This amazing shot of Sligo Town by night from Cairns Hill comes courtesy of Conor Doherty and there are  a lot more pictures here.

HERE ARE THE things you need to know as we round off the day in three easy steps…

THINGS WE LEARNED

• Helen McEnteee is the new TD for Meath East taking her late father’s seat for Fine Gael in a by-election that is most notable for Labour being beaten into fifth place with Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and the new political party, Direct Democracy Ireland, finishing above them.
• As four sergeants who walked out on Justice Minister Alan Shatter’s speech to the AGSI this week meet with an assistant commissioner in Templemore over anticipated disciplinary proceedings, the Tánaiste today insisted that that Shatter is not silencing anybody.
• Dublin city residents are facing water restrictions this weekend as the city council this evening announced nightly water restrictions for the entire Easter weekend.
• The gardaí have urged motorists to be safe on the roads this weekend as it looks to tackle the number of deaths on Irish roads this year which, at 48, is 14 more than this time last year.
• Nelson Mandela is back in hospital after being admitted for a recurrent lung infection. The 94-year-old was hospitalised for three weeks last December.
• As Cypriot banks reopened for the first time in over a week today, there are now reports that restrictions on cash withdrawals, money transfers and the movement of cash in and out of the country could remain in place for a month.

THINGS WE LOVED

• These six great reasons why we love Amy Huberman whose birthday it is today.
• On this Holy Thursday, these 12 Last Supper recreations for you to ponder.
• These two clever and provocative covers from TIME magazine this week:

THINGS WE SHARED

• These 12 disgusting things you can’t stop yourself from doing.
• Was the much publicised ‘biggest ever cyber attack in the history of the internet that slowed down the internet and stuff’ actually a PR stunt?
• Finally, these dogs are just chilling, playing bluegrass. No biggie:

YouTube: Cameron Owens