Irish wind-farm developers, counting on a trade deal that would allow them to benefit from British power subsidies, said they are confident an agreement will be reached.

The cold snap is seeing householders snapping up peat briquettes as demand for the fuel soared by 67% in March.

PUNCHESTOWN are covering four miles of the track, which is a first on an Irish racecourse, in a bid to beat the forecasted freezing temperatures, ahead of Sunday’s Boylesports.com Chase day.

Forty workers at Bord na Mona were suspended today over an unofficial dispute at a power station.