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

IRELAND

Scenes from Dublin today as the country braced for more flooding. Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews / RollingNews

• Councils across the country are on “full alert” for further flooding this week, the National Emergency Coordination Group warned today – with Thursday evening identified as a “pinch point” for Dublin and Wicklow.
• Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the weather warning system needs to be reformed after many people were taken off guard by heavy rain leading to flooding.
• It emerged that the Defence Forces have told gardaí they can’t provide anti-drone security for upcoming EU Presidency meetings.
• Dublin City Council’s chief executive came under fire for language he used in relation to people who collect bottles from bins in the capital to make some money.
• An 11-year-old boy died after being struck by a car in Co Down this morning.
• An Irish man appeared in court in connection with the stabbing of another Irish man in Romania last weekend.
• A Garda who “spear tackled” a “skinny” handcuffed teenager and slammed his head off the ground was jailed for a year.
• Michael Flatley said the “show must go on and will go on” after his lawyers succeeded in obtaining a legal blocking order against the management company running the Lord Of The Dance shows.
• Farmers occupied Bord Bia’s offices as part of their protest against Brazilian beef.

INTERNATIONAL

News of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer giving Metropolitan Police a dossier on Peter Mandelson's Epstein emails is screened on a latest news update along New Oxford Street, London. Alamy Alamy

#EPSTEIN FILES: Peter Mandelson stepped down from the UK’s House of Lords, amid allegations he disclosed confidential UK government information to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

#US-IRAN: Talks between US and Iranian officials are “still scheduled” this week, the White House insisted, even after a US warplane shot down an Iranian drone that approached an American aircraft in the Arabian Sea.

#NORWEGIAN ROYAL: The son of Norway’s crown princess pleaded not guilty to raping four women on the opening day of his trial.

#BOY HERO: A 13-year-old boy saved the lives of his mother and two younger siblings with a four-hour swim after the family was swept out to sea off the Australian coast.

PARTING SHOT

Musician Eva Carroll, Gill Byrne of Show Commotion Float and musician Jayne Pomplas at the launch of the St Patrick’s Festival 2026 at EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum. Andres Poveda Andres Poveda

The St. Patrick’s Festival announced its programme for Dublin to take place 14–17 March.

The theme for this year’s festival is Roots, which the organisers say will be “a celebration of where we come from, what grounds us, and how we continue to grow together”.

The 2026 Parade will follow its established route from Parnell Square, with the aim of “expanding in ambition and interaction” for this year’s offering.

Dancers from Son de mi Tierra Dance Troupe Andres Poveda Andres Poveda

The Parade will feature 12 large-scale floats from independent parade companies, with over 3,000 participants involved.