Kilmeen Drama Group has been blazing a trail in Irish amateur theatre since the 1940s, writes Colette Sheridan

You can’t get to Castlemartyr without passing Midleton, or going through Killeagh. Carrigtwohill is another signpost you notice.

Theatre: The Walworth Farce

You almost couldn’t script it: Kilmeen Drama Group from West Cork has been crowned All-Ireland Champions for an unprecedented third time in a row, in a triumph that mixed joy and deep emotion following a tumultuous year.

It may be small but it’s one of the top nine drama groups in the country — now West Cork’s Kilmeen Drama group is to perform its latest prize-winning play at Cork Opera House.

THE first salmon of the 2012 salmon angling season was landed on the River Liffey last Sunday.

THE average age of Cork’s Dáil representation has dropped by eight years since the last general election in a reflection of the changed face of politics after last Friday’s ballot.

A TWO-candidate strategy cost Fianna Fáil its sole seat as Labour ended a 30-year wait to have a West Cork candidate in Dáil Éireann.

FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin last night defended his decision to field more than one candidate in constituencies across the country.

No candidate has reached the quota in the Cork South West constituency. Six candidates have been eliminated - candidates Butler, Doonan, Kearney, McCaughey, McInenerty and Michael O'Sullivan.

OUTREACH AWARD

WITH an above average marriage rate, a greater likelihood than the rest of us to own their homes outright and families less likely to have a single mother at the head, the population of Cork South West would appear to favour the traditional — and politics is no different.

A PATTER of little feet is expected at a General Election candidate’s door imminently, but it won’t be his canvassing party.

A POLL carried out in the Cork South West constituency shows Fianna Fáil support in the region has nose-dived from 42.5% at the last election to a current low of 19%.

MICHEÁL MARTIN remains the front-runner to be the next Fianna Fáil leader, with the number of TDs publicly declaring they will support him in tomorrow’s vote now in excess of 20.

MICHEÁL MARTIN is seeking to use strong support from the Cork constituencies as the head of the wedge he hopes will topple Taoiseach Brian Cowen as leader of Fianna Fáil.

MINISTER for the Environment John Gormley has given the go-ahead to progress a multi-million euro sewerage scheme which could significantly reduce algae growth in the bays of west Cork.

MINISTER for Environment John Gormley has agreed to meet a delegation from the Courtmacsherry area to discuss funding for a waste water treatment plant, which is seen as the only viable solution to destroying algal infestation of bays in the area.

THE Government made no effort to seek a pairing arrangement with the opposition before deciding to use the jet to allow a junior minister attend a Dáil vote, Fine Gael said last night.

CASES of farmers with less than 24 acres being fined up to €10,500 for over-claiming EU payments have been highlighted by public representatives.

MINISTER for the Environment John Gormley is expected to shortly release funds for the removal of up to 3,000 tonnes of sea lettuce, which has blighted parts of the west Cork coast.

HUNTS will be exempt from registration or inspection fees for their puppy kennels under last minute changes to the contentious Dog Breeding laws which were rushed through on the last day of Dáil term.

GROWING dissent in Fianna Fáil led to the resignation of three of the party’s senators for “conscientious” reasons ahead of today’s vote on the Civil Partnership Bill.

TÁNAISTE Mary Coughlan has described the rebellion within Fianna Fáil over animal welfare legislation as merely “exuberance”.

THE Government has lost three TDs in a bitter battle to force a Green Party wildlife bill through the Dáil before the summer break.

A NIGHT of high drama in the Dáil saw the Government scramble to victory but lose three of its supporters over a Green Party animal welfare law.

LAST ditch talks are scheduled for today to quell a protest movement among rural-based Government TDs against two pieces of legislation championed by Environment Minister John Gormley.

THE Irish Trotting & Harness Racing Federation (ITHRF) is objecting to Cork County Council plans to introduce bylaws on beaches which will severely curtail their sport and a number of other activities.

AGRICULTURE Minister Brendan Smith has shot down calls for a Government subsidised slaughter scheme for unwanted horses.

MET ÉIREANN said while the rainfall which preceded November’s devastating floods in Cork could be expected to occur every 25 years it could not be described as “extraordinary”.

THE Government is not enforcing set guidelines on how a controversial 2km exemption for so-called “granny flats” from the new €200 charge on second properties is being applied.

BOG owners who have agreed to sell their land to the Department of the Environment for conservation purposes have been told they will not be paid until 2014.

THIS is one constituency where there will definitely be changes of personnel.

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) is to be asked to comment on claims that it is planning to temporarily close the theatre and outpatients services at Bantry General Hospital as part of a cost-cutting plan.

THE people of Bantry should be given the same commitment to safeguard their hospital’s A&E services that has been given to the people of Tralee.

HE TOOK on the ESB and won. Now he’s taking on Mary Harney and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to save his local hospital.

THE board of one of Cork’s biggest hospitals has described the consultants’ report into hospital services in Cork as “seriously flawed” and “based on outdated and inaccurate data”.

A CALL has been made for peace talks to resolve a crisis within Fianna Fáil caused when four of the party’s local election candidates resigned after a TD’s stepdaughter was added to the ticket.

A “CONTRITE” Fianna Fáil TD who received a one-year driving ban yesterday for drink driving said he wants to get back to work for his constituents.

THE case against a Fianna Fáil TD accused of drink driving has been adjourned for a month.

A FIANNA FÁIL TD is set to appear in the District Court after the results of a drink-driving test proved positive.

Fianna Fáil today condemned drink drivers who break the law after one of its TDs was arrested over the Bank Holiday weekend.

MORE than €700,000 in political donations was accepted by TDs last year, it was revealed yesterday.

GROUPS from Waterford and Clare won the two major awards at the 56th North Cork Drama Festival in Charleville.

A HUNTING Association of Ireland — Cork regional meeting was held on January 10 at the Convention Centre, Silversprings Moran Hotel, Tivoli, Cork.

NO SOONER is one election over than a host more are set to begin.

Fine Gael have upset Fianna Fáil by claiming two seats in the Cork South West constituency on the final count.

The 140 boxes containing the votes for the Cork South West constituency were opened under the command of returning officer Jerome O’Sullivan at 9am.