A major fundraising drive kicks off across West Cork this weekend to secure a top-of-the-range emergency response vehicle for a doctor who has saved dozens of lives — in his spare time.

A progressive community development organisation is to align with a new municipal body to boost the development of East Cork.

UEFA has confirmed that Malaga have had the second year of their European ban lifted but the Champions League quarter-finalists will still be barred from playing in continental competition next season should they qualify.

PAOK and Rapid Vienna have been punished by UEFA following the crowd disturbances that marred their Europa League play-off first leg in Salonika last Thursday.

Community and voluntary sector employees will have fallen by more than 16,000 by 2015, even though the numbers who need their services have multiplied due to the economic crisis.

Rapid Vienna striker Hamdi Salihi would welcome a move to Celtic.

UEFA have made up for an injustice perpetrated on Celtic 27 years ago by reinstating the club in the Europa League, according to Hoops legend Frank McGarvey.

RAPID developments and profound events across Europe could have an impact on Ireland.

A concrete equipment company in Co Armagh has won an £800,000 (€890,000) contract in Russia.

THE meeting of Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium was the big Europa League clash last night to see who would qualify from Group J and a 2-2 draw insured the Spanish side took the spoils.

A CORK town is set to become a national centre of excellence for the teaching of maths and science as part of a major recession-busting initiative.

RAPID career progress is a distinct possibility for the 50 people who will be recruited at the newly opened Cork office of handheld device specialist OtterBox.

Rapid Vienna have signed Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on a two-year deal.

ASTON VILLA crashed out of the Europa League last night at the final qualifying hurdle against Rapid Vienna for the second successive season despite twice being in front.

Aston Villa 2 Rapid Vienna 0

Aston Villa are set to hand a debut to midfielder Stephen Ireland in Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Rangers fans will today welcome the club’s second new signing in 24 hours if Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic comes through his Murray Park medical and, as expected, agrees personal terms with the Ibrox club.

Rapid Vienna 1 Aston Villa 1

Aston Villa caretaker-manager Kevin MacDonald threw two of his young players into the deep end for tonight’s first leg of the Europa League play-off tie with Rapid Vienna.

Nikica Jelavic looks to be on his way to Rangers after refusing to play for Rapid Vienna in their Europa League play-off tie against Aston Villa tonight.

STEPHEN IRELAND is determined to rebuild his career at Aston Villa, after going from player of the year to spare part in barely 12 months at Manchester City.

Stephen Ireland is determined to rebuild his career at Aston Villa after going from Player of the Year to benchwarmer in barely 12 months at Manchester City.

Rangers target Nikica Jelavic scored a double last night to help fire Rapid Vienna into the Europa League play-offs – and then declared he still wants to move to Ibrox.

TONY MOWBRAY claimed his side’s dramatic Europa League comeback to draw 3-3 against Rapid Vienna in the Ernst Happel Stadium last night epitomised the spirit of the Parkhead club.

Rapid Vienna 3 Celtic 3

NOEL HUNT has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad as a replacement for Caleb Folan.

IRELAND injury concern Aiden McGeady came through 80 minutes of action but Celtic failed to gain closure on 25 years of hurt as they were held 1-1 by old foes Rapid Vienna in their Europa League clash at Parkhead last night.

Celtic 1 Rapid Vienna 1

Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady has returned from an ankle injury for Celtic’s Europa League clash with Rapid Vienna at Parkhead tonight.

Tony Mowbray admits his players have to be wary of becoming Rapid Vienna’s next victims in tonight’s Europa League Group C clash at Parkhead.

Rudi Weinhofer has told Celtic it is time to move on from their infamous encounter with Rapid Vienna 25 years ago as both clubs prepare to meet again in the Europa League next week.

Rapid Vienna have scrapped a controversial plan to wear an all-red kit when they face Celtic in the Europa League.

Celtic keeper Artur Boruc has apologised to Hoops fans who travelled “to the end of the world” to see their heroes throw away an interval lead and lose their Europa League Group C opener against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Aston Villa 2 Rapid Vienna 1 (Agg 2-2)

NIKICA JELAVIC scored inside a minute as Aston Villa were beaten by Rapid Vienna in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier last night.

Rapid Vienna 1 Aston Villa 0

Liverpool slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Rapid Vienna in their latest pre-season friendly in Austria tonight.

A €46 MILLION boost for rural areas over the next five years was announced by Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon Ó Cuív at the ploughing championships.

SLIGO ROVERS FC yesterday issued a fresh appeal to save the stricken club, the eircom Premier Division outfit pointing out that it needed to match a weekly financial commitment of €17,000 just to stay afloat.

STEPHEN HUNT has said that he would like to see Stephen Ireland back in the international fold, but he has also criticised the Cobh man for “letting the side down” when he left the Irish camp in controversial circumstances after last year’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia.

YOU can say what you like about Giovanni Trapattoni — but you can’t argue with his record as a club manager.

A WATERFORD city suburb is to get a whole new lease of life, with €30 million to be spent on the area over the next two years.

PLANNING, implementation and funding problems have beset a major Government programme designed to revitalise disadvantaged urban areas, according to an independent evaluation of the project.

Frank McGarvey believes UEFA’s decision to clear Rangers of “discriminatory chants” should serve as a wake-up call to Scotland.