Fine Gael's Seán Kyne has narrowed the gap to Independent Ireland candidate Noel Thomas in the Galway West by-election.

Results from the ninth count show Kyne is now just 325 votes behind Thomas.

The decisive moment will come when Fianna Fáil candidate Cillian Keane transfers his 2,581 votes to Kyne.

If this happens, the gap will be reduced to 329 votes, potentially securing Kyne's lead.

The final two candidates, Labour's Helen Ogbu and Social Democrats' Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich, are expected to favour Kyne over Thomas.

Donegal's Jim McGuinness is facing disciplinary action after a half-time altercation with Kerry's Diarmuid O'Connor during their All-Ireland football championship win.

The referee, Seán Hurson, did not take action at the time, but the outcome of any potential ban will depend on his match report.

This incident has drawn comparisons to a similar altercation that led to Dublin manager Ger Brennan receiving a 12-week suspension.

However, the circumstances are not identical, as Brennan was sanctioned by the referee at the time.

McGuinness's fate will be decided by the Central Competitions Control Committee, who will consider the referee's report when making their decision.

A new National Planning Statement on rural housing aims to bring clarity and consistency to the current patchwork of county-level policies.

The proposed changes would ease restrictions on one-off homes in rural areas, allowing more people to build in locations where they have family ties or work.

Factors such as prior residency and economic or social need would be given greater weight in the planning process.

The plans are expected to be brought to Cabinet in early June and will be open to public consultation and environmental assessment.

Offaly secured a notable victory over Kildare in the Leinster Championship, sending them to the All-Ireland knockout stages.

The win, combined with Dublin's victory over Kilkenny, eliminated the Cats from the championship.

Offaly dominated the game, leading by three points at halftime and extending their lead with five consecutive points.

Kildare's chances were further diminished when Cathal McCabe was sent off in the 37th minute.

Offaly's Eoin Cahill was instrumental in the win, scoring several crucial points.

The team's goal came when Kildare goalkeeper Paddy McKenna delayed his clearance, allowing Brian Duignan to score into the empty net.

Offaly's victory was compounded by news of Dublin's goal against Kilkenny, securing their knockout stage spot.

A Northern Irish couple's loss has led to a global charity helping families bring their deceased loved ones home.

Eithne and Colin Bell founded the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust after their son Kevin's sudden death in a hit-and-run incident in New York in 2013.

The charity was initially run from their kitchen table and has since grown to become the only organisation of its kind in the world.

With over 2,500 repatriations, the trust pays for every transportation cost, supporting families across Ireland.

The charity's work is a testament to the couple's love and dedication to their son's memory.

The Munster Senior Hurling Championship saw Cork take a commanding lead over Clare at half-time, with a nine-point gap between the sides.

In the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, Dublin dominated Kilkenny with a 26-point margin.

Meanwhile, Limerick and Tipperary were neck and neck in their match, with Limerick's Peter Casey and Tipperary's Eoghan Connolly trading scores.

The Tailteann Cup also saw action, with Fermanagh defeating Wexford and Antrim facing off against Tipperary.