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

IRELAND

Samba dancers Maria Eugenia, Heloisa Santos, Vanessa Frota, Gabriela Marcano at official Launch of Dublin by Night Festival, which returns on Saturday, 1 November Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland Sasko Lazarov / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

• The Bar Council of Ireland reaffirmed the so-called ‘cab-rank rule’ and said that barristers should be considered independent. It comes as presidential candidate and former practicing barrister Catherine Connolly faced questions about work from her legal days on behalf of financial institutions.
• Heather Humphreys recommitted to learning Irish, 11 years after first making this pledge. In 2014, Humphreys became the Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Minister, but faced criticism due to her lack of Irish.
• Fine Gael has gone on attack mode in response to an answer presidential hopeful Catherine Connolly gave to a hypothetical question on whether she would hire someone convicted of rape to work in the Áras, if they were suitable for the role.
• Presenter Ray D’Arcy said he is “hugely” disappointed with RTÉ management and how his departure from Radio 1 has been “handled”.
• The price of an average residential property is now eight times more than average earnings, the highest it has been since 2009, according to a new report.
• The environmental watchdog said that raw sewage is still being discharged daily from wastewater treatment plants into water near 15 urban centres.
• In an emotional speech, Alan Kelly told the Dáil that Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary are “discriminated against” in terms of hospital services.
• Consumer prices in Ireland have risen by the highest annual rates since March 2024.
• The Chair of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee said it is “outrageous” that Beaumont Hospital overspent €3 million of taxpayer money and failed to go to tender for a change in its payroll systems.
• The former Royal City of Dublin Hospital on Baggot Street is up for sale. The historic building which dates back to 1831 has been lying vacant since 2019, when the HSE ceased its operations there.
• Emergency services remain at a school in Limerick after a suspicious package was discovered there earlier today.
• The Comptroller & Auditor General published its report on governance and value for money issues at Inland Fisheries Ireland and highlighted an excessive number of staff credit cards, an oversized vehicle fleet, and costly reliance on agency workers.
• Northern Ireland’s Justice minister Naomi Long said a line was crossed when a “threatening” mob showed up at her house last night.

INTERNATIONAL

Smoke rises to the sky today following Israeli military strike in Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

#GAZA PEACE PLAN: Israel said all parties have signed the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, adding that the release of the captives would “bring the end to this war”.
#GAZA DEAL: Here is what has been agreed to in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.
#IN PICTURES: Here’s how people in Israel and Palestine celebrated news of the ceasefire deal.
#STARVATION: Tens of thousands of children under the age of 5 are experiencing “unprecedented” levels of preventable starvation due to war and aid blockades in Gaza, according to new research published in one of the world’s leading medical journals.

PARTING SHOT

Luke Combs. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

American country music star Luke Combs was officially announced as the next headliner for Slane Castle, set to perform at the historic Co Meath venue in the summer of 2026.

The confirmation follows a series of teaser videos posted on Slane Castle’s official Instagram account earlier this week, which featured snippets of Combs’ music and sparked widespread speculation among fans.

Concert organisers MCD Productions formally revealed the news today, ending weeks of rumours that Oasis might be making their long-awaited return to Slane.

Combs will be joined by a number of special guests, including Irish band The Script.

The gig will take place on the 18 July, with tickets going on sale next Friday at 10am.