Last week, in these pages, it was interesting to read the thoughts of Donegal footballer Eamon McGee on the upcoming marriage referendum.

A protest to mark 15 days since the start of the Israeli assault on Gaza will take place in Dublin later today.

RABODIRECT PRO12:

Sideline scrum now the bane of rugby

Convention tells us that, for 80 minutes at Lansdowne Road this evening, men who are good friends and teammates on international weeks will put aside their friendships and substitute them with animosities born of blood.

Champions Oulart-the-Ballagh remain on course for a fourth title in-a-row when they defeated Shelmaliers (1-19 to 2-11) in their Pettitt’s Wexford SHC semi-final at Wexford Park on Saturday.

Rathnure produced an incredible comeback to defeat St. Anne’s (Rathangan) in a thrilling SHC quarter-final at Wexford Park on Saturday.

THE Ulster Bank All-Ireland League got back on track over the weekend with some outstanding games and excellent performances.

The Israeli Embassy in Dublin is defending the decision of Israeli authorities to imprison 14 Irish activists who were attempting to bring aid to the people of Gaza.

Irish human rights activists detained by Israeli authorities as they tried to break the naval blockade on Gaza will arrive home over the next two days.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore is coming under pressure to intervene on behalf of 14 Irish citizens who have been held in an Israeli prison since Saturday.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has today called for the immediate release of 14 Irish citizens who have been imprisoned in Israeli since Friday.

Crew members of the Irish vessel the MV Saoirse and the Canadian ship the Tahrir are attending an immigration hearing in Israel this evening.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore was tonight facing demands to intervene over the Israeli interception of an Irish boat trying to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

CHAMPIONS Oulart-the-Ballagh crushed last year’s defeated finalists St Martin’s 3-21 to 1-8 in a one-sided Wexford senior hurling championship quarter-final played at Wexford Park on Saturday.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has backed calls for an investigation into damage caused to a Gaza-bound Irish ship.

An Irish aid ship has been forced to pull out of a flotilla attempting to break the Gaza blockade after it was damaged while docked in Turkey.

ISRAELI foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said participants in an aid flotilla planning to challenge an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip were seeking “confrontation and blood”.

HUMAN rights activists trying to break the Gaza blockade have vowed to stop Israeli forces from boarding their ship.

Human rights activists trying to break the Gaza blockade have vowed to stop Israeli forces from boarding their ship.

Four Irish rugby internationals have given their backing to a second aid flotilla trying to break the Gaza blockade.

THE CHAT was going reasonably well.

ULSTER back Andrew Trimble has joined the list of players committing his future to Irish rugby after signing a new Ireland international contract that will keep him at Ravenhill until the end of the 2012-13 season.

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has named his side that will face the Dragons in Friday night’s Magners League clash at the RDS. (Kick-off 7.05pm)

MUNSTER A coach Anthony Foley expects the sternest test of the season in tomorrow’s clash with Leinster A at Donnybrook (2.30pm).

Leinster 6 London Wasps 41, Donnybrook

Fit-again Sean O'Brien will captain Leinster against London Wasps in Friday's pre-season friendly in Donnybrook (KO: 7pm).

Ireland international Luke Fitzgerald returns to the Leinster squad for the first time since last November for their pre-season warm-up against London Wasps on Friday at Donnybrook (KO: 7pm).

IT was billed as the dream send-off for Leinster coach Michael Cheika but the inspired Ospreys danced all over the script in this inaugural Magners League Grand final at the RDS on Saturday.

Cian Healy has lost out in the battle for room in the Leinster front row for the Magner's League Grand Final against The Ospreys at The RDS on Saturday (KO: 6.30pm).

Jonathan Sexton makes his return to the Leinster side to play Munster in Saturday's Magners League semi final at the RDS on Saturday (kick off: 8pm).

Captain Leo Cullen has been ruled out of the extended Leinster squad to play Munster in the Magner’s League semi-final at The RDS on Saturday.

IN A manner with which all Munster GAA fans will be most familiar, Tipperary have lately forced their way into rugby’s consciousness in the province, to the extent that one of these days we can expect the clamour to begin for the jersey to be changed from the famous red to blue and gold.

LEINSTER’S Heineken Cup hopes received a major boost yesterday with the news that both Brian O’Driscoll and Eoin Reddan will return for the province in tomorrow’s Magners league game away to Connacht.

Coach Michael Cheika has taken the unprecedented step of naming his Leinster sides to play Connacht in The Sportsground on Wednesday and Glasgow at Firhill on Friday in the Magner’s League.

Ireland internationals Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings, Rob Kearney, Eoin Reddan and Jonathan Sexton return from Six Nations duty to join the extended Leinster panel for the visit of Connacht to the RDS on Saturday.

Malcolm O'Kelly will win his 180th cap for Leinster against the Glasgow Warriors in Thursday night's Magners League clash in the RDS (KO: 7.30pm).

MUNSTER have the ideal opportunity to atone for their disappointing performance against the Newport Gwent Dragons when they face the Llanelli Scarlets in a postponed Magners League game at Musgrave Park on Thursday, (7.35pm).

In-form Fergus McFadden has been included in the Leinster squad, to be captained by hooker Bernard Jackman, to play Glasgow Warriors in Thursday night's Magners League clash in the RDS (KO: 7.30pm).

SHAUN BERNE is ready to seize his opportunity as Leinster face a tough trip to face Cardiff Blues tomorrow.

Ireland U20 sensation Andrew Conway will make his full debut for Leinster against Cardiff Blues in the Magner’s League in Wales on Sunday.

Ireland internationals Shane Jennings and Eoin Reddan retun to the Leinster squad to play the Cardiff Blues in Sunday's Magners League at Cardiff City Stadium (KO: 4pm).