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

Killarney man Tom Cooper cast veterans of the War of Independence in Ireland’s first feature film. Its restoration means it can be screened again, writes Ellie O’Byrne

Joint-favourite Waxies Dargle, ridden for Noel Meade by Paul Townend, ploughed through the softening ground to land the €50,000 Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle, feature on the opening day of Killarney’s May meeting.

Solita, locally trained by Paul Nolan, gave punters plenty to cheer about in sunny Wexford yesterday as she came from last to first under Luke Dempsey to justify favouritism in the Courtown Rated Novice Hurdle.

As we near the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising, it is obvious the Government has abandoned ownership of the most seminal event in Irish history.

Your report on centenarian Kathleen Snavely, from Co Clare (Irish Examiner, February 16), the oldest living Irish-born person, who turned 113 on Monday, was a welcome respite from the media-led indulgence of so-called ‘celebrities’.

Freed from the constitutional constraints of the presidency, Mary McAleese, as a private citizen, rebuked Pope Francis for his qualified support for corporal punishment in the home, despite the Catholic Church being a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Joyce Anderson (Drinks companies should fund hospital clinics, February 9) suggests the extra revenue raised by government by the introduction of a minimum price on alcohol sales be used to establish a 24/7 clinic to care only for those disabled, incapacitated or injured by drink.

Receiving Cabinet approval for new legislation that sets a minimum price for alcohol, Health Minister Leo Varadkar said environmental health officers would be given powers of enforcement (‘Alcohol health warning to tackle bingeing’, February 4). Really?

The expressions of indignation and condemnation from some in government at the heckling of President Michael D Higgins by anti-water charge protesters in Dublin smacks of double standards. (Water charges protest - Attack on President crossed a line, Editorial January 29).

Once more reputational damage has been done to whatever remaining integrity the Oireachtas has. 

May I express concern at the report of an agreement on defence co-operation between Ireland and the UK, due to be signed later this month.

Letters from people like Tom Cooper (Letters, December 19) are dangerous, as they can feed the fantasies of those who like to justify the terrorism of the IRA, they must be challenged.

Two recent District Court determinations involving ‘celebrities’ raise issues about our justice system.

It is hard to fathom how in 21st Century Ireland views like those expressed by the DUP MP Gregory Campbell, that he would treat calls for an Irish language act as “no more than toilet paper”, can be articulated and defended in public?

Victor Stevenson, ( Letters, November 22) asks how can Enda Kenny exclude the Westbank orphanage from the remit of the proposed mother and babies homes Commission of Inquiry having stated in the Maíria Cahill case that all allegations of abuse should be thoroughly examined?

Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett (‘McDonald suspended from Dáil for two days,’ November 14) in adjourning Dáil Éireann after a suspension lasting four and a half hours due to a sit-in by Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, said he regretted very much having to take this action but it was necessary to avoid “further reputational damage to the institution”.

Paying tribute to the fallen British and Commonwealth soldiers during Remembrance Day ceremonies in London, British prime minister David Cameron said, “We stand united to remember the courageous men and women who have served our country, defended our freedoms and kept us safe”. 

The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine and the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar, have expressed concerns about the Government’s preparedness for any ebola cases. 

In the wake of the Maíria Cahill affair, the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin called for a cross-border commission to be established to examine how Sinn Féin and the IRA dealt with abuse cases during the Troubles. Mr Martin said “allegations of a cover-up demand a wider response”.

Connections of Uxizandre are hoping the six-year-old can start the season the way he ended the last campaign with victory at Aintree.

How many TDs will vote on Minister Jan O’Sullivan’s draft bill to to combat discrimination in the admissions policies of fee-paying schools — who have traditionally reserved places for the children of past pupils?

How many TDs will vote on Minister Jan O’Sullivan’s draft bill to to combat discrimination in the admissions policies of fee-paying schools — who have traditionally reserved places for the children of past pupils? 

Yet another arrogant and condescending Labour Party leader emerges in the Dáil (Irish Examiner, October 9).

I concur with your editorial (September 13) of the late Ian Paisley whose political career was punctuated with nakedly sectarian acts and deeds and the destruction of many political initiatives and moderate leaders of unionism who were engaged in genuine attempts to bring peace and stability to Northern Ireland.

Listening to the litany of phoney tributes being peddled in the media following the death of Rev Ian Paisley was vomit inducing.

In 2008 Cork City fathers conferred the Freedom of the City on the late Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.

I have some reservations about John Bruton’s favoured location regarding the placement of a statue honouring John Redmond.

Former taoiseach John Bruton’s recent statement that he is a Redmonite and his call for the government to mark the centenary of the passing of the Third Home Rule Bill calls into question his political allegiance during his tenure as taoiseach.

Just when you think you have seen the worst depths of sectarian decay in Northern society, along comes another sectarian nugget to chill the blood.

In the fullness of time it may well emerge that one of the many anticipated negative knock-on effects of the Garth Brooks saga will be a reluctance by headline acts to perform in Croke Park. What appears certain is that a cap on concerts at GAA headquarters in future years will be rigorously enforced.

The apology from First Minister Peter Robinson to the Muslim community in Ireland over his controversial remarks on Islam and Muslims was overdue but nonetheless comprehensive and welcome.

In an attempt to distance himself from his initial robust defence of the remarks of the Belfast Protestant evangelical minister Pastor James McConnell who described Muslims as heathen, satanic and spawned evil, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson said he believed the pastor "has the right to freedom of speech" but that he "would never seek to cause any insult to any section of our community".

No doubt the cash windfall of the region of €70,000 donated to the Jack and Jill foundation by former Justice Minister Alan Shatter will be of significant assistance to this worthy charity.

Your Busy, now an 11-year-old, showed he is far from a back number when taking the featured McSweeney Arms Hotel Killarney National Handicap Chase at the Kerry track last night.

It is encouraging to see Tom Cooper (Letters, April 28) entering the debate on Ireland joining the Commonwealth. The Reform Group has promoted this debate on its website (reform.org).

The call by a Conservative MP, Michael Fabricant, for Ireland to rejoin the British Commonwealth following the successful state visit to the UK of President Michael D Higgins comes as no surprise. However, the response by Fine Gael TD Brian Hayes who said “such a proposal should be considered”, does.

Prior to the last general election Taoiseach Enda Kenny made a commitment to the Irish people that if Fine Gael was returned to power they would dispense with parish-pump politics, sleaze, cronyism and political nepotism, so long associated with the body politic in this state.

While I welcomed the State visit of President Michael D Higgins to Britain, I’m not sure it has sealed the end of an era, as has been suggested.

So, Stoke City footballer, Stephen Ireland, is being considered for a return to the Ireland international team.

A conference on the disastrous effects which the Curragh Mutiny, or ‘incident’ as it became known, of 1914 had on British army discipline was held recently at the Curragh army camp, which is today the headquarters of the Irish Defence Forces.

Ireland’s spectacular Six Nations victory over France in Paris and the equally spectacular solo display by Brian O’Driscoll in his final international appearance will long be remembered in Irish and international sporting history.

Ireland captain William Porterfield was magnanimous after watching an incredible performance from Holland’s batsmen snatch away a place in the main draw of the ICC World Twenty20.

Shell-shocked Ireland were dumped out of the ICC World Twenty20 as Holland qualified for the main stages of the competition after their daring batsmen guided them to a six-wicket win in Sylhet.