A woman passes a poster of singer Damien Dempsey in Dublin as torrential rain and gale force winds sweep across much of the UK and Ireland. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

HERE ARE THE things you need to know as we round off the day in three easy steps.

THINGS WE LEARNED

#IT RAINED: Met Éireann has issued a weather warning as “persistent rain” is expected to, well, persist until at least 6pm tomorrow. Leinster and Ulster have been the worst affected areas.

#PUBLIC TRANSPORT: A rainy Monday isn’t probably the best time to give commuters bad news but the National Transport Authority has confirmed its approval of fare increases of between 2.5 and 10 per cent for monthly and yearly bus, rail and tram tickets.

#SUICIDE: A Kerry coroner has called for pubs to put up signs advertising helplines after six suicide cases came before his court today. Terence Casey said it was the highest ever number in one sitting.

#MISSING: Police in Australia investigating the disappearance of Irish woman Jill Meagher have called in homicide detectives after a handbag containing her personal items was discovered in a Melbourne laneway close to her home.

#RESTAURANT BURGLARY: Rustic Stone, the George’s Street eatery owned by Masterchef judge Dylan McGrath, was raided last night with intruders making off with a significant quantity of cash.

#DANCES WITH WAVES: John Alan Brooks was sentenced to 28 years in jail after being found guilty of masterminding a plot to import 1.5 tonnes of cocaine, worth €400 million, into the UK.

#COPPER FACE JACKS: It’s really very popular on All-Ireland Final weekend.

THINGS WE LOVED

Image: Cathal Gallagher

• Reader Cathal Gallagher sent us this image with the caption, “Proof that it’s a day for the ducks (well, swans anyway). This one was calmly making his way across the Samuel Beckett Bridge this evening with the other rush hour commuters.”
• This persuasive photo essay on why cats could possibly rule Great Britain better than its politicians. We, however, also took note of commenter Abi Dennis’s warning that it “could be the first step to feline world domination…i mean they’ve already taken over the internet!”
• How many kinds of people are there in the world again, Hollywood?

THINGS WE SHARED

• As far as advice on life choices goes, you can’t really do better than WTFshouldIdoWithMyLife.com. This author was told to move to Malaysia. Solid.
• It would be fair to say that Russian ballerinas have a reputation for being a bit mean. What do you think this dancer did to the chipmunk (fox?) after this performance?