MORE than 100 children from the Chernobyl region touched down in Shannon Airport yesterday to spend Christmas with host families across Ireland.

Minister for Tourism Seamus Brennan will make a guest appearance this weekend at the country’s biggest all-Irish free air show.

RAISA Carolan from Belarus yesterday recalled the “mostly bad” times she experienced in the orphanage she left four years ago to live with her adopted parents in Ireland.

IS Cork giving the Freedom of the City away too cheaply by honouring Michael Flatley — or is the best thing that has ever happened to Cork and Ireland?

The director of Women’s Aid, Margaret Martin, is to be honoured with the ’James Larkin Thirst for Justice’ Award at the Labour Party conference this weekend.

A convicted drug dealer is expected back behind bars tonight after getting temporary release over the weekend to run a 52-mile charity marathon.

I BUY the Irish Examiner because it includes among its columnists a thinking young man like Rónán Mullen.

The Government is out of touch with voters and can be beaten at the next General Election, the Labour Party claimed tonight.

Tens of thousands of firefighters died as a result of their efforts to stop an atomic explosion at Chernobyl which would have made Europe uninhabitable, it was claimed today.

LEGENDARY disc jockey Larry Gogan will receive a lifetime achievement award at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin tonight.

SPECIAL St Patrick’s Day greeting cards could raise around €160,000 for good causes in Ireland and abroad.

A tsunami disaster fundraiser in Cork City Gaol has collected over €20,000 including €1,000 from prisoners, it emerged today.

Westlife have been installed as favourite to claim best Irish pop act at this year’s Meteor Awards, it emerged today.

Seán McCárthaigh

BOYS and girls of all ages like toys, but getting to grips with the army’s batch is as good as it gets.

The Irish music industry is to honour veteran singer Christy Moore by making him the first recipient of an annual award.

IT was a case of action stations for 13 Chernobyl children when they were treated to a display of military hardware at the Curragh yesterday.

TEACHERS, classroom assistants and volunteer youth workers are likely to face garda background checks as part of a review of vetting procedures for people working with children.

RECENTLY, the Chernobyl Children’s Project sent its 21st convoy of humanitarian aid, entitled Operation Hope XXI, to the victims and survivors of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Worth €2.9 million, it is the most valuable aid convoy ever sent there.

Limerick’s Cranberries rock group are to give the proceeds of their next single to the Chernobyl Children’s Project charity, they announced today.