Met Éireann has issued a gale warning for parts of the country.

A dynamic youth orchestra has bagged another West End star for its flagship performance.

HOP ON YOUR HOBBY HORSE

About 4,000 homes are without power after storm force winds swept across the country.

Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Aer Arann have cancelled flights out of Dublin Airport for the rest of tonight.

TIME is running out for family savings on summer holiday breaks with Keycamp, the long established self-catering mobile home and camping experts.

THE decision by Aer Lingus to outsource or make redundant 1,500 of its staff is the equivalent of “Irish Ferries Mark II”, ground staff union SIPTU claimed last night.

THE Lisbon Treaty will lead to a full-blown constitutional revolution in the Irish State, undermining the ability of the people democratically to determine their own political and economic future.

An alcoholic courier drug addict who tried to slit his throat after being arrested for importing cocaine valued over €200,000 has been given a six and a half year sentence.

The bad weather is disrupting ferry crossings today.

Public transport services are facing major disruption this afternoon during protests against Irish Ferries' plan to replace its seafaring workers with cheaper labour from eastern Europe.

IN what has to be the understatement of the year, IBEC - the organisation that represents big business interests of this country - described the bizarre events in Irish Ferries as “not normal in Irish industrial relations.”

Irish Ferries and SIPTU are expected to attend separate talks at the Labour Relations Commission today in an effort to resolve the row over the company's controversial "outsourcing" plans.

Irish Ferries may have to cancel the sailing of the MV Normandy from France tonight.

Workers at Dublin and Rosslare ports are vowing to turn away Irish Ferries vessel the MV Normandy if it tries to dock in either port.

THOUSANDS of workers will today march on the Dáil demanding Government action to improve employment rights as the issue continues to threaten the entire social partnership process.

THE country’s largest union is to debate the merits of remaining in Social Partnership today as the fallout from the Irish Ferries stand-off continues unabated.

SIPTU has said the move by Irish Ferries to replace its workers with cheaper labour from abroad raises serious questions about the social partnership process.

SIPTU has accusing Irish Ferries of bullying its staff with a new letter circulated today by the company.

Union activists have prevented an Irish Ferries vessel from docking in the French port of Cherbourg today as part of a protest over low pay.

Ferry services have been disrupted at Rosslare Port due to a protest taking place at the port.

French ferry workers have said they will stop the Irish Ferries ship the Normandy docking at French ports.

THERE was hardly any room at the country’s airports yesterday as thousands of passengers streamed into arrival halls and the arms of waiting relatives and friends for Christmas.

All Irish Ferries sailings between Ireland and Britain are facing cancellation this Thursday due to strike action by SIPTU members.

Passengers intending to travel with Irish Ferries from Rosslare to Cherbourg have been advised to contact the company following the cancellations of some sailings due to technical difficulties.

KEVIN DAWSON will be defending his Credit Union Ras Mumhan title in Kerry over the Easter Weekend when the race will attract a record number of overseas riders.

HUNDREDS of Irish tourists and lorry drivers have been left stranded in France as a series of transport strikes threatened to bring chaos to roads, rail, and air traffic in the country.

Irish Ferries sailings have been affected by the rough weather and are being cancelled this afternoon.