On top of announcing 17 inaugural landmark scholarships for asylum seekers, the University of Limerick also held its first-ever citizenship ceremony.

Ronan O’Gara’s eldest kids almost stole the show after watching their father receive the Freedom of Cork.

From where Munster was 18 months ago, things looked and felt a whole lot more positive from where I was sitting Tuesday night, writes Ronan O’Gara

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

Nearly seven years on, Joe Rokocoko returns to Limerick, hoping the Thomond Park faithful will have forgiven if not forgotten.

Munster coach Anthony Foley last night insisted his hands have not been tied in pursuit of big money signings.

I spent Thursday night in London, at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, attending a testimonial dinner for Ronan O’Gara.

Munster may end close to home in their quest to replace Rob Penney next season, but they are duty-bound to trawl the world for the best coaching ticket available.

Former Ireland and Munster great Alan Quinlan has questioned the motivation of English and French clubs in their bid to derail the Heineken Cup.

Having been forced to hang up his rugby boots, due to a recurring injury last year, Ireland and Munster’s Denis Leamy closed the book on a fabulous trophy-winning career.

If only every video decision was this supportive of the Munster team.

The provincial spotlight is set to remain firmly focused on Leinster and Ulster this week as Munster are at least a week away from announcing who will fill the hot seat on Tony McGahan’s departure at the end of the season.

It was the simplest of saves for a goalkeeper as able and as experienced as Cork’s Donal Óg Cusack, reaching overhead to bring down a point-bound shot from David Young.

It was the simplest of saves for a goalkeeper as able and as experienced as Cork’s Donal Óg Cusack, reaching overhead to bring down a point-bound shot from David Young.

CONNACHT signalled their future intent this week with the re-signing of two of two of their hottest prospects.

RARELY more than random scribblings, doodles are the product of your subconscious filling the margins of a phone book or sprawling all over a piece of scrap paper.

IF HE doesn’t know him already, Chris Ashton is about to get closely acquainted with opposite number Andrew Trimble over the next few weeks.

DESPITE an horrendous eight-hour delay in Clermont Airport last Sunday night, arriving in Dublin at 5am, I am looking forward to next weekend already.

MORE than 5,000 passengers travelling through Cork airport were told a once-in-a-lifetime event had grounded their flights.

ON THE way out of Thomond Park on Saturday evening,through the labyrinth of corridors, I met Dougie Howlett hobbling along on crutches – “God Doug,” says I (not that I was bestowing divinity on him, you understand, well and all as his two-try effort may have merited it), “that doesn’t look good!”

RONAN O’GARA last night revealed the depth of his hurt at being dropped for Ireland’s clash with world champions South Africa last November.

KEITH WOOD knows better than most how well Munster can react with their backs to the wall but he still feels it will be “a big ask” for Tony McGahan’s side to win in Perpignan next Sunday.

IT was not the type of preparation any of the Irish sides would have wished for last weekend before resuming their respective European journeys, with all four provinces losing in the Magners League.

Tommy Bowe's agent Ryan Constable has given the strongest indication yet that the Monaghan man may be on his way back to Irish rugby at the end of the season.

Munster have made a string of changes to their team for tomorrow's Magners League clash with Connacht at Thomond Park.

ONE of Munster’s heroes from an unforgettable night at Thomond Park has revealed the Heineken Cup champions considered performing a Haka in Irish.

THE Haka — it’s an All-Black tradition, one of the most spectacular, one of the most fearsome in rugby.

THE great northern hemisphere debate on the contentious Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) is expected to rumble on throughout the season until, perhaps, the IRB finally come to a decision regarding their future in rugby union next March.

THEY COME from a land of the long white cloud, but they’ve gone native. Rua Tipoki, Dougie Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi, three names you wouldn’t normally associate with Munster; after Saturday’s heroics at the Millennium Stadium, now and forever, are names that will resonate forever.

IAN DOWLING, out of action since late December, returns for Munster’s crucial Magners League clash with Edinburgh at Murrayfield tonight (7.30) in a make-or-break game for both sides.

YET to make an appearance in a red jersey, Doug Howlett has already secured the approval of Munster legend Mick Galwey.

NEW MUNSTER signing Dougie Howlett put his troubles behind him as he married partner Monique Everard in Auckland at the weekend.

BYRON Terence Kelleher; reverse a couple of letters in the first name and Brian Terence Kelleher could be half-back on any football team still standing in the Cork football championship this weekend.

THE SEASON may not be officially over, but, from the moment the final whistle blew on Munster and Leinster’s Heineken Cup ambitions, both provinces were in post-mortem mode and plotting next season’s campaigns.