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

IRELAND

Student from Joan Denise Moriarty School of Dance, Kate Wallace, with Irish Guide Dog Keano at launch of Cork St. Patrick’s Festival, which takes place from 13-17 March Darragh Kane Darragh Kane

• A 54-year-old man appeared at a sitting of Tralee District Court this afternoon, charged with the murder of Kenmare farmer Michael Gaine.
• Two teenagers who were killed in a road traffic collision in St Johnston, Co Donegal last night have been named locally.
• The “current search phase” in Co Wicklow as part of the investigation into the disappearance and murders of Jo Jo Dullard and Deirdre Jacob have concluded.
• Ireland’s largest residential landlord, Ires Reit, told investors that incoming changes to tenancy rules could see a major increase in its rental income.
• Taoiseach Micheál Martin formally apologised to survivors of abuse in industrial and reformatory schools.
• Ireland is set to play their controversial Nations League tie against Israel at the Aviva Stadium on 4 October.
• Minister Jack Chambers called on UCD to intervene and assist a medical student in completing her studies after the Dáil was told she was subjected to an image being circulated to students and staff after she was raped.
• Minister for Defence Helen McEntee said Ireland will have to work with other militaries, including Britain and France to secure the EU Presidency. 
• Unlawful State surveillance of a journalist is an “attack on public interest journalism”, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said, as a tribunal in London began hearing a case taken by RTÉ Northern Editor Vincent Kearney.
• The High Court will decide next week whether Martina and Ammi Burke were in contempt of court when they interrupted a case involving Enoch Burke last week.
• Two people have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Co Down woman Lisa Dorrian in 2005 – one of the people were arrested in Scotland. 
• The PSNI said it is investigating reports that a letter warning of “extreme” action against Muslims and nationalists is circulating in a Co Down village.
• Met Eireann is set to replace its county-wide alerts with a new localised system from late 2026.
• Irish-founded payments giant Stripe is considering an acquisition of all or part of US rival PayPal.
• Elon Musk’s X has taken a High Court challenge against Ireland’s media watchdog, Comisiún na Meán, questioning the lawfulness of investigations and the handling of information arising from user complaints.

INTERNATIONAL

Donald Trump delivers State of the Union address in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#STATE OF THE UNION: Donald Trump boasted of a “turnaround for the ages” in his State of the Union speech last night, seeking to reverse dismal polls and see off mounting challenges at home and abroad ahead of crucial midterm elections.

#WASHINGTON: A Democratic congressman was removed from Trump’s State of the Union address after he held up a ‘black people aren’t apes’ protest sign. 

#EPSTEIN FILES: Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle said he passed information to the Metropolitan Police about Peter Mandelson, after Mandelson claimed a “baseless suggestion” he was a flight risk had led to his arrest this week.

#GATES FOUNDATION: Bill Gates admitted making a “huge mistake” in associating with Jeffrey Epstein, telling staff at his charity foundation that he had affairs with two Russian women but denying involvement in the disgraced financier’s crimes.

#GAZA: A record number of journalists and media workers were killed last year, with Israel held responsible for two-thirds of the deaths.

#BATFAs: John Davidson said he feels the BBC should have “worked harder” to edit his verbal Tourette’s tics out of the Baftas broadcast on Sunday night. The BBC has since said it was a “serious mistake”.

PARTING SHOT

Mulcahy said that many children leave primary school not knowing the words or history of the national anthem Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Sinn Féin councillor Donnachadh Mulcahy has called for Amhrán na bhFiann to be made a mandatory part of the primary school curriculum.

Mulcahy, alongside a number of other Waterford councillors, last week unanimously passed a motion calling on the Education Minister to look at the introduction of the national anthem into the school curriculum.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Mulcahy said he put forward the motion to ensure children understand “the words, the meaning and the appropriate performance” of the song.

It is currently not compulsory to teach Amhrán na bhFiann in Irish primary schools, with individual teachers deciding whether to include it in their lessons.

In today’s poll, we asked: Do you think the national anthem should be mandatory in primary schools?

Take part in our poll here or see how others have been voting.