Saracens continued their recent dominance of Munster as they subjected the Irish province to another mauling and consigned the Reds to a third straight European semi-final defeat.

Even people with only a slight interest in the natural world seem to be talking these days about varied weather in winter and early spring, which is again highlighting the effects of climate change on animal and plant behaviour.

THIS time last year one story dominated the news – the appalling weather, especially flooding in the west and south, notably Cork.

The toll of victims missing and presumed dead in Senegal’s ferry disaster has soared by nearly 250, with the government now saying 1,034 passengers and crew were on board the doomed vessel.