As the Bewleys/Moran hotel chain offers to fully refund all pre-paid rooms booked for the Garth Brooks concert, there have been calls for Ticketmaster to refund fans’ booking fees as well as the ticket price.

Bowe Bergdahl’s home town has abruptly cancelled plans for a welcome back celebration amid security fears over the prospect of big crowds – for and against the US soldier freed by the Taliban in a prisoner-swap deal.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron in London today during one of a series of engagements in the city.

Calls were made yesterday for action against a number of Killarney jarveys who are leaving horse dung on the streets of the Kerry town and in the National Park.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed that his department paid international consultancy firm Booz Consultants €119,350 for its report on the future of Cork and Shannon airports.

PROPOSALS to build an €85 million power plant in Shannon, Co Clare, has received a favourable response in the region since a presentation to local councillors.

FOOD for Recovery, the second O’Donovan Rossa Autumn School on Food Safety, will be held in the National Marine Headquarters, Clonakilty, Co Cork, from September 30 to October 1.

BUSINESS and tourism interests have warned of a “negative impact” for an east Cork town where planning was granted for a sludge treatment plant.

KERRY is set to capitalise on the huge international publicity given to the 3 Irish Open Golf Championship, held in Killarney.

A BUSINESS leader has expressed concern at the marketing of Limerick as a rugby city.

LATEST figures from Iarnród Éireann show that the new line to Midleton has been an unqualified success, both for commuters and shoppers.

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny yesterday defended ministerial pensions being given to sitting members of the Dáil who had previously served in government.

The UK is facing “a very testing period” because of the global economic crisis but is “well placed” to withstand the consequent challenges, the Government said.

CORK Airport’s long-awaited €200 million passenger terminal will open to inbound passengers from next week.

A FORTNIGHT or so ago an issue arose in connection with the costs associated with the immunisation of student nurses in Dublin.

CARD COMMERCE, the international provider of prepaid and store value card solutions, has been short-listed for a European Retail Solutions Award 2005.

CARD COMMERCE, the international provider of prepaid and store value card solutions, has been short-listed for a European Retail Solutions Award 2005.

THE establishment of the new Cork Airport Authority has already proved to be a major success, Cork Chamber of Commerce president Robin O’Sullivan said last night.

UP to five vacant factory buildings will soon be available in Killarney, but sources indicated, yesterday, it won’t be easy to attract new industries.

A REVIVAL of collapsed Cork based regional airline Jetmagic will require fresh investment of up to €15 million.

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan was yesterday accused of trying to scuttle Shannon Airport and “sell out” the entire West of Ireland.

WORKERS from a pharmaceutical plant who were laid off last December were present yesterday when 300 new jobs were announced for Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

Agriculture Correspondent

DUNDALK is set to become the technology hub of the north east following its designation as a gateway for investment.

THE boundaries of Limerick will have be extended to allow the mid-west capital develop into a prosperous gateway city.

Excitement was mounting tonight in the tiny Irish village where Sir Paul McCartney will wed Heather Mills - despite complaints from some local businesses that they were being cut out of the couple’s spending spree.

Suspected al-Qaida militants arrested in Singapore were planning to blow up the US Embassy and American business interests in the city-state, according to official.