Leaving the best till last.

Weekend number 2 of Cork Midsummer Festival features a tour of local homes to view their art, dancing with buckets, and more, says Ellie O’Byrne

The strain of losing their homes is driving growing numbers of people into a “suicidal crisis”, a suicide support group has said.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar said the recall to hospitals of hundreds of patients following a review of thousands of X-rays was more about quality assurance and control than anything else.

Despite objections from environmentalists, councillors have voted unanimously in favour of a contentious new access road to Killarney National Park.

British insurer Aviva said yesterday it may cut 1,500 jobs by the end of 2017 from a total workforce of 31,500 following its planned £5.6bn (€7.3bn) acquisition of rival Friends Life.

The ex-chairman of the crisis-hit Central Remedial Clinic has "apologised" for its charity top-ups scandal — but has insisted he and his colleagues have a "clear conscience" as they did nothing wrong.

I’VE decided how I will vote in the Labour leadership elections. All these years a rank-and-file member, and now I have a say in who should lead my party.

Paul Kiely is a man who got around. He was a very busy bee in the charity and voluntary sector. Chief executive of this company; secretary of another; and board member of a third — all of which were interlinked. A man like that could do with a rest after his strenuous efforts, and what better way to kick back than with an obscene pension.

The Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee is to examine whether charity donations to the Central Remedial Clinic were dipped into to a greater extent than previously thought to top up the pension of the former chief executive, Paul Kiely.

Britain remains at risk of more flooding as rain continues to plague the south of the country and tidal surges batter the coast.

A Santa Claus was told to stop entertaining children in a town centre over fears they would be “traumatised” by the sight of two Father Christmases in the same high street in the UK.

Director and acting chief executive of the Central Remedial Clinic, Jim Nugent, has rejected calls for his resignation in light of controversy surrounging top-up payments to nine senior staff members at the disability agency.

Calls are being made for the Government to introduce a levy on paper bags.

The Lavit Gallery is celebrating 50 years of promoting the visual arts, says Tina O’Sullivan

The gates of cemeteries in Cork City may be locked at night in a bid to prevent vandals from desecrating graves.

Businessman Dómhnal Slattery’s action against Friends First Life Assurance Company, which he alleges threatened to pursue him for almost $10m (€7.6m) under an alleged guarantee over funds issued to buy a hotel in Washington DC, has opened before the Commercial Court.

IT’S 9.30am and the morning sun is filtering through the window of Insomnia Cafe, Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Sweden’s preparations for their second group match against England tomorrow have been overshadowed by a bullying row after the squad was seen taking shots at reserve goalkeeper Johan Wiland’s bare bottom during training.

A West Cork campaign group aiming to halt the planning of an offshore €3.5m fish farm has called on its developers to locate the project inland.

UP to 1,200 guests are expected to attend a Victorian tea party in West Cork which lasts for three days and features a butler in top hat and tails and a bevy of lace-capped parlour maids.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Phil Hogan said claims he is a climate change denier were “misinformed” as he came under attack for saying legislation in the area is not a priority.

Friends First has issued a snapshot of the current state of the Irish economy and its view on efforts the new Government should take to rebuild our reputation.

THANK you for highlighting a social crisis among the elderly who live in rural Ireland.

FRIENDS of the Earth and the IFA have issued hugely divergent reactions to the expected publication next week of a new Climate Change Bill, which is being promoted by Environment Minister John Gormley.

FRIENDS First chief economist Jim Power has welcomed the possibility of an EU/IMF bailout, but he said the price of the intervention will be high.

The new owner of Friends Provident announced a sharp rise in profits at the life assurer today but said tough trading conditions in the UK reinforced the case for more deals in the sector.

The Government's fiscal correction is beginning to work, according to Friends First economist Jim Power.

Environmental lobby group Friends of the Earth has welcomed the introduction of a carbon tax in today's Budget.

The London market was dragged into the red today as financial stocks foundered on concerns over the banking sector.

British life insurer Friends Provident today recommended a £1.86bn (€2.16bn) takeover offer by investment firm Resolution.

Renewed hopes of a takeover for Friends Provident sent the insurer's shares soaring today, but part-nationalised banks suffered amid uncertainty over future prospects.

Uncertainty over the prospects for Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland put pressure on shares in the part-nationalised banks today.

The London market’s best run of the year continued today after the FTSE 100 Index added another 1.5% in a strong start to the week.

London’s FTSE 100 Index secured its fifth day of gains today as blue chip stocks including British Airways drove the market higher.

London's blue chip share index staged a late session rally today as optimism on Wall Street added to investor cheer over a potential takeover of Friends Provident.

Hopes of consolidation in the insurance sector meant shares in Friends Provident and other leading players posted strong gains today.

The FTSE 100 Index clung to its opening mark today as progress was held back by poor corporate news flow and disappointing figures from the key services sector.