KEEN students attend ballet school; trained artistes perform with ballet companies across the world. But where is the stepping stone in between, that would give the experience necessary for moving on from one to the other? 

STUDENTS of the music, management and sound course at Cork city’s Colaiste Stiofáin Naofa (CSN) are a little starry-eyed with dreams of becoming rock stars. 

One of the country’s top radio training colleges has unveiled Ireland’s largest digital broadcast training studio.

Cork City Ballet’s artistic director, Alan Foley, recently announced a long-cherished ambition: a full-time dance college opening in Sept 2014.

Versatility in the performing arts is essential in the current economic climate, says Chris Ahern, head of the performing arts department at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa (CSN) in Cork.

Budget cuts could end a long-running, prestigious music course that has produced top performers, such as Mick Flannery, and graduates who work in the entertainment industry worldwide.

The education minister has signed off on the demotion of the principal of a Cork college following a disciplinary process.

ALL Vocational Education Committees (VECs) are to be reminded that teachers and other staff involved in purchasing must declare any business interests after irregularities were discovered at a Cork college.

A CORK college paid up to €140,000 to two companies owned by two of its IT staff for services and equipment without always seeking competitive quotes.

The PAC should press Cork City VEC on the conflict of interest regarding IT procurement at one of its colleges, writes Education Correspondent Niall Murray

FIVE points by Denis Maher helped Thurles CBS to a comfortable victory over their sister school from Nenagh in round two of the Dr Harty Cup at Templemore yesterday.

THURLES CBS opened the defence of their Dr Harty Cup title with a comfortable victory over Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh in the first round at Rathcormac yesterday.

FOR the first time in the history of the competition a Kerry team will take part in the Dr Harty Cup for season 2009/10.

Cricket Ireland have this morning announced the squads for the forthcoming Intercontinental Cup and RSA Challenge Series clashes with Kenya.

HISTORY will be made on Friday night when Garda and PSNI students are included in the Irish Colleges squad to face their English counterparts at Derry RFC (7.30pm).

A US internet retailer is to create 200 jobs in Ireland with the opening of a customer support centre, it was announced today.

IRELAND will have one eye on the Nairobi skies over the next four days as they seek to beat Kenya and secure a place in the InterContinental Cup final for a third successive time.

Indian steel giant Tata Steel today said that last year’s £6.2bn (€7.8bn) acquisition of Anglo-Dutch company Corus had boosted profits by 60%.

Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh 3-10 Coláiste Críost Ri 3-9

IN the opening round of the Corn Uí Mhuirí in October, St Brendan’s crushed champions DLS Macroom by 4-13 to 0-7 and few gave them any chance of figuring in the knock-out stages.

Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh 2-8 Coláiste Chríost Rí 1-7

A strong gain at steel group Corus could not save the FTSE 100 Index from falling into negative territory during a lacklustre session for the London market today.

India’s Tata Steel won the battle for Corus early today after a dramatic night of bidding sent the Anglo-Dutch firm’s value soaring to £5.75bn (€8.66bn).

Corus and Vodafone were two of the biggest risers in the FTSE 100 Index following positive news for investors in both companies today.

India’s Tata Steel landed the winning blow today in the auction of former British Steel company Corus.

A head-to-head bid battle for former British Steel firm Corus is due to get under way today.

Brazilian steelmaker CSN won EU regulatory approval to buy Corus Group PLC today, as it battles India’s Tata Steel to win control of the British company.

Steelmaking firms from India and Brazil are gearing up for the start of a last-ditch bidding war for former British Steel company Corus.

Traders overcame a quiet session for corporate news by turning the spotlight on possible merger and acquisition activity today.

Shares in Corus soared 5% today as investors sat back and enjoyed a dramatic bidding war for the Anglo-Dutch steel company.

The battle for steel group Corus (formerly British Steel) intensified today after Brazilian firm CSN dramatically trumped a takeover offer from Indian rival Tata.

Corus shareholders reaped further rewards today from the dramatic bidding war involving the Anglo-Dutch steel group.

The takeover battle for steel group Corus intensified today after Brazilian firm CSN trumped an offer from Indian rival Tata Steel.

British steelmaker Corus benefited from higher selling prices today as profits continued to climb towards the end of a three-year recovery programme.

WITH the Corn Uí Mhuirí preliminary rounds concluded and the eight quarter-finalists known, the Munster Colleges Council turn their attention to completing a number of other competitions before the Christmas break.

The boss of Brazilian steel firm CSN today said he was preparing to make a bid for Corus in the next 10 days.

A sharp fall in commodity prices brought the London market’s recent progress to a juddering halt today.

Shares in London drifted lower today as a shortage of economic and corporate data left investors with little to cheer.

The biggest steel maker in Russia was today said to have dropped its interest in British-Dutch steel group Corus following last week's bid by Indian firm Tata Steel.

BRAZILIAN steel group CSN was yesterday said to be preparing to trump the £4.3 billion (€6.4bn) takeover of Corus by Indian rival Tata Steel.

WITH Thurles CBS safely through to the knockout stages of the Harty Cup after Christmas, the battle is on for the second spot in Section C.

LAST year’s beaten finalists St. Brendan’s, Tralee CBS, Limerick Colleges and newcomers DLS Macroom are the only schools definitely through to the knock out stages of the Corn Uí Mhuirí after Christmas.