Thomas McCarthy grew up in the culture of bothántaíocht, when people would go from house to house, singing and storytelling.

The priest officiating at the funeral of a man who was fatally stabbed on the street last week has questioned why people carry knives when they result in so much tragedy.

Gardaí continue to search for a man who left the scene of the murder of Conor Quinn in Mallow, Co Cork, on Thursday night.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

The sights and sounds from the Cahirmee Horse Fair

Repair work is nearly complete on the “worst” street surface in Ireland, in Buttevant town. And motorists using the main Cork-Limerick road will soon not have the frustration of waiting in long queues at roadworks.

The new political party formed by three high-profile TDs will be called the Social Democrats;  Cork camogie captain urges others not to hide their feelings; People  of West Cork were plunged into mourning yesterday following the death of a worker at the Clona Dairies plant, and Jodie Kidd popped into a Cork pub to pull pints and have the craic.

These scenes greeted locals and passers-by the morning after the Cahirmee Horse Fair.

1826, Adare, Co Limerick; tel: 061-396004, 1826adare.ie

HAS anyone else noticed what a curious creature is the annual July 12 Cahirmee Horse Fair in Buttevant, Co Cork, and how delightfully complementary it is to our brethren in Northern Ireland who also hold that particular day dear to their hearts?

THEY were all shapes, sizes and colours — grey, white, piebald, chestnut brown and black — and that was just the fellas selling the horses.

Eoin English