Modern pentathlon
Natalya Coyle's medal chances in the modern pentathlon event have been scuppered by an uncooperative horse.
Her mount Constantin refused to jump multiple times in what proved to be a costly show-jumping event, following the freestyle swimming and fencing legs of the event.
It saw Coyle drop from fourth place to 19th overall with only the combined shooting and running in the laser run left to go, before finishing the total event in 24th place.
Revenue seizure
Revenue has seized heroin with an estimated street value of €12.3 million at Rosslare Europort, after it was discovered concealed inside machinery.
Revenue officers detected and seized around 88 kilograms of the product, believed to be heroin after preliminary analysis, on Thursday afternoon as part of an intelligence-led operation.
The illegal drugs were discovered when a truck and low-loader trailer, arriving into Ireland from mainland Europe, was stopped and searched.
Updated guidelines
Outdoor events with gatherings of up to 200 people, along with live music and other performances, are permitted under updated Covid-19 guidelines for the hospitality sector.
The updated Fáilte Ireland guidelines for outdoor events come after the Government said certain open-air events with up to 200 people are permitted, under advice from the Attorney General.
The Government announcement followed scrutiny of an event in Dublin’s Merrion Hotel, organised by former minister Katherine Zappone and attended by 50 people, including Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
Under the revised guidelines, multiple tables can be booked in an outdoor area, although intermingling between tables is not permitted.
Yellow weather warning
Met Éireann has issued a 24-hour rain and thunderstorm warning for most of Ireland.
The status yellow weather warning for Connacht, Ulster, north Leinster and north Munster comes into effect at 9am this morning, and will remain in place until 9am on Saturday.
The alert affects 15 counties and comes as the UK Met Office has also issued a thunderstorm warning for Northern Ireland.
Met Éireann warned: “Thunderstorm activity with the risk of hail, coupled with longer spells of rain over Kerry, Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, will lead to localised flooding and hazardous driving conditions.”
Walk-in vaccine centres
Following the success of the walk-in Covid vaccination centres around the country over the bank holiday weekend, the HSE has confirmed first-dose jabs will again be offered at some centres this weekend.
Health officials said they were “blown away” by the uptake of walk-in vaccinations, with over 30,000 doses administered last weekend.
There are a number of locations across the country that will be operating this weekend.
Team Ireland update
Team Ireland’s Brendan Boyce put on a stellar performance to finish 10th in a time of 3:53:40 in the 50km race walk, less than three minutes outside the medals.
With golf, modern pentathlon, cycling track and equestrian events also under way on Day 14 of the Olympic Games.
Brendan Boyce put in one of the performances of his career to finish 10th in a time of 3:53:40, while his teammate Alex Wright also impressed in 29th, his highest finish ever at a global championship, with a season’s best time of 4:06:20.
Vaccine programme
Ireland is equally close to completing its Covid-19 vaccination programme or “losing it all,” the chief of the health service has said.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid said progress made to contain Covid-19 could be lost if people became distracted or confused when it came to the guidelines and restrictions in place.
“We are so close to completing the vaccination programme, but equally we are so close to losing it all,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.
“The virus is still a very live threat to us. We are still testing significant numbers. This is a threat to everyone.”
