Catch-up with what you've missed with our morning briefing

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

IRELAND

A grieving woman who lost her partner, two sons, mother, and sister in the Donegal drowning tragedy has shown unbridled courage to write and read a poem in their honour. Hundreds of mourners at the funerals of the five people killed at Buncrana pier wept openly as Louise James spoke her touching words at the Holy Family Church in Derry yesterday.

Transport across Dublin on Easter weekend is set for chaos after Luas workers rejected a pay deal.

The ban of alcohol sales on Good Friday is being criticised by The Restaurants Association of Ireland who say 'it is unacceptable'.

Survivors of clerical sex abuse in the Catholic Church are to stage a protest in Dublin today.

WORLD 

A Frenchman has been arrested in the “advanced stages” of a plot to attack the country.

Twelve people have been killed after a minibus collided with a truck in central France. The crash occurred when the minibus swerved into the path of oncoming traffic and crashed into a truck.

SPORT

John O’Shea won’t have any trouble adjusting his mindset from a relegation dogfight to the rather more stress-free environs of an international friendly tonight – but then, as a Sunderland stalwart, he has a bit of previous in this regard.

“Don’t go where you’re not wanted,” reflected John Giles last night, after RTÉ confirmed his 30-year spell as a football pundit with the station would finish after the European Championships.

Cork U21 and senior footballer Stephen Cronin says former boss Brian Cuthbert shipped too much flak in the wake of last year’s tame championship exit.

BUSINESS

A university lecturer has launched a High Court challenge aimed at halting a selection process for the appointment of 10 senior posts at University College Cork’s school of business.

CityJet founder Pat Byrne has said the airline’s transformation will be helped by greater access to credit after sealing a deal to buy the airline from its German owner, with the help of investors.

VIEWPOINTS

It is not that irregular an occurance for observers to liken our parliament to a crèche, writes Alison O’Connor

LIFESTYLE

From restoration of artifacts to upcycling furniture, Caroline Delaney brushes up on the latest trend.

VIDEO

The sight of five coffins being carried up the steps of the Holy Family Church was beyond heartbreaking. Derry City has witnessed many sorrowful scenes in its often troubled history. But yesterday’s funeral service was as heart-wrenching as any other dark chapter in this proud but battered city’s history.

VIRAL

Statistics released recently by the CAO show that the authority has received record numbers of applications from students seeking third level places. Brian Moss and Lorraine Murphy take a studious look at some of the stranger college courses from around the world.

Picking out an engagement ring can be pretty stressful - especially with all the different types on offer - so this may be helpful.

TECHNOW

GAMING: Stoic Entertainment is back with The Banner Saga 2.

MOVIES: So we had absolutely no idea that there could be a good film with a title like 'The Lego Batman Movie.' But boy were we wrong.

TECH: Apple has a lot of new products coming out these days, with the recent annoucement of the iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7 inch tablet. There will be at least two new iPhones in September and possibly a refresh of the Apple Watch on the way.

SHOWBIZ

The Rolling Stones have arrived in Cuba on the eve of the rock band's historic free concert in a country where their music was once silenced.

MOST READ RIGHT NOW

As the anniversary of 1916 creeps up on us this weekend, commemorations are flooding the country with poignant celebrations of Irish history - but this one has left us feeling particularly emotional.