‘We’ve got to release the dead hand of the past’: how Ireland created the world’s best alternative music scene

South Africa secured a 24-13 victory over Ireland in a match marked by indiscipline, with five Irish players sent to the sin-bin. The game, held at Lansdowne Road, featured a chaotic first half that saw multiple infractions, leading to a challenging contest for the world champions. Despite the disarray, South Africa managed to clinch the win after a lengthy and exhausting match.

Ireland is set to face South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series rugby union match, with kick-off scheduled for 5:40 PM GMT. Sam Prendergast has been selected as the fly-half, while experienced players Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier return to bolster the team against the world champions.

Over 130 Gazan students who have been accepted into Canadian universities are stranded in Gaza, with some waiting over 18 months for their visas. The situation has resulted in the tragic loss of two students' lives, while others face severe risks. Canada cites security checks and evacuation difficulties as reasons for the delays, but critics point out that other nations, including the UK, Italy, Ireland, and France, have successfully evacuated their students.

The FIFA World Cup playoff draw featured a lively event with notable figures and a variety of visual elements. Melanie Winiger hosted the draw, which included FIFA legends and a showcase of the tournament's history. Ireland and Wales are strategizing their paths as they prepare for the playoffs, with Wales set to host Bosnia-Herzegovina and Northern Ireland traveling to Italy.

Musician Joy Crookes has expressed concern over the rise of far-right politics in the UK and Ireland, describing the current climate as a 'dark time.' She noted that the recent display of national flags during her visits to London and Dublin made her feel unsafe, drawing parallels to the 1970s when the National Front was prominent. Crookes recently performed two sold-out shows at the O2 Academy in Brixton.