Ireland’s Olympic games were filled with overwhelming and poignant moments. One such event occurred at the Vélodrome National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, a little over an hour outside Paris. There, the soundtrack was the national anthem of the Netherlands, befitting the track cycling event. We watched as Irish track cyclist Lara Gillespie stood in front of us, drained and perspiring, having just completed the omnium where she came in tenth.
According to Malachy Clerkin, Gillespie had given everything she had in the race. She was in fifth place when she successfully gained an early lap on the rest of the cyclists, pulling herself within reach of a medal. However, the exertion had completely drained her, so much so that when the cycling field started making their final attacks, she had nothing left to fend them off.
Upcoming stories on the 2024 Olympics:
-The preparations of Irish athletes and the funds topping €500m dedicated to the improvement of facilities before the next Olympics.
-The best and worst moments of the 2024 Olympic Games as picked by our writing team.
-Our Team Ireland crew’s enthralling experience at the Games.
Latest news round-up in Ireland:
-The potential for hundreds of thousands of women to receive free hormone replacement therapy, under new schemes propelled by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
-The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, berating Israel for what seem like deliberate civilian and child casualties in Gaza, following an Israeli air strike on a school-turned-refuge.
-The repercussions of the RTÉ pay controversy affecting TV licence sales. Data until July 2024 indicates a 14% drop compared to 2022’s numbers, and an almost 11% decrease compared to 2023’s figures.
Weather Update: There is a predicted heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in areas of Connacht, Ulster and the northern part of Leinster however, this is expected to dissipate towards the northeast in the morning hours. The forecast for Monday indicates that it will be mainly dry accompanied with periods of sunshine. The highest temperature readings range from 17 to 23 degrees, with a reduction in the southwesterly winds from moderate to light intensity as the day progresses. Weather conditions tonight might be partly cloudy with intermittent showers especially in the west and southwest areas, the anticipated lowest temperatures stand between 12 to16 degrees.
World News: Rising threats from Ukraine’s military groups have prompted Russia to evacuate additional peripheral territories. This comes on the back of an escalation of military activity by Kyiv near the border immediately after their most significant violation of Russian territory since the onset of the 2022 conflict.
The Big Read Segment: Two disgruntled Ryanair passengers have expressed their dissatisfaction to Pricewatch, however, the airline is refuting their assertions. Many may remember the computer system meltdown experienced globally last month that crashed multiple company systems and disrupted plans for several millions. Included in the affected individuals was Derek Doherty.
Opinion Pieces: Una Mullally shares her views on Kamala Harris cornering Donald Trump potentially leading to perilous times, while Laura Kennedy opines on why the millennial generation remains dissatisfied despite being the most therapised ever.
Business News: An increasing number of pubs in Ireland are being repurposed into homes, nearing a count of 100. This is a result of a government scheme aimed at transforming vacant commercial spaces into residential homes, showcasing how pubs are becoming a crucial part of Ireland’s housing solution.
Life & Style Highlight: Síofra Murdock of Throwing Shapes has created a buzz due to her newly opened ceramics studio in Dublin. The ceramicist from Co Down acknowledges that patience is a necessity when dealing with ceramics and believes it attracts likeminded individuals. Throwing Shapes, her community ceramics studio, was a dream coming true for her.