Sunshine, stewards in high-vis pink, Diana Ross belting out about coming out — some confused tourists could be forgiven for wondering if they were in Cork or South Beach, Florida, as thousands took to the streets yesterday to celebrate being gay.

Money will be available to the Red Cross to provide financial assistance to the victims of flooding in Cork, the environment minister has signalled.

The Government will today outline plans for dozens of new schools as part of a €1.5bn construction programme.

Cork has bucked a nationwide trend towards Fine Gael, in delivering mixed fortunes for the party.

ANOTHER major canvass is likely to be interrupted by the stork’s arrival and this time it could come on election day.

The discovery of cocaine worth €8m and two guns in a suburban “drugs factory” was branded a frightening exposure of Ireland’s criminal underworld tonight.

About €8.5m of cocaine and two guns were discovered in a planned raid on a house, gardai said today.

THE argument that the country needs 166 Dáil members is diminished somewhat by the tardiness of the Government’s approach to holding the three by-elections to fill vacant seats.

GRINDING down shoe leather for the past 12 months, first-time Fine Gael South Central candidate Emmet O’Halloran maintains being a newcomer this time out is proving to be a help rather than a hindrance.

THE Department of the Environment has appointed consultants to carry out an immediate risk assessment of the Irish Steel plant after it emerged that the amount of toxic waste there was higher than previously believed.

South Central just held on to oblige for favourite-backers in the Norfolk Stakes, the opening event of day three at Royal Ascot.

Howard Johnson is targeting Royal Ascot success with South Central following an impressive debut win at Carlisle.

CIARÁN LYNCH, the rookie Labour TD for Cork South Central, may mount a surprise challenge for the position of deputy leader.