As Leo Cullen lamented afterwards, falling behind to such a highly-motivated Bayonne also gave the home team and crowd alike a springboard and a lead to defend. “How many teams have won all their games during this period?” asked Leinster head coach Leo Cullen of this block of games. Teams are dropping at different stages, we’re managing to get wins, so it’s hard to have it every which way. We would have loved another crack to try and score four tries, but unfortunately that’s not the way the game played out. LEINSTER: J O’Brien; T O’Brien, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Kenny; H Byrne, J Gibson-Park; J Boyle, R Kelleher, T Furlong; RG Snyman, J Ryan; M Deegan, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt).

Champions Cup: Munster 29 Castres 31The final whistle was greeted by a stunned incredulity as Munster took their leave of this season’s Champions Cup. For the third Champions Cup match in succession Munster conceded 14-points while a player down. When Thaakir Abrahams finished smartly on 46 minutes and Edwin crossed for the first of his two tries, Munster (despite missed conversions) headed into the final quarter 22-12 ahead. During Farrell’s enforced sabbatical, tries form Geoffrey Palis and the influential Christian Ambadiang revived Castres in spirit and on the scoreboard. CASTRES: T Chabouni; C Ambadiang, V Karawalevu, J Goodhue, G Palis; P Popelin, J Fernandez.

A couple who purchased a house on A Place In The Sun admitted the decision significantly impacted their retirement plans. Expat couple Neil and Sarah appeared on the Channel 4 show back in 2023, where they bought a property in Spain. Years earlier, the pair had sold 'everything they owned' to retire early and be able to travel the world full-time. Contrary to their initial plans, the pair ultimately bought the house - but later came to regret this decision. Neil explained how owning the house clashed with the couple's dream lifestyle, saying: 'Buying a house in Spain kind of ruined our dreams.

Broadcaster Ryan Tubridy sought therapy to help him cope with “really dark” feelings due to the intensity of criticism he received during the RTÉ payments scandal that precipitated his exit from the State broadcaster. “It was heavy, heavy stuff,” he said this week in a wide-ranging interview at his Dublin home with The Irish Times. The initial furore over payments to Mr Tubridy later morphed into a wider scandal over RTÉ’s lax financial controls. But Mr Bakhurst subsequently ended the talks over public statements that Mr Tubridy made about the payments scandal. Mr Tubridy said he believed the RTÉ director general was “pushed” by the organisation’s board into ending those talks with him.

Munster 29 Castres 31Munster’s Champions Cup campaign came to a disastrous end at Thomond Park on Saturday as Castres stunned home supporters with a bonus-point victory in a nail-biting dueal in Limerick. The scrum-half’s conversion made it 10-0 but it was the Munster number nine who made the next significant impact on the contest. It was not held for long, Castres regaining the lead two minutes before the interval. Fernandez had the simplest of conversion from in front and the Frenchmen went into the half-time break with a 17-12 lead. Castres moved the ball at pace to the right wing from where Arata carried to the posts, but there was a forward pass spotted in the build-up and Munster were off the hook.

Connacht 75 Montauban 14Eight players touched down as Connacht ran in 11 tries to book their place in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup by thrashing ProD2 champions Montauban at Dexcom Stadium. Connacht had it all wrapped up by the break when eight tries saw them lead by 56-7. But this win is a timely boost for Connacht who host Leinster next Saturday when the €40m redevelopment of the former Sportsground is officially opened. Scorers: Connacht: Tries: P Boyle (2), C Prendergast (2), S Gilbert, H West, M Devine, S Jansen, S Jennings, D Tierney Martin, penalty try. Montauban: Tries: J Seux, P Vallee.

Yeremy Pino opened the scoring for his team 30 minutes into the match, only for Enzo Le Fee to level matters almost immediately. It comes as Glasner announced that he will leave Crystal Palace this summer on the expiration of his contract. I told him I would not sign a new contract with Crystal Palace. I told the team today the same. Elsewhere in his pre-match press conference for Sunderland, Glasner revealed that Marc Guehi was on the verge of completing a transfer.

Ballincollig 104 Tralee Warriors 77A shooting exhibition beyond belief by Ballincollig’s American Lattrell Jossell ensured Ballincollig were crowned Pat Duffy Men’s National Cup champions for the first time when easily disposing of Tralee Warriors at the National basketball arena on Saturday. Another huge plus for Ballincollig was the manner they defended particularly when the Warriors threatened a revival in the second half. Scorers for Ballincollig: L Jossell 31, L Mitchell 20 J Steel 19, K Cairns 12. Ballincollig: A O’Sullivan, J Steel, L Jossell, D O’Herlihy, A Rodriguez, C O’Sullivan, R O’Sullivan, C Blount, L O’Sullivan, D Corkery, L Mitchell, K Cairns. Tralee Warriors: I Hunte, J Perkins, O Michalczuk, J Friel, J Fernane, D Bowler, K Crowe, P Fleming, D Jokubaitis, S Bowler, C Sullivan, E Quigley.

Wild thunderstorms have lashed NSW with flash flooding inundating parts of the state and evacuation orders issued to residents. Emergency services were inundated with hundreds of pleas for assistance from across Sydney as the slow-moving, wild weather intensified, swamping roads and stranding motorists. Flights were delayed at Sydney Airport due to heavy rain and a ground stop for an aircraft that needed a priority landing. Senior meteorologist Edward Townsend-Medlock said more heavy rainfall was expected from Sydney's northern suburbs through to the Hunter Coast on Sunday morning. The wild weather is expected to weaken later today.

Countless tiny springs trickle down through the boggy earth, their watery threads following shallow grooves etched into the northwest facing slopes, eventually coalescing to create the Silver River. The Silver River’s ultimate destination - the salty waters of the Atlantic Ocean, by way of the Shannon - is reached westward. From its older name, Mountain River, to its 19th-century designation as the Silver River, centuries of human intervention have muted its vitality. The Silver River is severely injured, but with care and restoration, it could thrive again - if we want it. The Silver River of Slieve Bloom, by John Feehan, is published by Offaly County Council and available from offalyhistory.com

Holding The High Line is back for 2026 just in time to talk about Lindsey Heaps signing with Denver Summit FC. Photo Credit: Spencer Baldwin Photo Credit: Spencer BaldwinAbout the hosts:Matt Pollard is the Managing Editor of Burgundy Wave, having overseen the site’s move to being independent in April 2023. An engineer and environmentalist by day, when he’s not watching or writing about soccer, he’s hiking or skiing in the mountains. Mark Goodman, known as Rapids Rabbi or Soccer Rabbi, lived in Colorado from 2011-2018. He also covers the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL Championship for Pittsburgh Soccer Now.

The Big Y-700 DNA test, described as the world’s most comprehensive Y-DNA test, can reveal common ancestors across the paternal line and has been embraced by clan societies around the world in their search for ancestral lines. The Big Y-700 DNA test has been pioneered in the United States of America by a laboratory called Family Tree DNA. Its Scottish Y-DNA Project alone has over 11,000 members and is overseen by six administers and co-administrators. “The test most people might take is an autosomal DNA test which provides information about different ancestral lines and appeals to a wide audience,” he says. We genuinely didn’t know if we were Irish or Scottish.”The breakthrough came from the Big Y-700 DNA test.

Without question it’s an extraordinary story, but Ireland’s lighthouses have always been places where ordinary people have done extraordinary things. They were built only to serve.” Ireland’s lighthouses still serve, but in the 21st century, they do so much more, too. Broadhaven Lighthouse, Mullet Peninsula, County Mayo, IrelandA decade ago, the Commissioners of Irish Lights launched The Great Lighthouses of Ireland (GLI), a tourism-led initiative which opened a selection of lighthouses to the visiting public. The Great Lighthouses of Ireland by David HareThe concerted push to promote our lighthouses and their many facets is bearing fruit. Ten years of Great Lighthouses shows how heritage can create real opportunity, protecting lighthouses while strengthening communities and supporting the economy.”It’s a great foundation and one which Great Lighthouses of Ireland intend to build on, with a five-year strategic plan in place that seeks to increase tourism revenues by 25% by 2030, and make Great Lighthouses a global example of sustainable tourism.

Bank of Ireland McKenna Cup SF finalDonegal v Monaghan, O’Neills Healy Park, 5pmIn a competition beleaguered by illegal players and cancellations, Donegal and Monaghan have undoubtedly emerged as the best sides. Verdict: Monaghan. SUNDAYAIB All-Ireland Club SFC finalDingle (Kerry) v St Brigid’s (Roscommon), Croke Park, 3.40pm (M. McNally, Monaghan) Live TG4Be thankful for the two-week gap. Sure, St Brigid's demonstrated they can do a number on their opponents’ spearhead (Rory Beggan) but they still produced 1-16 in Cavan the last day. Verdict: Dingle.

Overnight, instead of the usual frenetic juggle of work, family life, and study, Carol was managing a different set of challenges — recovery, hospital appointments and rehabilitation. She was also delighted to contribute to the winter edition of Spinal Injuries Ireland’s publication, Spinal News, sharing her story. He had been making a slow recovery in hospital following an injury six months previously. “I’ve always loved having my art in my home and always had an interest in interior design and art,” adds Carol. She’s recently been selected as a resident artist in the EZ Living Interiors East Gate store, Little Island, Cork.