THE state’s environmental and waste watchdog has been forced to defend itself after spending thousands of euro in taxpayers’ money on corporate sponsorship and promotional trinkets.

LOCAL festivals generated €300 million for the economy this year, it emerged yesterday.

Local festivals generated €300m for the Irish economy this year, it emerged today.

IRISH holidaymakers last year spent a total of €707 million on breaks in Ireland, new figures reveal.

THE GOVERNMENT yesterday approved a series of high-profile arts projects including the relocation of the Abbey Theatre, the development of a bigger National Concert Hall, the remodelling of the Theatre Royal in Wexford and the refurbishment of Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre for opera performances.

ARTS Minister John O’Donoghue led tributes yesterday to Wexford Festival Opera chief executive Jerome Hynes, who died suddenly at the age of 48.

Irish musicians are to protest outside the opening event of the Wexford Opera Festival tonight.

The Musicians Union of Ireland (MUI) is due to mount a protest at the opening night of the Wexford Opera Festival tonight.

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN plans to charge its customers €185 each for seats aboard its luxury executive train to this weekend’s All-Ireland final.

The Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, John O'Donoghue, has announced grant assistance, to be administered by Fáilte Ireland, in respect of the Festivals and Cultural Events Initiative, 2003.

FALSETTO, not fees, was on the curriculum yesterday for Tánaiste Mary Harney when she launched this year’s Wexford Opera Festival.