Injuries, retirements and a suspension have all dealt Andy Farrell a depleted hand approaching Ireland’s 2026 Guinness Six Nations campaign, but the head coach is relishing the challenge and the potential lessons to be learned from his new-look team to face France on Thursday night. "You look at the lads that aren't playing, the experience that they're getting, it's all new to them, but they're finding the feet within all that. Head coach Andy Farrell speaks to the press including the Irish Examiner's Simon Lewis. That's the aim.”IRELAND: J Osborne (Leinster); T O’Brien (Leinster), G Ringrose (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), J Stockdale (Ulster); S Prendergast (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); J Loughman (Munster), D Sheehan (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster); J McCarthy (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster); C Prendergast (Connacht), J van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster) - captain. Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), M Milne (Munster), F Bealham (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster), N Timoney (Ulster), C Casey (Munster), J Crowley (Munster).

Thomas ClarksonThe Leinster tighthead prop was given a rough ride in Cardiff last year in his first Six Nations start but having also faced England, Scotland and France off the bench in the 2025 championship, the 25-year-old has gone from strength to strength. Having finished last season as a British & Irish Lions call-up, Clarkson now gets another opportunity to prove himself as a Six Nations starter in the absence of the injured Tadhg Furlong. Sam PrendergastHardly a newcomer with 13 caps but for all the hype the Leinster fly-half is still to convince as Ireland’s first-choice number 10. Jacob StockdaleA first Six Nations start for the left wing since 2021 for the 29-year-old, who was the championship’s player of the tournament in 2018 with seven tries as Ireland won the Grand Slam. It has been a struggle since James Lowe qualified under residency rules and made the number 11 jersey his own but Stockdale is back to his best for Ulster and will hope to transfer his sparkling form onto the international stage.

Spells of very heavy rain are set to hit the south east and east of Ireland, with Met Éireann issuing status orange and yellow warnings. Two status orange rain warnings have been issued for both Waterford and Wicklow, with both warnings coming into effect at 3am on Thursday. "Spells of very heavy rain falling on already saturated ground combined with high river levels and high tides will lead to: localised flooding, river flooding, and difficult travel conditions," the forecaster warned. A status yellow rain warning for Tipperary, Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Wexford, and Monaghan will also be in place from 3am on Thursday until 3am on Friday. It also advises that flooding is likely due to a combination of already saturated ground, high river levels and high tides.

A little over a fortnight after their victory in the All-Ireland club football final has come another win for Dingle. The Kerry club announced on Wednesday that local landowner Shane O'Connor has donated a 1.61 acre parcel of land adjoining their grounds at Páirc an Ághasaigh. "This generous gift will play a vital role in our plans for the enhancement and future development of our community facilities," the club said. "Shane and Maura’s generosity continues a proud tradition of giving back to the community," the club continued. We look forward to working closely with our members and the wider community as we develop plans to ensure this land is used to its fullest potential for the benefit of all."

A view of the Men’s Six Nations Championship Trophy at Edinburgh Castle, to celebrate the start of the Championship, in the city that gave birth to international rugby. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Longstanding Cork clothing retailer Primetime has announced the end of an era with the landmark streetwear and skate store to close its doors at the end of the month. Established more than three decades ago, Primetime started as an alternative clothing store but quickly became more than just a retailer. Before long, Primetime found itself at the centre of the burgeoning alternative movement of the 1990s, an era which also featured Nirvana's historic gig in Sir Henry's and the founding of Cork's own local record label, Tuna. The business was also heavily involved in the city's music scene, showcasing and promoting new and up-and-coming musicians, and hosting intimate gigs and DJ sets in its Washington Street store. The owners also thanked the store's landlord and landlady, adding that without them, the store would be "long long gone."

The dairy herd at Burren View Farm at the foothills of the Burren in Crusheen, Co Clare. The suckler herd comprises pedigree Limousin and Charolais cows, and Ms Roseingrave is working towards breeding five-star bulls to sell. If successful, Ms Roseingrave hopes to breed a whole new line of top-quality Charolais genetics for the Irish market. Burren View Farm eggs has 'turned into a bit of a business now' says Ms Roseingrave. Ms Roseingrave’s plans for the farm as a whole are not finished yet, as she considers opportunities to sell milk directly to local customers and to eventually develop a farm tourism business.

Head coach Cullie Tucker has name the Ireland XV team to play England A at Thomond Park on Friday. Deegan is one of eight players with Test caps in the matchday squad. Along with Deegan in the starting team, Shane Daly, James Hume, Ciarán Frawley, Gus McCarthy, and Fineen Wycherley all have senior caps for Ireland. Daly, Zac Ward and Joshua Kenny start in Ireland XV's back three, with Hume joined by Dan Kelly in midfield. In the pack, Billy Bohan, McCarthy and Scott Wilson are in the front row, while Charlie Irvine and Wycherley start in the engine room.

Some 200.5mm of rain fell at Cork Airport, marking it the wettest January for the area since 2016, according to Met Éireann. The lowest value of 90.5mm (87%) was recorded at Shannon Airport, while the highest of 237.7mm (230%) was found at Johnstown Castle. It was also the wettest January since 1948 and the second wettest on record at both Phoenix Park with 141mm and Dublin Airport at 137.7mm. The number of rain days varied between 22 days at Casement Aerodrome in Dublin and 30 days at both Newport, Co Mayo and Valentia Observatory in Kerry. Meanwhile, the highest number of daily sunshine days was also recorded at Johnstown Castle in Co Wexford at 7.2 hours.

Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng is strongly in favour of switching the Fitzgibbon Cup to December to ease the workload on student inter-county players. “I'd love to see it go on before Christmas and giving Fitzgibbon, Sigerson, just that time on its own. It's not fair on lads, and you're trying to give lads a chance as well. “The reality of it is the currency in Kilkenny is All-Irelands, and I make no bones about that. Adrian Mullen has returned to light training after a groin operation, while Tom Phelan (knee) played a challenge game this past weekend.

This is a horrible programme, and unless you are very callous, I would urge you not to watch it. The desperate crying of Lucy Letby's mother as her daughter is arrested, handcuffed and carted off to custody by impassive police bureaucrats, would be quite beyond any actress. During another arrest the sight of Lucy Letby, sunk in helpless woe, her face collapsed, moaning wordlessly with her hands over her eyes, is not much better. This didn't work on me, especially not when one of Ms Letby's police questioners solemnly informed her that 'we are not here to judge you'. And it speaks at length to a student friend and former colleague of Ms Letby, who stands by her, as so many of her friends rather persuasively do.

Mikel Arteta hailed a magical night after Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final to reach a first Wembley final in six years. “It’s the best vitamins we can put in our bodies,” said Arteta. The fact that we worked so hard to achieve this moment and to have this moment together, it’s just magical. “They brought so much energy and belief to the team in different moments when it was very much needed. “What we need to do is remember this is the start and I’m really, really happy with a lot of things I’m seeing.

He said price uncertainty had reduced fertiliser imports, blaming EU delays in agreeing how the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) operates. Mr Totschnig told the commission additional burdens for farmers arise from other EU fertiliser taxes introduced without any mitigating measures. As a result, nitrogen fertiliser prices are up 10–20% compared to 2024, despite relatively stable natural gas prices, the key cost driver in fertiliser manufacture. The Austrian delegation said CBAM protects the EU fertiliser industry, but additional costs are passed directly on to farmers. However, they are opposed by several member states, EU fertiliser manufacturers and environment-focused MEPs.

Flabbergasted, chuffed and gobsmacked are the words people would most like to see make a comeback, according to a poll. Bamboozled, codswallop and kerfuffle are other nostalgic words which are now rarely or never used, the research found. But 81 per cent think there are wonderful words that deserve to be returned to regular use. The study also revealed 73 per cent agreed reviving words would make conversations more interesting. 'We should celebrate these lost phrases and keep them alive - who knows, even putting a modern twist on some may help bridge the gap between the generations as well.'

Helen Flanagan's onscreen aunt has come to her defense to say she should have been 'protected' by Coronation Street bosses in her teenage years, after the actress criticised the soap for 'sexualising' her, at just 16 years old. Helen recently spoke out about how uncomfortable she felt being made to film 'sexualised' scenes with a 'much older man' when she was just 16. Despite the difficult time, Helen has said she is ready to make a return to Coronation Street, seven years after she last starred on the soap. 'I'd love to go back to Coronation Street, but they just haven’t asked me and I live around the corner, but they just haven’t asked me', she told The Sun. She told The Mirror: 'I would love to go back to back to Coronation Street.