Thousands of households around the country are without water today as crews battle to repair leaks, restore supplies and replenish reservoir levels.

Darren Crowe ended his South of Ireland hoodoo with a dramatic 18th hole victory at Lahinch.

PHILOMENA GARVEY, the most famous Irish lady golfer in history played in the inaugural Vagliano Trophy match back in 1959, making it particularly appropriate that, on the first occasion this biennial fixture is contested in Ireland, it should be fought out on the spectacular links of County Louth made famous by Garvey.

IRELAND has not had a Ladies British Open Amateur Golf Champion for 18 years since Lilian Behan triumphed at Ganton — and they will have to wait at least another 12 months before ending that long drought after all three of their qualifiers were knocked out at Lindrick, Yorkshire, yesterday.