John McDonagh and his family were asleep in their mobile home when they woke up to a smoky bedroom.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has led calls for safe driving over the Easter holiday weekend as more than 1,000 additional gardaí will be on duty in an effort to clamp down on drink driving and speeding.

Thousands of tourists packed Dublin today as the St Patrick’s festivities continued in advance of tomorrow’s mammoth parade.