the statement in response to claims from Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who said that Reilly “ignored” warnings from the HSE chief executive about the health budget.

#SEARCH Gardaí and sub aqua divers are continuing to search under Dublin’s city streets after reports that two men were seen climbing into a manhole on Ship Street Little. The manhole leads to the River Poddle, and a series of interconnected tunnels below the streets of the capital. There has been no sign of the two men that were seen last night.

#REST IN PEACE Tributes have poured in for writer and journalist Con Houlihan, the great sports writer who passed away at the age of 86 following a long illness. Micheál Martin described him as “one of Ireland’s most respected and talented sports writers”.

#SYRIA Fighting continues in Aleppo and Damascus today, amid reports that a Syrian TV presenter, Mohammad al-Saeed, was executed a few weeks after being kidnapped. Meanwhile, 48 pilgrims from Iran were kidnapped in Syria by armed rebels, their embassy’s consular chief told Iran’s state television. The pilgrims were on the way to the airport.

Two undead participants in the Dublin Zombie Walk this afternoon. (Pic: Declan Clancy)

THINGS WE LOVED:

• They’re not here to eat your brains (we think) – they’re here to raise money for charity. That’s nice, eh? Thousands of zombies took to the Dublin streets today, and some people weren’t sure if they were the real thing or not…

• We loved these pictures in a strange and sort of weird way: what happens when your skin is photographed under ultraviolet light? The results as seen on TheGuardian website, are bizarre but unforgettable.
• Are there certain foods that your children won’t eat? Then take heart in this New York Times series, which takes a look at how parents can encourage their children to eat a wider range of food. This weeks’s Sprouts features a foodie family who even named their daughter Brie. Yes, after the cheese.

THINGS WE SHARED:

• The late, great, Maeve Binchy wrote in 2008 about why we shouldn’t let health troubles bog us down. Here’s her wonderful column about why we should learn to enjoy life to its fullest.
• Is art ever truly original? In the wake of the Jonah Lehrer scandal, music journalist Ann Powers, of NPR, takes a look at what he really has in common with Bob Dylan. Her points might surprise you.
• Need to un-tense those shoulders, close your eyes and unwind for a bit? Then have a listen to this song by Marconi Union. It’s supposed to be the most relaxing song of all time. We tried and it didn’t even w….zzzzzzzzzzz

(zukacs/Youtube)