The Irish economy has enjoyed a very positive 2019. Here is a selection of people who start 2020 in challenging new roles.

The Irish economy has enjoyed a very positive 2019. Here is a selection of people who start 2020 in challenging new roles.

Many of the great stars of the 1980s are disappearing. Last week alone, we bade goodbye to businessman Feargal Quinn and to actor Ken Kercheval, the man who played the long suffering rival of JR Ewing, Cliff Barnes, on the TV soap, Dallas.

Management at a busy service station has decided to close their external ATM due to "ongoing security issues".

Gerry Adams is anticipated to outline a timetable for retirement as he addresses the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis in Dublin.

Dundalk 3 Drogheda United 0: Dundalk are refusing to give up on their title.

A decision to grant planning permission for a bookmaker’s pemises in a former retail shop in Tralee town centre has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.

An Irish golfer holidaying in Spain had the shaft of a golf club embedded in the back of his head when a Spanish taxi went out of control and somersaulted into a ravine, the Circuit Civil Court was told yesterday.

This week, I’m looking back on some of the best start-ups I’ve had the pleasure of talking with during 2016.

“You just can’t write it can you?” beamed John Mountney after playing his part in helping Dundalk to their third league title success in-a-row on Sunday night.

Munster’s bid for a third Interprovincial Championship victory in four years was crushed decisively by Leinster’s young guns on the Sandy Hills at Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort in Donegal.

Dundalk 6 Limerick 2: Champions Dundalk failed to let the distraction of this week’s Champions League draw affect them as they brushed aside Limerick FC at Oriel Park last night.

Gavin Moynihan might be considered a shoo-in for a second Walker Cup cap but the Dubliner knows he needs to start showing some form to make sure of his place at Royal Lytham and St Annes in September.

An Aer Lingus check-in operator got down on his knees and pleaded for forgiveness after being challenged by his manager over reported breaches in procedure while processing passengers, a tribunal was told.

Rob Kearney made his appeal count as arguably Ireland’s most marketable rugby player last year with accumulated profits at his firm jumping to more than €220,000.

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny hailed his side's title triumph as “special” following their 2-0 victory over Cork City at Oriel Park last night.

400 jobs have been announced for Co Louth, at Paypal's eBay European operations centre in Dundalk.

Two extra years of healthy living for every European by 2020 is the ambitious objective of a new EU venture — the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy Ageing.

Ireland and Lions star Rob Kearney is putting his masters in business to good use.

Twenty-six years-old Simon Ward, a native of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan and a member of Co Louth, made his final appearance in an amateur championship a winning one at Lahinch yesterday when he won the South of Ireland for a second time.

Holder Pat Murray (Limerick), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) and Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan), the three players with most reason to feel aggrieved at the announcement of the Irish Home Internationals team before the South of Ireland began, all bit the dust on an eventful day at Lahinch yesterday.

More than eight decades of education provision ends today when 33 city and county vocational education committees (VECs) are consigned to history.

Future careers in dance and music could be under threat from budget cuts of hundreds of teaching posts on further education courses.

Having re-branded to capitalise on its Irish identity, a Co Louth chocolate company is developing its export trade to Dubai, China and Japan and hopes to surpass last year’s 30% growth in turnover, writes Trish Dromey

Two republicans have been found liable for the Omagh bombing following a landmark civil action taken by relatives of some of the victims.

A judgment in the civil retrial of two republicans accused of responsibility for the Omagh bombing is due today.

Two republicans being sued by relatives of victims of the Omagh bomb have been challenged to break their silence and testify in court.

Two republicans being sued by relatives of victims of the Omagh bomb have been challenged to break their silence and testify in court.

The wife of Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is to become a policy specialist for his Labour Party colleague Ruairí Quinn as part of redeployment arrangements for vocational education committee (VEC) chiefs.

A judge in the civil retrial of two men accused of involvement in the Omagh bombing has warned lawyers that he will not let it be held up by endless delays.

Most of the top lady golfers from Ireland and Britain, including Curtis Cup stars, will compete in the prestigious Ladies Home International Championships at Cork Golf Club next week.

A goal from substitute Davin O’Neill 20 minutes from time saw 10-man Cork City get back to winning ways in a five-goal thriller at Turner’s Cross last night.

Captain Phil Cooney and his superbly balanced Munster team were celebrating at Royal Co Down last night after they completed a clean sweep in the Interprovincial Championship by beating a hotly fancied Ulster side by 7 matches to 4.

Noel Pyne reaches a remarkable milestone when he makes his 50th successive appearance in the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch next Saturday.

Derry City will be looking to forget their midweek trouncing at Sligo Rovers and halt Drogheda United’s recent good form when they welcome the Co Louth side to the Brandywell tonight.

The Government is to push European leaders to slash the cost of its crippling bank bailout after it secured resounding support for the fiscal treaty.

ABP Renewables subsidiary AGRI has opened a state-of-the-art bio diesel plant in Liverpool, England, on the back of its recent multi-million pound investment into bio diesel production.

It was a polished Diamond — one Harry Diamond from the Belvoir Park club in Belfast — who shone brightest at scenic Rosses Point to take the title in the final of the Radisson Blu West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship yesterday.

Stephen Healy (Claremorris) will represent the home province on the final day of the Radisson Blu-sponsored West of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Rosses Point today after a clear-cut 4 and 3 triumph over Nicholas Grant (Knock) in their quarter-final yesterday.

NIALL TURNER, the former Muskerry golfer was last night left to rue four bogeys he simply couldn’t afford to concede if he was to come through yesterday’s final qualifying rounds for the British Open Championship.

A CONSTITUTIONAL challenge is to be brought against Ireland’s bankruptcy laws, the High Court has been informed.

A constitutional challenge is to be brought against Ireland's bankruptcy laws, the High Court was informed today.

DUNDALK got back on the winning trail when two late goals by in-form striker Mark Griffin gave them a vital victory over UCD in a tense Premier Division clash at the Belfield Bowl last night.

Three Co Louth men appeared in court today accused of attacking the referee at last year's controversial Leinster Senior Football final at Croke Park.

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgment in the case of a Co Louth father of three accused of IRA membership.

THE ARCHDIOCESE of Armagh has strongly defended its role in asking a Co Louth priest to stand down after parishioners burst into a sacristy to confront the bishop over his decision.