The greyhound racing industry— track racing not coursing — is struggling to make ends meet despite continued Government support worth something around €10m a year.

The continuing violence in Ferguson, Missouri, is another sad reminder of how very deep-rooted race issues remain in one of the most integrated societies in the world.

Today, as the decade of centenary celebrations continues apace, we report on a major conservation project on a Cork City landmark — the city’s National Monument.

There has been no surprise at the announcement that Cardinal Seán Brady has offered his resignation to Pope Francis. This was obligatory once he reached his 75th birthday yesterday. There are unlikely to be many regrets, because he should have resigned some years ago.

In seeking to trace customers who owe them money, credit unions have hired private investigators, some of these have been accused of using illegal methods to obtain information.

Sport has always played an important role in Irish life. The establishment of the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884 and the Gaelic League in 1893 have often been credited with inspiring the movement that led to Irish independence.

Though Ireland’s dream of reaching the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup was shattered by England, the team can take immense pride from their achievement.

Since it touches every community, every village, town, and city in the country, it would be hard to exaggerate the importance of tourism as one of the major engines of the economy. 

In the 1960s, Britain was famously exhorted to go to work on an egg. Within a few years, however, its people were being told eating eggs was bad for them. Yet, in more recent times, the humble boiled egg has again been rehabilitated. After that, butter was in the firing line and researchers claimed too much was bad for your cholesterol. But before long, butter too was declared to be good for you.

The scale of civic and social collapse across the Middle East, where societies, countries, and governments fall like autumn leaves, the escalating savagery of Islamic fundamentalists, their determined genocide against Christians, the helplessness of a world equally dumbfounded and disinterested and the never-ending conflict between Israelis and Palestinians are coming together in a way that appears to have an almost unstoppable momentum.