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

Galway West byelection candidate Seán Kyne arriving with Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris at the count centre in Galway. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

IRELAND

• Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne won the Galway West byelection. 
• Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said Sinn Féin are “at a crossroads”, after the party failed to win either seat in the byelections. 
• Daniel Ennis‘ win in Dublin Central means the Social Democrats will have more speaking time in the Dáil.
• Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley said Ireland could bring forward sanctions against Israel after it assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in July.
•  More than 30 Polish and Lithuanian nationals were deported on a charter flight.
• A man in his 30s was charged after around 75kg of herbal cannabis was seized in North Dublin.
• A 39-year-old motorcyclist died following a single-vehicle crash in Co Fermanagh.

INTERNATIONAL

Ukrainian firefighters dig through rubble and extinguish flames in a residential building during rescue operations in Kyiv. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#IRAN: US President Donald Trump said that he has told US negotiators “not to rush into a deal” with Iran, amid anticipation that an agreement to end the war in the Middle East was close.

#UKRAINE: EU leaders condemned Russia for its use of a nuclear-capable oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in massive overnight attacks on Ukraine that killed four people.

#BANNED: France banned Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country after a video showed him mocking bound activists who had been detained by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

#LAST DAY OF THE SEASON: Tottenham Hotspur remain a Premier League club after a home win against Everton ensured they finished two points clear of West Ham, who were relegated to the Championship.

PARTING SHOT

Phoenix park, Dublin recorded a max temp of 24.9C today (provisionally), the highest of the year so far.

Temperatures are forecast to be higher tomorrow with max temps of 22 to 27C🌡️📈#UV index will be high so #Besunsmart☀️ pic.twitter.com/kAnBWlpN8S

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) May 24, 2026

Today was the hottest day of the year so far, according to Met Éireann.