This has been “an exceptional year” for the five-star Ashford Castle hotel, with earnings and revenues likely to increase significantly from 2015.

A Co Mayo law firm representing hundreds of claimants has become the first in Europe to have a case relating to the global Volkswagen emissions scandal heard in court.

A building company has been fined €250,000 for breaching construction regulations which resulted in the collapse of wall at a Longford DIY store three years ago, killing two men and injuring two others.

The Menu enjoyed a splendid repast, cooked by some of Ireland’s finest chefs, including Eurotoque Ireland General Commissioner, Graham Neville, of Dublin’s Restaurant 41, at Ballymaloe House this week. 

Ger Murphy always felt it was only a matter of time before he won the National Lottery and he was right — it just took 25 years of playing the same numbers.

An unannounced Hiqa inspection of Áras Attracta, a Co Mayo facility for people with learning difficulties, has found major non-compliance with regard to the statutory rights of residents.

The firm operating the five-star Ashford Castle hotel resort recorded pre-tax profits of €724,983 in its first year of operation.

The HSE has announced plans to set up a network of “safeguarding” teams to stamp out abuse of vulnerable adults in care on a week overshadowed by allegations of such behaviour.

A Co Mayo curate has been awarded 27% of a Donegal home he once shared with a former Franciscan friar with whom he was in a relationship.

The receivership of the five-star Ashford Castle hotel and resort has proved a boon to professionals with over €785,000 paid out in fees over an 18-month period.

More than €367,000 hasalready been paid out for flood relief claims, but the Department of Social Protection said more claims are likely.

BOTH the Parknasilla Hotel and the Cork International Airport Hotel have overseas buyers, the first in legals, the second sold to Phillips Hotels Ltd for approximately €5m. So Savills’ successful run of sales shows it’s not just the Dublin hotel market (where the 500 bed Burlington’s selling for €70 m to the private equity group Blackstone) that’s attracting investors.

Dairy farmer John Payne from Longford has won the top award in the Connacht Gold milk quality awards.

There are calls today for An Taisce to withdraw its highly critical report on local planning practices around Ireland, after the heritage body admitted it was flawed.

Accumulated losses at a property development firm controlled by one of the largest providers of accommodation to asylum seekers in Ireland increased to €15.6m in 2010.

WOMEN in the Central Mental Hospital are locked up for 12 hours at night in cell-like rooms and have to ring for nurses to go to the toilet at night, an inspection report by the Mental Health Commission (MHC) found.

Patient medical records from a Co Mayo hospital have been found in a bin at a housing estate in Ballina.

A CONTAMINATED production line has forced a major healthcare firm in Castlebar, Co Mayo, to temporarily shed 150 workers for a four-month period.

PRE-tax profits at one of the west of Ireland’s largest civil engineering firms decreased by 8% in 2009 to €641,782 in spite of an increase in revenues.

FILM director Jim Sheridan and his wife, Fran, have been allowed by the High Court to specifically itemise alleged defects in the construction of their luxury seafront home at Dalkey, Co Dublin.

The detail of a €4m claim by film director Jim Sheridan and his wife, Fran, over alleged defective works on their luxury seafront home in Dalkey, Co Dublin, has been challenged in the High Court.

A teenager who alleges she was repeatedly sexually abused from the age of eight by a barman in a Co Mayo pub has told a Central Criminal Court jury that she kept going back because she was getting alcohol and cigarettes.

The story of the controversial Corrib Gas project told through the eyes of locals is expected to reach a world audience thanks to a groundbreaking new documentary.

Gardaí in Co Mayo have released a man arrested following an aggravated burglary in Charlestown on Sunday night.

The High Court has granted bail to seven people arrested in connection with the ongoing dispute over the laying of a Shell gas pipeline in Co Mayo.

An Irish company has won a $30m (€13.6m) contract to supply its solar power products to New Zealand.

BOTH comprehension pieces in the higher level Leaving Certificate French exam yesterday were based in Brittany and the paper had an ecological theme.

“I WILL arise and go now, and go to... Inishturkbeg?”

Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny has shrugged off opinion poll findings that the public is not enthusiastic about the prospects of him becoming the next Taoiseach.

GARDA experts yesterday began examining the remnants of a bomb left at the entrance to Shell’s Dublin offices for forensic and fingerprint evidence.

A CHICKEN factory worker from Co Mayo has been awarded more than €50,000 after being wrongfully dismissed from his job amid claims that he had improperly given out painkillers to other workers.

Marts: An outstanding heifer was judged overall champion at the Annual Fat Stock Show and Sale at Kanturk Mart before being sold for €2,550 to a local supermarket.

FAMILIES have been warned to look out for counterfeit toothpaste laced with deadly antifreeze after several tubes were discovered in a discount store in Co Mayo.

FASHION tycoon, Sean Barron, has made a €6.5 million settlement with the Revenue Commissioners after admitting to evading tax.

Co Mayo farmer Padraig Nally has been cleared of the manslaughter of father-of-11 John Ward whom he shot twice and beat with a stick after the deceased entered his land.

BARRY WALSH (Irish Examiner letters, November 21) misinterpreted my recent letter on garda violence at Bellanaboy in Co Mayo (Irish Examiner, November 16).

THE Taoiseach said the “rule of law had to be implemented” when responding to questions about events in Co Mayo on November 10.

Six fire brigade units are fighting a major blaze at one of the country's largest chicken processing facilities, the Westernbrand Chickens, in Ballyhaunis in Mayo.