The second Fine Gael leadership debate has taken place at Carlow IT.
Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing Simon Coveney went head-to-head in front of a large audience of party members, before the candidates head to Ballinasloe in Co Galway this weekend.
The Coveney camp had hinted that they were working on converting TDs, Senators and MEPs who've already pledged their vote to Leo Varadkar.
At the hustings, Coveney argued that if elected he will be a leader for rural Ireland and beyond.
Acknowledging that he is the underdog in the leadership contest, he said despite the challenge ahead of him, he is "in it to win it".
He added that they need to rebuild the party's name in certain parts of the country, believing that certain parties have left politics splintered.
Meanwhile, Varadkar said the party's democracy "shouldn't begin and end" with the leadership vote next week, and that he will endeavor to be "a Taoiseach for Ireland".
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Ariana Grande says she will return to Manchester to hold a benefit gig for victims of the suicide bombing at her concert.
Twenty-two people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in a crowd leaving her show at the Manchester Arena on Monday.
"I'll be returning to the incredibly brave city of Manchester to spend time with my fans and to have a benefit concert in honor of and to raise funds for the victims and their families," the star wrote on Twitter.
"There is nothing I or anyone can do to take away the pain you are feeling or make this better," she said in a statement.
"However, I extend my hand and heart and everything I possibly can give to you and yours, should you want or need my help in any way.
"The only thing we can do now is choose how we let this affect us and how we live our lives from here on out."
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A search operation will resume this morning for a missing crewman off the coast of Dublin.
It's after a small fishing vessel sank near Skerries yesterday afternoon - with two people on board at the time.
One person was recovered and was taken by ambulance to hospital, while the search last night for the second member continued until dark.
RNLI lifeboats and local fishing trawlers along with the Irish Coastguard helicopter were all involved in the initial search effort.
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A 40-year old man has been arrested after two pensioners were found stabbed to death in their home in County Armagh.
The couple, understood to both be in their 80s, were discovered in the property in Ramone Park in the Craigavon area by a relative.
Police are trying to establish a motive - with one line of inquiry being they were killed during a burglary.
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Almost 100,000 vehicles have been checked for speeding today.
National Slow Down Day will continue until 7 o'clock tomorrow morning and Gardai say they will be out in force.
The aim to reduce the number of speed-related collisions on our country's roads.
