Images from the funeral of Private Seán Rooney dominate Friday's front pages.
The Irish Times' headline quotes Pte Rooney's mother Natasha, who told the congregation: 'In his life he had made me proud and in his death he has made me proud'.
The Irish Examiner also leads with a quote, from Pte Rooney's fiancee Holly, who said: 'Seán would always protect me and make me feel safe.'
The paper also reports on warnings from the HSE over a surge in winter virus infections, and a 'deluge' of requests from TDs attempting to secure driving test dates for their constituents.
The Echo reads:' Racial abuse horror', after a man was jailed for racially abusing a shop worker in Cork city centre.
The Irish Daily Mail, Irish Daily Star and Irish Daily Mirror all lead with images from Pte Rooney's funeral, which was held in Dundalk, followed by his burial in Co Donegal.
Friday's front page pic.twitter.com/lzuDzAsTSx
Advertisement— The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) December 22, 2022
In Britain, Downing St’s response to Scotland’s controversial new gender recognition laws leads a variety of Friday’s papers.
The Guardian and Daily Mail report No 10 said it may block the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which removes the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria to obtain a gender recognition certificate.
Guardian front page, Friday 23 December 2022: No 10 threatens to block Scottish law on legally changing gender pic.twitter.com/YeBqn4sz8L
Advertisement— The Guardian (@guardian) December 22, 2022
Friday’s @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/uPeADYH5nU
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) December 22, 2022
Elsewhere, The Daily Telegraph says a man who murdered multiple children was able to commit his crimes after being classed as a “medium risk” offender.
📰 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Murderer was free to kill after probation blunders'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletter 👇https://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/cDpXowjX1f— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) December 22, 2022
The i leads with more mass strikes coming in January.
Friday's front page: NHS mass strikes in January as medics dig in for battle with No 10morrowsPapersTodaye#TomorrowsPapersToday
🔴 Latest from @PMGallagher1 https://t.co/SSyrkLuI6m pic.twitter.com/n5kbOzJk2n— i newspaper (@theipaper) December 22, 2022
People with a cough or cold have been urged to stay away from their grandparents over Christmas, according to The Times.
THE TIMES: Got a cough or cold? stay away from grandparents #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/xz1lhu0Pme
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 22, 2022
The Independent says millions of Britons face “unprecedented” travel disruption amid strikes by UK Border Force and National Highways workers.
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL:Unprecedented travel disruption for Christmas #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Sf1B5oQZUq
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 22, 2022
Despite this, Britons are “determined” to have a Merry Christmas, according to the Daily Express.
Friday's front page: We will have a merry Xmashttps://t.co/XoojOQXR1R#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/qvsn8CqnTN
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) December 22, 2022
The Daily Mirror reports royal security chiefs have ordered a review of the safety of Britain's King Charles III ahead of possible Christmas protests.
Friday's front page: King's Xmas security fears. #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/i7H7XZPDNp pic.twitter.com/VYORzEDqdm
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) December 22, 2022
The Financial Times leads with Britain joining international criticism of US president Joe Biden’s package of green subsidies over “protectionist” concerns.
FT UK: @KemiBadenoch joins EU critics in attacking @POTUS green subsidies as protectionist #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/MkgNpPgBHR
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) December 22, 2022
The Sun says Strictly champion Jowita Przystal and pro Giovanni Pernice are dating.
On tomorrow's front page: Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice finds love with show winner after going public with romance at Prem star’s birthday bashhttps://t.co/ENPEkHs1Ha pic.twitter.com/GA9ekTLTty
— The Sun (@TheSun) December 22, 2022
And the Daily Star says pub groups are urging people to avoid abstaining from drinking in the new year in order to help pubs struggling with cost of living.
Pub groups are urging the public to ditch the traditional Dry January 🍺 #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/1XRMuIVfWd pic.twitter.com/0JfIsFioW7
— Daily Star (@dailystar) December 22, 2022
