Here's What Happened Today: Saturday

15 Aug 2026, 19:00 by Ottoline Spearman, https://www.thejournal.ie/author/ottoline-spearman/ · TheJournal.ie

NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

Ellen Walshe celebrates winning her second gold medal. Giorgio Scala / INPHOGiorgio Scala / INPHO / INPHO

Noreen and James McHugh have been remembered by their children as “their heroes” in the funeral mass that took place in Co Donegal today.
Kate O’Connor has continued her gold-medal form to win the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
Ellen Walshe has won her second gold and Ireland’s fourth medal at the European Aquatics Championships with a superb finish to the 200m individual medley.
Gardaí across Dublin and surrounding counties are dealing with nightly car theft incidents as groups of teenage boys steal cars to record TikTok videos.
A man in his 40s has been arrested in connection with the death of a prisoner who was stabbed in his cell in Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison on Thursday evening.
Festival goers are being warned of new forms of potent drugs that are circulating in Ireland, including pink cocaine, triple-strength MDMA, and a new form of ketamine.
A man in his 50s has been left in a critical condition in hospital following two consecutive collisions involving three cars in Co Meath.
Former president of Ireland Mary McAleese has said the late Queen Elizabeth of Britain had a very low opinion of Protestant religious leader and loyalist politician Ian Paisley.
A man in his 30s was killed in a collision involving a single motorcycle in Co Galway on Friday night.
Over 20% of women referred for urgent appointments in breast clinics so far this year are waiting longer than they should to be seen.

INTERNATIONAL

Taliban government supporters attend celebrations in Kabul marking the fifth anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's return to power. Alamy Stock PhotoAlamy Stock Photo

#DOUBLE HIT Indonesia has been hit by two strong earthquakes in one day, with the death toll at 47.

#TALIBAN The government is celebrating five years of ruling Afghanistan today, with the authorities hailing their country’s “freedom” and security, while critics decry tightening restrictions in all areas of daily life.

#JASON ARDAY The former University of Cambridge professor who was at the centre of a plagiarism row, told a friend he felt he “couldn’t go on” hours before he died on Friday.

PARTING SHOT

Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ieSasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

Members of the Medieval Armoured Combat Ireland Group turned out in full armoured kit today in sweltering Tallaght Village in Dublin today to put on a display of their armour and weaponry.

The event formed part of Medieval Combat Heritage Week.