A brave boy battling cancer said he had the “best birthday ever” as thousands of cards and parcels from well-wishers all over the world were delivered to his home.

Fianna Fáil TDs have said they received a “backlash” over their initial position on water charges as the party yesterday did another U-turn and backed government plans to levy homes and continue metering.

At the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting in Leinster House last Wednesday, TDs and senators were told a deal had been done on water, writes Juno McEnroe. 

LAST March, in Brussels, it was airline passengers, commuters, and the very institutions of the European Union, writes Cormac O’Keeffe

The public’s knowledge of the threat posed by Islamic extremists in Ireland is as limited as the amount of information provided to it by the authorities. As part of ongoing reports on this area, Cormac O’Keeffe was given a rare in-depth interview with the head of the Garda’s security services, Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahoney, about the reality of the situation here and what is being done about it. 

Galwegians 19 Cork Constitution 38: Cork Constitution’s sheer hunger for silverware was obvious when captain James Ryan spoke in the aftermath of their 38-19 Ulster Bank Bateman Cup final win over Galwegians at Crowley Park.

The attacks in Brussels fit into a pattern of a concerted campaign against institutions and activities that the West regards as central to its values and ideals, writes Cormac O’Keeffe

For the third time in 10 months, Islamic State (IS) terrorism has been brought close to home.

A student, who fell on his head and fractured his skull while playing on a climbing frame at the Malahide Castle play ground, has settled his High Court action for €270,000.

European citizens’ civil liberties will be restricted in the wake of the Paris atrocities which have been deemed Europe’s 9/11.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Hockey: An interprovincial campaign that started with some promise ultimately unravelled for Munster’s U16 and U18 teams, who finished without a point to their name.

A man who posed as a teenage girl on Facebook in order to sexually exploit boys will be sentenced in December.

A young man who posed as a teenage girl on Facebook in order to sexually exploit boys will be sentenced later this month when it is expected he will plead guilty to further, similar offences.

A young man posed as a teenage girl on Facebook in order to sexually exploit boys, a court has heard.

Alive Alive Oh is in line to make her next appearance in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

St Andrew’s claimed their fourth All-Ireland Schoolboys title, their experience proving too much for Wesley College in yesterday’s final at Lisnagarvey.

A group of investors suing in the US courts over losses they claimed were caused following the collapse of Bernard Madoff’s investment companies have got the go-ahead of the High Court to have an Irish bank employee give evidence in their action.

A group of investors who have brought proceedings in the US courts over losses they claimed were caused following the collapse of Bernard Madoff's investment companies have obtained permission of the High Court to have an Irish bank employee give evidence in their action.

CLAIRE LARRISSEY wept yesterday as she spoke about how her plans for a fairytale wedding to fiance, and work colleague, David Nolan have been thrown into confusion by the imminent closure of Talk Talk in Waterford.

A senior Garda witness has told the murder trial of a Limerick man that he suspected the 20-year-old shot dead a carpenter in retaliation for an arson attack on his mother's van.

THE Bar Council has developed a photographic archive of various legal people and places throughout the years.

Galwegians 13 UCC 6

TOOMEVARA narrowly overcame a determined Borris-Ileigh challenge to capture their 32nd North Tipperary SHC title in MacDonagh Park, Nenagh on Saturday evening.

FIGHTING on two fronts up to last weekend, unbeaten in Europe this season – the only one of the 44 sides that started out in either the Heineken Cup or Amlin Challenge Cup to achieve that feat.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley will give Ireland U20s Tiernan O’Halloran and Eoin Griffin a chance to show what they can do in the Magner’s League against The Scarlets in Wales on Sunday.

ULSTER could face a Hellor to Connacht situation as the battle to secure Ireland’s third place in the 2010/2011 Heineken Cup in tensifies, with former Irish international heroes Michael Bradley and Eric Elwood fronting the challenge.

Michael Bradley has rotated his Connacht squad, bringing in eight new players, to prepare for The Scarlets this Sunday in the Magner’s League at Parc Y Scarlets.

A Garda has claimed that a man accused of manslaughter admitted that three men got out of his car at the scene of the subsequent killing but he drove off before anything happened because he wanted nothing to do with it.

THOMAS DEEHAN scored 10 points to inspire 14-man Clara to a deserved victory over Rathvilly and book a Leinster club SFC semi-final against Portlaoise in the process.

BROTHERS Brian and Joe Sheridan kicked Seneschalstown to their second Meath SFC title in three seasons at Páirc Tailteann last night.

Seneschalstown 2-8 Wolfe Tones 1-8, Pairc Tailteann, Navan

Number eight Mike McComish returns to the Connacht 23-man squad from injury for the Amlin Challenge Cup game against Montpellier in France on Friday night (7pm Irish time).

Australian wing Liam Bibo returns to the Connacht 24-man squad for their Magners League clash against Ulster at the Sportsground on Friday (8pm).

Connacht boss Michael Bradley has named his starting line-up for Friday’s pre-season friendly against Harlequins.

Connacht have announced a 26-man squad ahead of their Magners League clash against Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday (KO: 7.30pm).

A 62-year-old school teacher has been convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of indecently assaulting a pupil over 40 years ago.

THE line-up for next week’s Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals will be completed this afternoon when the group stages draw to a close.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has decided to introduce some of his younger players, such as David Nolan and John O'Brien, into a 23-man squad to play Portugal at The Sportsground on Sunday (kick off: 6pm).

Galwegians 14 Old Belvedere 12

Galwegians 27 Dungannon 21, Crowley Park