Champions Cup: Leinster recover from slow start to see off SalePA Sport StaffLeinster overcame a tougher-than-expected challenge from a much-changed Sale Sharks, pulling clear in the second half to seal a 37-27 Investec Champions Cup win at the RDS. Josh van der Flier crossed just before the break, adding to Ciaran Frawley’s brace of penalties. Du Preez converted for a 13-3 lead. Van der Flier denied Sale from a maul and Healy powered over in the 69th minute after a Ben Murphy pass bounced backwards off Baird. Du Preez converted and also added the extras to replacement Curtis’ score, which saw Reed brilliantly take off from inside the visitors’ 22 and create the opening.

Hard-living Irish musician received last rites before he diedIrish songwriter and former Pogues lead singer Shane MacGowan (pic) received last rites before he died November 30, his family said. Dec 15, 2023By Matt McDonaldIrish songwriter and former Pogues lead singer Shane MacGowan (pic) received last rites before he died November 30, his family said. “I might have become a priest if I hadn’t been a singer,” MacGowan told his biographer. For most of the rest of his life, MacGowan drank large amounts of whatever alcohol happened to be near and consumed large amounts of illicit substances, including heroin. His famously self-destructive behaviour led the author of a humorous 2000 book about Irish culture to call it Is Shane MacGowan Still Alive?

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Saturday sport: Connacht thumped by Saracens in the Champions CupKenneth FoxUpdated at 15:55Connacht have been beaten 55-points to-36 by Saracens in their Investec Champions Cup clash. Elsewhere, Ciaran Frawley starts at 10 for Leinster as they welcome Sale Sharks to a sold-out RDS for a 5.30pm start in Pool 4. GAAO'Moore Park in Portlaoise hosts the first of this weekend�s All Ireland Club Senior Hurling semi-finals this evening. Ballygunner will be looking to avoid back-to-back semi-final losses as they take on Galway champions St. Thomas'. Later on Kilkerrin-Clonberne will look to become the first club since the 1990s to win three senior titles in a row.

Erling Haaland still sidelined for Man City with Club World Cup matches in doubtBy Ian Parker, PAPep Guardiola does not expect Erling Haaland to be fit for Manchester City’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Saturday, and admitted the Norway striker is a doubt for next week’s Club World Cup fixtures. Haaland reported back at City on Friday morning and Guardiola said he would be assessed by club doctors before any further decisions are made. City are due to travel to Saudi Arabia after Saturday’s match for the Club World Cup, with a semi-final against Urawa Red Diamonds on Tuesday. “It has always been a tough game,” Guardiola said. “They played incredibly well against Liverpool, unfortunately they had a player sent off and with 10 against 11 against Liverpool it is almost impossible, but 11 against 11 I don’t know what would have happened.”

It comes as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that four Irish people have died so far this year after undergoing bariatric (weight loss) and cosmetic surgeries in Turkey. Last month, a young mother from the east of the country tragically died following a weight loss procedure. “Sometimes people feel surgery is a shortcut for weight loss, but weight loss is about much more than just an operation. “Anyone thinking about cosmetic or bariatric surgery abroad would discuss it with their family doctor,” she said. She said cosmetic surgeries can affect a person’s appearance when they go wrong, and can often result in scarring.

Munster can’t catch up with Leinster’s fast-moving trainThe IRFU are comfortable with the balance of power between the four provinces as it currently stands. Chief executive Kevin Potts has said he doesn’t see a problem with a status quo, while performance director David Nucifora has asserted that “from where we sit it’s great to see Leinster winning or always there at the top of the game”.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking to the press when he arrived at European headquarters in Brussels on Friday to attend the EU summit. Photograph: Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty ImagesEuropean Union leaders failed to back calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza at the end of a crunch summit despite Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying an “overwhelming majority” of countries were in favour. “The position of the overwhelming majority of the EU countries now is that there should be a ceasefire,” Mr Varadkar said. Instead a blocking minority prevented the EU calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. Speaking after the conclusion of the summit, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the “immediate priority” was to deliver as much humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip as possible.

By Cillian Sherlock, PAA group for victims of violence related to Northern Ireland has called for a memorial to commemorate two members of the Irish security forces killed by the IRA during a rescue mission 40 years ago. On December 16th, 1983, Private Patrick Kelly and garda recruit Gary Sheehan were killed in Derrada Wood, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, during an operation to rescue Quinnsworth supermarket executive Don Tidey, who had been kidnapped for 23 days in Dublin. Private Patrick Kelly was killed during the rescue operation (SEFF handout)SEFF’s director Kenny Donaldson said: “To this day, no-one has been held accountable for stealing away the lives of Recruit Garda Gary Sheehan and Pte Patrick Kelly.”Mr Tidey exited the ordeal physically unharmed. “We have been privileged to support the Kelly family and the Sheehans are also known to the organisation. The State should and must honour its own – men of courage, men of honour.”

The review found that delays in her treatment breached national guidelines on sepsis management. The situation might sound very familiar to those in Ireland, and abroad, who followed the debate around Ireland’s abortion referendum in 2018. The recommendations from the coroner following her death were many, and included three that related directly to sepsis management, each of which was to be applied nationally. Her death arose due to failure to follow sepsis management protocols compounded by systematic overcrowding in hospitals, the latter being another factor that has been ignored in the clamour for abortion. It appears there is little publicity to be gained or appeal for wild celebrations when it comes to implementing the nuts and bolts of sepsis management.

First, though, congratulations to Lankum and CMAT, two Irish music acts that, on the face of it, couldn’t be more different. With mainstream US media coverage and album-of-the-year wins in magazines and newspapers around the world, Lankum went international in 2023. Photograph: Ellius Grace/New York TimesWhat’s also clear from the way our critics’ votes landed is the success of reinvigorated, reshaped traditional music. Other Irish acts that hit the sweet spot include David Holmes, Ailbhe Reddy, The Scratch, Sorcha Richardson, Kneecap, Jazzy, Róisín Murphy, Nealo, Rachael Lavelle, Soda Blonde, The Bonk, BellX1 and, yes, The Wolfe Tones. That’s no doubt true for audiences that can afford to get there and for music acts that will perform in it, but you don’t hear much of that game-changing language in Ireland (or elsewhere, no doubt).

Publican Charlie Chawke said lunchtime trade was hit hard by the pandemic. Photo: Brian McEvoyOne of the country’s best known publicans Charlie Chawke has said his group’s lunchtime trade continues to be impacted by the Covid-related loss of customers. Mr Chawke said revenues at lunchtime are currently down “a good 30pc to 40pc”. Covid was a disaster for us and we are fighting back and doing OK,” Mr Chawke said. The pre-tax loss also takes account of combined non-cash depreciation and amortisation costs of €529,334.

Tim Alcock, motoring expert from LeaseCar.uk, said: “The Northern Lights can only be described as one of the most beautiful sights to ever lay your eyes on. Where can I see the Northern Lights in the UK? Lake District, CumbriaThe Northern Lights have been spotted in the heart of the Lake District. It's rare to see the Northern Lights in the UK. Sandsend, YorkshireYorkshire was treated to the Northern Lights in early December with photos being taken from back gardens.

In a remarkable development, Leinster have lined up Munster’s double Rugby World Cup-winning lock RG Snyman as a new signing for next season. The game-changing 28-year-old Springbok, whose contribution as an impact replacement to South Africa’s last two World Cup wins was sizeable, is set to join Leo Cullen’s side next season. The 30-year-old Kleyn, who won five caps for Ireland under Joe Schmidt but never featured in the last World Cup cycle, has played 137 times for Munster over eight seasons. Leinster have been down this road before, signing Jenkins after his one, injury-plagued season with Munster in the 2021-22 campaign, when he was restricted to 10 appearances (eight off the bench). But it is understood that Jenkins is moving on at the end of the season and Leinster have identified Snyman as his replacement.

16 Dec 2023| 05:49am ISTHigh Court stays Tree Officer’s permission to cut 48 trees in Assagao private forestTeam HeraldPANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Friday granted ex-parte interim stay on permission granted by the Tree Officer to cut 48 trees in a private forest at Assagao and restrained M/s Bennet and Bernard Custom Homes Pvt Ltd Panjim, from felling any further trees from survey number 128/8. The Court order came in the petition filed by activist Avertino Miranda of Panjim. The petitioner had challenged the permission granted by the Tree Officer (Deputy Conservator of Forests) for cutting 48 trees out of Survey No 128/8 of village Assagao and also the decision of the Appellate Authority i.e. Conservator of Forests dismissing his appeal and upholding the order of the Tree Officer. The matter has now been posted for next hearing on January 4, 2024.