There were equine stars a-plenty at last Sunday’s Clonmel Show, from the Garda mounted unit (on show alongside the armed response unit and the sniffer dogs), to the donkey derby, and Grand Prix showjumping (won by rider Micheal Pender).

Country came to town last Sunday as a tourist town celebrated its new streetscape after months of upheaval due to resurfacing and drainage works.

“Oh man,” said the late great Muhammad Ali when he found George Foreman fading fast in the eighth round of their thrilling Rumble in the Jungle encounter, “This is the wrong place for you to get tired.”

A ladder builder in Scotland who thought he had won £10,000 on the lottery was "gobsmacked" to find he had scooped £10.3m.

There’s a couple of cheeky birds up in Scotland that are flying off with underwear left by skinnydippers on the banks of a river there.

Red kites show scant regard for unlucky swimmers.

Torrential rain, thunder and lightning is blighting the first weekend of the school holidays, as thousands set off across the UK for their summer break.

As I wrote this column last Sunday night, I did not yet know the answer to question of whether the share holders of Glanbia have or have not voted in favour of the first part of the proposed “joint venture” by the time you are reading this.

After studying agriculture in Scotland and gaining work experience on farms in France, Switzerland and Australia, I returned home to commence farming in 1995.

After last weeks surge in numbers, the supply of stock presented at marts reduced this week.

It was like 1992 all over again, with a team from Co Clare coming to the heart of Co Cork football territory, and taking home the trophies.

I took some time out, earlier this week, to research factory beef prices.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney (and his daughter Beth) were on hand to congratulate Pat and Derek Frawley, from Croagh, Rathkeale, Co Limerick, and their cow handler Stephen McLoughlin, when they won the prestigious Maverick Golden Vale Cup, presented by Kerry Agri Business at Charleville Agricultural Show last weekend.

Cork colours did well at last Sunday’s Clonakilty Show — with a red and white Holstein winning a top championship.

Having studied various mart reports and allowing for weather and grass difficulties, I have noticed a third element becoming more obvious this week around the sales rings — price divergence on the basis of conformation.

Last Thursday morning I received the first of a number of calls about last week’s article on ABP’s proposals to launch three new beef brands into the market.

TOP horse exhibitor at last year’s Dublin Horse Show, Seamus Lehane, continued his domination of shows in his native West Cork, at last week’s Carbery Show in Skibbereen.

ONE of the best venues in Ireland — that was the verdict of Irish Shows Association national president John O’Hara from Co Mayo at last Sunday’s Bandon Show.

A married couple were jailed today for a string of physical assaults against vulnerable children at the Haut de la Garenne care home in Jersey in the 1970s and 1980s.

Pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline unveiled a deal today to buy the company behind Maximuscle protein shakes used by rugby player Gavin Henson, cricket star Stuart Broad and footballer Jermaine Jenas.

HOW should quality be defined in organic beef? There are two schools of thought.

A PRISON officer was yesterday revealed as the winner of Britain’s largest Football Pools prize.

Leading jockeys Kieren Fallon and Mick Kinane led the tributes to Jamie Kyne, from Ireland, and Jan Wilson, the two apprentice riders who lost their lives in a fire in the early hours of yesterday morning.

FOUR of the last five Cork county beef bull championships at Carbery Show have gone to Midleton breeder John O’Grady.

TWO young sisters found the severed head of a woman as they played on a beach yesterday, police said.