The boss of one of the country’s busiest hospitals has admitted he has no idea what is behind the ongoing computer difficulties that paralysed its laboratory IT system leading to concerns about the quality of patient tests and lost files.

Women are increasingly being diagnosed with stress and depression as they struggle to balance hectic working lives with rearing children and running homes, according to doctors and women’s groups.

Exactly a week after Steve Redmond’s Oceans Seven world-record feat the country’s swimming fraternity is in mourning after another Corkman died while crossing the English Channel.

Ireland’s swimming community is in mourning after a Corkman died while crossing the English Channel, one week after Steve Redmond’s Oceans Seven world-record feat.

Angry business people hit out at the ESB tonight after a dam on the River Lee was opened piling pressure on Cork city’s strained flood defences.