Welcome to your Monday morning briefing. Let us ensure you’re up to speed on what’s happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

Applicants for civil legal aid are waiting almost two years to secure the services of a solicitor as the Legal Aid Board struggles to deal with a 70% increase in demand in seven years.

The Menu is glad to see the poor benighted banks being afforded some well-deserved TLC with a clutch of their very own holidays arriving in quick succession and he shall pass the next in Lovely Limerick, enjoying the exceedingly family-friendly Riverfest (May 2-5).

THIS week’s auctioneer, in what’s affectionately termed the ‘good girl/good boy’ slot, is Jeremy Murphy of Jeremy Murphy and Associates.

HUNDREDS bid a fond farewell yesterday to a much-loved man who believed the arts and sport were the heartbeat of humanity.

BIG-TIME cycling returned to Irish streets and byways yesterday — and the public came out in their thousands to lap it up.

ERUDITE jester John Cleese, of Fawlty Towers and Monty Python fame, entertained key players in the Irish business and media worlds at the Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) annual dinner in the company’s flagship headquarters on Cork’s South Mall last night.

Bank of Scotland (Ireland) is set to open more branches in the Republic of Ireland under the Halifax brand name as part of a expansion plan to win over customers from rival financial institutions.

HUMANITARIAN and rock star Bob Geldof was the guest speaker at Thomas Crosbie Holdings’ annual dinner last night and said that despite being a victim of the paparazzi culture he still believed in absolute free press.