Former Ireland internationals, head coaches, a World Cup-winning captain will be among RTÉ's stable of pundits for the Rugby World Cup.

The historic reorganisation of local government in Cork has impacted on most of Cork County Council’s municipal districts (MD) but none more so than this one.

For 20 years Michael Corcoran has been working in RTÉ, covering and commentating on the Irish provinces’ exploits in Europe, writes Kieran Shannon.

Galway’s Harbour Hotel is ideally positioned just a few minutes walk to the city centre. Better still, it’s just had an extensive refurbishment, Susan O’Shea checks in.

February 3rd, and suffice to say that spring has not exactly yet sprung.

Gardaí all across the country are being punched, kicked, slapped, and bitten on an ever-increasing basis, official figures confirmed.

A major business organisation and the country’s largest Garda representative body have both expressed concern about the lack of progress in replacing a Garda station which has been described as “a deathtrap”.

You don’t need a Santa’s sack of goodies to transform your look for the party season, writes Deirdre Reynolds.

Margaret Jennings discovers many older women are using extensions to give their long locks a boost, as the trend to go short wanes.

Garda recruits are paid far less than their counterparts in England and Scotland and GRA representatives say it is ironic the Department they work for has ‘Equality’ as part of its title.

Hundreds of rank and file gardaí believe they should consider strike action if the Government doesn’t begin to restore the 22% pay cuts they’ve endured since 2009.

A West Cork retail investment, previously occupied by a pharmacy has been put up for sale, with dual street access, in the heart of Clonakilty town.

A 25-strong Garda unit has been set up in Cork City specifically to ensure water protests don’t become violent.

He’ll stay strictly professional, save maybe the odd colourful remark, but at least one Kerry voice in Killarney tomorrow will be shouting for Cork. And it’s a very familiar voice to Cork radio listeners. C103 match commentator and raconteur Paudie Palmer.

The largest garda representative association has been forced to defend its decision to urge its members to vote yes in the same sex marriage referendum.

So, has it always been rugby with you?

Six Nations fever is set to grip nation once again at the weekend as Ireland welcome England to the Aviva Stadium in what could be a Championship deciding clash.

Many rank-and-file gardaí are angry at proposed ros-ters which would see them working longer hours for reduced pay, in an effort by management to stretch a force which does not have adequate manpower.

A senior figure in the organisation which represents the country’s rank-and-file gardaí says its members on immigration control should be provided with special suits to protect them from ebola.

The Garda watchdog has been criticised for wasting taxpayers’ money after it emerged it is now offering to pay the High Court expenses of two gardaí it tried to discipline, even after a lower court ruled they acted properly.

The dwindling number of gardaí patrolling Cork City streets is at crisis point, according to the organisation representing rank-and-file members of the force.

The Garda Representative Association has hired a well-known solicitor to represent two gardaí who face internal disciplinary proceedings by the force’s watchdog, even though they were cleared of any wrongdoing when they used pepper spray to subdue a violent teenager.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has served disciplinary papers on one of the gardaí who were cleared in court of wrongdoing after they used pepper spray to subdue a violent youth.

Sports stadiums can be drab places long after the final whistle has blown, when all that humanity has trickled away into the surrounding streets and countryside and left behind are the memories, the cold and the detritus of a day well spent.

A Columban priest who survived kidnapping in the Philippines was one of over 200 returned missionaries honoured at a ceremony in Dublin yesterday.

A Triple Crown and World Cup qualification in the bag. Now it’s time to focus on the Grand Slam.

An unprecedented vote of no confidence in Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan by more than 350 Cork gardaí is gaining support nationwide.

One of the most sage pieces of advice offered to RTÉ head of sport Ryle Nugent was that if he survived the first 10 years without people liking or disliking his rugby commentary, he might just make it. On the eve of his 15th season behind the mic, he evidently succeeded.

The closure of almost 100 Garda stations has gone ahead as an unrepentant Alan Shatter insisted policing would not be damaged by the move.

Sarsfields of Galway became the first club to successfully defend their All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge title when they beat a strong field at Waterford Castle Golf Club.

An enterprising Irish firm believes it has come up with a solution to the growing problem of public art thefts around the country.

RTÉ rugby commentator Michael Corcoran began his broadcasting career with RTÉ Radio Cork.

GARDAÍ have renewed their appeal for witnesses to a fatal traffic accident on the Cork-Limerick road which claimed the life of a 30-year-old man.

This year’s finalists for the 15th annual National Enterprise Awards have been announced.

THE visit to the Republic and her reception by a guard of honour of the Defence Force reminds me of the action of Colonel Michael Corcoran, Officer Commanding the 69th Infantry Regiment, New York State Volunteers, who refused to parade the regiment in honour of the visit of the Prince of Wales to the city.

PRISON sentences of 12 years should be handed out to those convicted of “gratuitous assaults” on gardaí, according to the organisation which represents 11,600 frontline members of the force.

THE Government and our politicians lack the credibility required to lead the country. We’re told the country is in deep financial trouble, yet they continue to draw ridiculously inflated salaries, totally out of proportion to our size as an economy.

THE shocks and surprises of the previous two days continued on the final day of the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel yesterday where Kingsmill Dynamo, bred by Sean Bleeks, trained by Aidan Roche in Gorey and owned by the Roche-Fitzpatrick Syndicate from Arklow, Co. Wicklow captured the Boylesport.com Derby.

OVERALL, it was a great year for Irish sport.

THE organisation representing the country’s 11,000 rank-and-file gardaí will take the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) to the European Court of Human Rights if it continues to investigate members of the force for off-duty incidents where they haven’t broken any laws.

RTÉ has finalised an agreement with Argentinian rugby officials for live TV and radio coverage of the two rugby tests between Argentina and Ireland in the coming weeks.

The National Boy 1,2 & 3 Championships commenced at the National Stadium in Dublin yesterday with thirty seven preliminary round and quarter final bouts in the Boy 1& 2 categories.

THE Mayor of New York yesterday threw his political weight behind the campaign for illegal Irish immigrants in America.

US politicians must inject some common sense into the country’s immigration policies to continue to attract the brightest and best Irish immigrants, it was claimed today.

The mayor of New York has pledged his support for the campaign to get citizenship rights for illegal Irish immigrants in the United States.

The Mayor of New York is due to visit Ballymote in Co Sligo today to unveil a monument that incorporates some of the original steel from the Twin Towers.

Bective Under 7s beat Old Belvedere Under 7s in the final of the Kieran Burke Memorial Plaque in Kilternan today.

GROWING centres of population like Carrigaline, Bishopstown, Passage West, Crosshaven, Rochestown, Togher and Douglas enjoy less permanent garda cover than anywhere else in Cork.