August 23: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Ironman organisers and Triathlon Ireland dispute timeline of water assessment
A dispute has broken out between the organisers of the Ironman event in Co Cork last weekend and Triathlon Ireland over the sanctioning of the event. The organisers of the Ironman event, in which two men died, say that several hours after the swim event was completed, the national federation – Triathlon Ireland – informed them that it would not sanction the event. However, Triathlon Ireland has responded to say its officials told organisers that it was not possible to sanction the event “before the start of the race”. Two participants, Brendan Wall and Ivan Chittenden, died during the swim section of the triathlon in Youghal on Sunday.
RTÉ

Róisín Wiley from New York is named Rose of Tralee 2023
New York Rose Róisín Wiley has been named as the 2023 Rose of Tralee. The Rose, whose parents are both from Limerick, was presented with the famous sash by last year’s Rose, Rachel Duffy during the final night of the Rose of Tralee Festival.
The Irish Examiner

Burglary gang use iron bar to batter grandfather in front of 10-year-old boy before bungling their getaway
A young boy was one of four people held against their will in a violent home invasion during which his grandfather was beaten with an iron bar. Gardaí are hopeful of catching the gang who were disguised as workmen after their getaway car failed to start and was abandoned at the scene. The terrifying aggravated burglary happened in the Carrickbrennan Lawn area of Monkstown, Dublin, at around 8.15am on Monday. A number of men dressed as workers knocked on the door before forcing their way into the house. The four occupants, including a couple in their 70s, their daughter and their grandchild – who is aged under 10 – were then held against their will. The grandfather was beaten with an iron bar as the raiders searched the house for valuables. It is understood that a number of items were taken during the burglary, including cash.
Independent.ie

There has been an average of 152 pub closures a year in Ireland since 2019
There has been an average of 152 pub closures annually since 2019, according to new figures from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI). The analysis shows a decline of 1,937 (22.5%) of pubs in Ireland since 2005. The 10 counties which suffered the largest percentage reduction in the number of pubs since 2005 were: Limerick (32%), Roscommon (30.3%), Cork (29.9%), Laois (29.9%), Offaly (28.7%), Leitrim (28.6%), Tipperary (28.6%), Mayo (27.8%), Longford (26.5%) and Donegal (26.3%). The drinks group said that the rate of pub closures has accelerated since Covid-19.
The Journal

UK’s first-ever womb transplant hailed by doctors as ‘dawn of new era’ in fertility treatment
The first-ever womb transplant in the UK has been hailed as the “dawn of a new era” in fertility treatment. A 40-year-old woman, who already had two children, decided to help her 34-year-old sister, who had been born without a uterus. Now, six months on, the recipient is having periods and is preparing to eventually have her own embryos implanted, already created via IVF with her own eggs.
Sky News

Australians urged to prepare for most significant bushfire season since black summer
Communities are being urged to prepare for what is likely to be the most significant bushfire season since the 2019-20 black summer fires. Large swathes of Australia are likely to experience an “increased risk” of bushfires due to forecasts of above-average temperatures, decreased rainfall, high fuel loads and changing weather patterns, according to the Australasian Fire Authorities Council (Afac) outlook.
The Guardian

Chandrayaan-3: India’s Moon lander Vikram aims for historic lunar south pole landing
India is looking to make history on Wednesday with its third lunar mission set to land on the Moon. If Chandrayaan-3 is successful, India will be the first country to land near the Moon’s little-explored south pole. One of its major goals is to hunt for water-based ice, which scientists say could support human habitation on the Moon in future. India’s attempt comes just days after Russia’s Luna-25 crashed while trying to touch down in the same region. If successful, it will also be only the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon – the US, the former Soviet Union and China have all landed near the equator.
BBC News

Today’s forecast
Cloudy with rain or drizzle in the south and southeast this morning, extending across much of Leinster by this afternoon and then clearing eastwards by evening. Scattered showers and occasional sunshine in other areas, with the showers most frequent in the northwest. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees in a light to moderate south to southwest wind. Scattered showers early tonight but becoming mostly dry with clear spells overnight as showers become isolated. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 12 degrees with light to moderate south to southwest winds at first, becoming calm later.
Met Éireann