One of our summer visiting birds, the swift, can now be seen flying madly, usually round houses and rooftops.

Munster Blackwater's otter population is in good health and it's a great start to the year, says Donal Hickey.

A small, dedicated group of people is fighting a successful battle against an invasive species which is capable of destabilising houses.

Developers will breathe a sigh of relief when EU-designation status to protect the freshwater pearl mussel in Co Cork is lifted.

Cork County Council is to write to the European Commission seeking an investigation into why the government continues to stall on releasing Leader funding for rural development projects.

RURAL communities hold the key to nature conservation and, by so doing, can ensure their own survival — was the message from a conference of environmental experts in Newmarket, Co Cork. 

A warning has been given that someone will be killed by a vehicle in a Cork/Kerry border town because of poor public lighting and a lack of pedestrian crossings.

Three people pleaded guilty yesterday to fraud charges committed against the enterprise and employment organisation, IRD Duhallow.

Ireland could lose €100m in community funding if the EU withholds a new bonus, according to the CEO of a rural development company.

IN TOUGH times for farmers, lime is currently being promoted as the cheapest fertiliser available.

A picturesque village gifted lands by Cork County Council will be transformed with the development of a former “eyesore” into a scenic park with sports facilities and a playground.

Greater alignment of local government and local development has sparked a major political row over the €314m of LEADER funding for rural development.

A ten-day celebration of rural life is expected to generate economic activity worth at least €1 million in north Cork and east Kerry.

The centuries will be rolled back when a Georgian mansion in Newmarket, Co Cork, will be transformed into a period setting next week to mark the start of 10 days of community celebrations in north Cork and east Kerry.

A large number of community groups in Duhallow — covering parts of north Cork and east Kerry — are to showcase the resources that have made their region one of the most dynamic in the EU.

THE upland countryside where the counties Cork, Kerry and Limerick meet continues to be a place where rare and threatened species of wildlife can still be found.

Rural development grant aid in Gaeltacht areas is to be taken over by neighbouring local development companies, following the liquidation last September of Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG).

A STRANGE thing about otters is that, even though they can be found around many rivers and lakes, you don’t see them that often.

A PROJECT to help the local meat supply chain in the European Union to survive and thrive will be launched in Newmarket, Co Cork, later today.

A €1 million project is to be undertaken to eradicate an invasive Indian plant which is eroding land and threatening fish habitats in a north Cork angling river.

ANY attempt to take funding from Leader groups and give it to other agencies would be a breach of contract, according to Jack Roche of rural development company IRD Duhallow.

PARTNERSHIPS in Munster have been the most successful overall in drawing down national Rural Development Programme (RDP) funding of more than €9 million paid out so far this year.

PEOPLE in areas all over Ireland where wildlife has been under deadly pressure for decades and where some species have either disappeared or are under serious threat, are now getting involved in conservation projects.

SHEILA O’Keeffe is a farmer’s wife from the tiny village of Tullylease, in north west Cork.

A MONUMENT to the legendary ploughman Thady Kelleher, who won two international championships which were, in effect world titles, as well as four senior Irish titles and 40 county honours, was unveiled on the outskirts of Kanturk last Saturday.

LEGENDARY storyteller Alice Taylor has come face to face with herself at a ceremony to recognise her achievements.

A COMMUNITY-BASED work scheme for farmers and fisherman and their spouses who struggle to make a living was launched yesterday.