Did you see something odd in the skies last night? Something that made you question the existence- or non-existence- of extraterrestrial beings, perhaps?

A Fine Gael councillor and constituency colleague of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has received an "unreserved apology" from a Sinn Féin activist over comments posted on Facebook.

A city councillor has called for a full investigation to identify the person responsible for defecating on Cork's landmark St Patrick's Bridge.

Cork County Council should be fixing its entire 12,000km road network every 20 years but, due to government cutbacks, can only afford on average to do restrengthening once every 55 years and resurfacing once every 39 years.

Waterford City and County Council was discussing a proposal to live-stream its meetings over the internet when it emerged that the actual discussion was being live-streamed.

The minority Government suffered its first defeat in the Dáil last night after the Labour Party succeeded in passing a bill to protect workers’ rights.

A former president of NUI Galway has been accused of “inappropriately” supporting Aer Arann boss Pádraig Ó Céidigh in the Seanad elections by a leading member of the college’s governing authority.

Sinn Féin has been thrown into even more turmoil in the Cork East constituency following the resignation of one of its county councillors.

No decision has been made on what to do with a landmark shipwreck which had lay embedded on a Co Kerry beach for more than a century until it was dislodged by storms early last year.

The uncertainty over the Cork events centre is set to drag on after senior city officials last night refused to answer questions on the status of the tender process.

By Noel Baker

Because of changes to a number of Co Cork’s electoral areas, there will be casualties among big-name councillors, and they’re more likely to be from Fine Gael, writes Sean O’Riordan

The former mayor of Limerick has said he has “serious concerns” for the future after learning the Aughinish Alumina plant plans to extend the height of bauxite residue deposits to 100ft on lands adjacent to the Shannon Estuary.

Cork County Council has been urged to acquire, as a potential floating museum or restaurant, one of two Irish Naval Service ships due to be decommissioned.

Fears have been raised that flood prevention works planned for Clonakilty may drag on due to legal issues surrounding proposals to deliberately flood farmers’ land to protect the West Cork town.

The office of the lord mayor of Cork has been used by political parties for “blatant political gain”, a councillor has claimed.

It hardly came as a surprise that senior Labour party member, Cllr. Seán Counihan, (Irish Examiner, Apr 17) is calling for a merger with Fianna Fáil.

LIMERICK fire service is the latest public utility to come under threat from cutbacks in local government.

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%.

THE Labour Party has been derided for failing to produce viable economic policies, but voters do not appear to care.

CORK’S county manager Martin Riordan is in favour of sealing and capping a toxic waste dump after being told he can’t develop Cork harbour “as a major tourism mecca with a potential Sellafield” in the middle of it.

CORK County Council is to take court action against property developers who owe the local authority nearly €14.5 million in development charges.

A CLAIM has been made that allegedly toxic waste from the former Irish Ispat site could have contaminated a wider area than Cork harbour, as some of it was transported by lorry to Dublin for export.

A multi-million euro retail development featuring a five-screen cinema is planned for Fermoy, Co Cork.

Senator Dan Boyle is expected to be elected Green Party chairman when nominations for the key position close tomorrow.

Senator Dan Boyle is the front runner of five candidates for the post of Green Party chairman, for which nominations closed today.

The withdrawal of the Swansea-Cork Ferry has led to a 30% drop in tourism revenue in west Cork, it was claimed at yesterday’s meeting of Cork County Council.

GREEN PARTY spokesperson on Finance Dan Boyle asked to call a halt to the business of the Dáil yesterday to allow a debate to on the Central Bank financial stability report which was released yesterday.

Fine Gael Councillor Michael Fitzgerald of South Tipperary County Council has certainly got plenty of publicity for his reckless complaint about targeting people driving after drinking three or four pints.

The Green Party has called on Fianna Fáil to outlaw corporate gifts and donations, following Councillor Marie Ardagh's belated change of mind about attending the Ryder Cup as a corporate guest of a building developer.

The issue of anti-social behaviour is at the top of the agenda at an annual conference of city and county councillors today.

LOCAL democracy doesn’t come cheap. In fact taxpayers had to fork out a whopping €1,617,686 last year to finance expenses and meeting allowances for their council representatives in County Cork.

THE shock retirement of Fr Maurice ‘Mossie’ Dillane for fathering a child sparked a massive outpouring of public support and sympathy yesterday.

The Mayor of Limerick has denied claims that traffic wardens in Limerick city have been issued with CCTV cameras following concerns for their safety.

THE Health and Safety Authority has conducted an investigation into multi-million euro works on a flyover at one of the country’s busiest roundabouts amid concern that an accident at the site is waiting to happen.

Eoin English

Loyalist gunmen opened fire on a family’s home in Northern Ireland because they flew a Gaelic football flag, it was claimed today.