A Fianna Fáil councillor was on call to come back from his honeymoon after a plot was hatched to prevent Fine Gael retaining the office of mayor of County Cork.

Three different sets of financial records, none of which match, have been submitted to Kerry County Council for a recently-closed swimming pool complex in a popular seaside resort, it was revealed yesterday.

Cobh is hoping to make a connection with the descendants of an estimated 2.5m people who emigrated by sea from the harbour town as it plans for the Government-led The Gathering tourism project next year.

Ireland’s embassy to the Vatican was closed to satisfy “Godless men” in the Labour Party, a rebelFianna Fáil councillor claimed last night.

PLANS for a “local retail centre” in Cork’s western suburbs have been shot down after councillors voted unanimously againstrezoning.

A BEAMING Sean Gallagher looked like he was high on Happy Pills.

A FORMER leader of the Seanad brought a close to the election count by imploring newly elected members to fight for the continued retention of the Upper House.

THE 166th and last candidate to be elected to the new Dáil finally secured his seat after 67 hours of counting yesterday morning — and said he couldn’t wait to get into Leinster House.

One of the three constituencies where votes are still being counted this afternoon is Laois-Offaly.

Fine Gael's John Paul Phelan tops the poll in Carlow Kilkenny with 10,929 votes but has not reached the quota of 12,291.

According to final tallies in Kildare North, no candidate will be deemed elected on the first count.

The returning officer in Donegal North East has announced the commencement of counting of votes for Padraig MacLoclainn, SF and Joe McHugh, FG, the top two candidates.

MET ÉIREANN said while the rainfall which preceded November’s devastating floods in Cork could be expected to occur every 25 years it could not be described as “extraordinary”.

APPLICATIONS to the Legal Aid Board increased by almost a fifth last year with more people qualifying for aid because they lost their job.

Early tallies from around the country are painting a patchy picture of what could happen when the European votes are counted tomorrow.

THE chairwoman of the Legal Aid Board has called on the Government to consider raising the eligibility levels for people to avail of its services on an annual basis.

Bertie Ahern appeared to be on course for a third term as Taoiseach this afternoon.

Ministers Willie O'Dea and Mary Hanafin became the latest high-profile Fianna Fáil candidates to be re-elected to the Dáil this afternoon as they were returned in Limerick East and Meath West respectively.

Bookmakers Paddy Power have today tipped model Gail Kaneswaren to win this year’s You’re a Star charity special, at odds of 7/2.