MATT O’CONNOR’s ridiculous stunt during the Rose of Tralee on Monday night was arguably a peaceful protest. The audience did not know initially whether it was part of an act.

In recent months, we have witnessed the start of an eight-year round of centenary commemorations of events extending from the Easter Rebellion of 1916 to the end of the Civil War in 1923.

A record 80,887 students applied to the nation’s third-level institutions this year and the majority will ultimately join the growing number of workers — presently over 50% — who boast a third-level education.

The Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro, the first to be held in South America, ended in the early hours of this morning.

RTÉ should be congratulated for its magnificent coverage of the Olympic Games.