Only people from the outer reaches of homelessness – those who are sleeping rough – come to us at the Alice Leahy Trust. For those coming to my team and myself at the Alice Leahy Trust, on Bride Road in Dublin’s Liberties, the grinding reality of life could hardly be further from the glittering Yuletide fantasy. There is no judgment at The Alice Leahy Trust. Alice Leahy is director of services at the Alice Leahy Trust which she founded 50 years ago to help the homeless. A commemorative book, “Outsiders – 50 Years of the Alice Leahy Trust” is available at Alan Hanna’s Bookshop on Rathmines Road Lower in Dublin.

Champions Cup: Bath 40 Munster 14Munster won’t seek out excuses, and there were several in weighing up the impact of the prematch disruption and instead will reflect on the controllables as a lingering source of frustration in a Champions Cup match initially shaped by torrential rain. Tries by Edogbo and Casey allowed Munster to mitigate the shock of trailing 28-0 to an interval deficit 35-14. Tom de Glanville’s clever line and powerful carry inside the Munster 22, provided the preamble to a try for number eight Miles Reid. Munster kept plugging away, gutsy and honest, but just lacking accuracy, composure and the elevated quality required to breach the Bath defence. Scoring sequence: 5 mins: Penalty try, 7-0; 9: Reid try, Russell conversion, 14-0; 11: Arundel try, Russell conversion, 21-0; 18: Dunn try, Russell conversion, 28-0; 22: Edogbo try, Hanrahan conversion, 28-7; 37: Obano try, Russell conversion, 35-7; 40 (+1): Casey try, Hanrahan conversion, 35-14.

But today the garden dreamer is sobbing because he’s been toldto carry his garden elsewhere again and he is too tiredbecause he has been everywhere and nowhere in this placethat is everywhere and nowhere and there is nowhere to gobetween the wall and the sea except to the end of this poemthat ends by the wall on one side and the sea on the otherwith nothing but wreckage between them. Why can’t he have a garden, no matter how small,the size of a bed, a flag or even a poem with roomfor ten-year-old dreamers of paradise gardens,with room for heavenly tomatoes, mint, cilantro, dill, basil? Eva Bourke is a poet and translator who has published eight collections, the most recent of which is Tattoos, (Dedalus 2024). Seeing Yellow was nominated for the Irish Times/Poetry Now Award in 2019. She was awarded the Michael Hartnett Prize in 2020 and is a member of Aosdána.

“I thought we managed that period really, really well, and the bench guys come on and all add impact in their own way,” said Cullen. Then we turn the ball over, Quins go the length of the field and score another try. If they don’t score one, then it looks a bit better. A little bit of a mix of everything.”Joe McCarthy of Leinster is tackled by Pedro Delgado and Cadan Murley of Harlequins. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/GettyCullen also pointed to this being a first Leinster game of the season for this team in many respects, with Joe McCarthy, Jack Conan and Caelan Doris all making their seasonal pre-appearances.

Twice on Friday gardaí moved on about 20 male asylum seekers sleeping rough in locations in Dublin. File photograph: Chris MaddaloniThe Irish Refugee Council (IRC) has written to the Government expressing “deep concern” about the situation facing homeless asylum seekers. In correspondence marked “urgent”, seen by The Irish Times, the chief executive of the council, Nick Henderson, said the Government policy related to male asylum seekers is “dangerous”. These included 2,430 “mixed-accommodation beds”, 600 “single-male beds”, and 450 “family-only beds”. Twice on Friday gardaí moved on about 20 male asylum seekers sleeping rough in locations in Dublin, Mr Henderson said in his correspondence.

Passersby walk in front of a residential building damaged in an air attack in Kyiv. Photograph: Genya Savilov/GettyRussian drone ‍and missile attacks hit energy ‍infrastructure in eight Ukrainian ‌regions overnight, causing blackouts, ⁠Ukraine’s energy ministry ‌said ​on Saturday. Meanwhile, local governors in Russia said on Saturday that Ukrainian ​drones targeted Ryazan and Voronezh regions ‍overnight, causing damage but no casualties. Ukrainian drones have struck at least 17 major refineries this year. Russia’s defence ministry said its air ⁠defences shot down 116 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Stena Line is to add a second vessel to its Dublin-Liverpool freight route, which was introduced in February. Photograph: Nick BradshawStena Line is to add a second ship to its Dublin-Liverpool freight route, while the ferry company has also defended its decision to axe a Rosslare-Cherbourg service earlier this year. “We have not announced this yet, but will do it now: we have decided to add a second ship on that route because it is something we truly believe in. “We wanted to add something more for our Irish customers. However, our [freight] customers need the land bridge via the UK because that’s where they earn their money.

No career is linear but Tom Farrell has had more deviations than most. But then his first performance of the season, in Munster’s 31-14 win over Leinster at Croke Park, prompted a late call-up to the Irish squad for the Autumn Nations Series and a Test debut against Japan. A Munster centre earning the right to be referred to as Ireland's Tom Farrell. Seán O'Brien and Tom Farrell celebrate as the final whistle confirms Munster's victory over La Rochelle in April. Tom Farrell in action for Connacht against Munster in May 2024.

The shooting happened at an unlicensed bar in the Saulsville township west of Pretoria, according to a statement from the South African Police Services. Photograph: Alamy/PAAt least 11 people, including three children, were killed in a mass shooting at a bar in a township near the South African administrative capital of Pretoria, police said on Saturday. Another 14 people were wounded and taken to hospital with gunshot wounds, according to a statement from the South African Police Services. The shooting happened at an unlicensed bar in the Saulsville township west of Pretoria in the early hours of Saturday. The children killed were a three-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl.

Two supporters of Take Back Power smother dessert over the cabinet containing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. Photograph: Take Back Power/PAFour protesters have been arrested after custard and apple crumble was thrown at a display case containing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. Footage shared by the group showed one demonstrator removing the large foil tray of crumble from a bag and then slamming it against the glass protecting the Imperial State Crown. King Charles, pictured with Queen Camilla, wears the Imperial State Crown during the state opening of the UK's parliament in 2023. London’s Metropolitan Police said: “Four protesters have been arrested following criminal damage at the Tower of London.

RTÉ’s decision, along with three other countries, not to enter next year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of Israel’s participation has received world attention and widespread support here in Ireland. Sir, – It is disappointing to hear that RTÉ intends to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, now that Israel’s involvement has been approved. Sir, – The decision by RTÉ to boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest is the wrong decision. Sir, – I admire and applaud the RTÉ decision regarding non-participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Sir, – RTÉ’s decision not to broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest will measurably improve the overall standard of music broadcasting in this country in 2026.

Ashling Murphy was a musician and fluent Irish speaker who had a close affinity with two Gaeltacht areas, said her father, Ray Murphy. Photograph: Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann/PA WireAshling Murphy’s father has thanked the public for their support, saying a memorial fund aims to “keep her memory alive”. Her family have set up the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund to raise money for causes she believed in. Launching a Gaeltacht scholarship and distributing funds in Tullamore on Saturday, Ray Murphy said: “We’re doing this to keep Ashling’s memory alive and her legacy alive. “The people have been giving us substantial amounts of money for Ashling’s memorial fund and the generosity of people is overwhelming,” he said.

We took our place in the queue, my senses on alert, unsure what to expect. People celebrate in central Damascus a year on from the fall of the Assad regime. This was causing frustration and delays while the country took baby steps towards building a new Syria. Despite government promises and multiple attempts to enforce the law, preventing Syria from going down a darker route will take time, effort and collective wisdom. “I love Syria, I just don’t want to leave my friends in Ireland.” He wants both worlds, just like me.

I spotted this creature at Killygarvan graveyard, Rathmullan, Co Donegal in July – a toad – but it doesn’t match the pictures of Irish toads. Francis McNichollThat is because it is not our native natterjack toad but a common toad, a species that is native in Britain and in continental Europe. There is also a colony of the same species of toad in south Co Dublin where it was first recorded in 2013 in Barnacullia. It is considered to be an invasive species by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. A pair of wasps mating.

With a reported investment of $30m, Grand Slam Track also claimed to have sold a TV deal to around 180 countries. Andrew Coscoran of Ireland is pictured smiling after winning 3000m long distance during Grand Slam Track. An investigation by The Athletic also found Grand Slam Track had received only $13m in investment, not the €30m originally claimed. The lack of any field events wasn’t the only reason Grand Slam Track has failed so spectacularly, seemingly already facing financial ruin, but it surely didn’t help. Duplantis has proved field events are far from a just sideshow, although that realisation may come too late to save Grand Slam Track.