Simon Ward (Co Louth) and Muskerry’s Niall Gorey, a member of the Munster team that won last week’s Interprovincial Championship at Royal Co Down, yesterday came through two testing encounters in the South of Ireland at Lahinch to set up a mouth-watering 5th round clash this morning.

Despite ongoing issues with the weather, it’s been a good week and the highlight for the stable was our apprentice, Charlie Elliott, riding his first winner, aboard Bendzoldan at Leopardstown on Thursday night.

FORMER Tara Mines workers have been told they must accept a cut in their pensions of up to 10% due to the Government’s new pension levy.

WORLD SILVER medallist, Olive Loughnane, faces her first big assignment of the year when she lines up for the European Cup Race Walking in Olhão on the Algarve on Saturday.

Paul Nolan is hoping See U Bob will see out the trip in the Ladbrokes Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Monday.

CONSERVATIONISTS have hit out at Green Party leader John Gormley after his department included the Hill of Tara on a shortlist of seven sites put forward for world heritage status.

GALWAY footballers received a huge boost with news the knee injury Michael Meehan sustained against Kerry on Sunday is not as serious as first feared.

DAVY RUSSELL was seen at his strongest when driving Clan Tara to victory in the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

THERE was mixed news for the country’s mine workers yesterday.

FAIRYHOUSE was unraceable yesterday, so it remains to be seen if it will have dried out sufficiently to pass a 7.30 inspection this morning.

Environmentalists today tried to force green issues centre stage as crunch talks to form a new Government entered their final phase.

IN some parts of Ireland, over 60% of all national monuments have been destroyed - 30-40% in the past 150 years alone.

Campaigners have accused the Oireachtas transport committee of ignoring 2,000 submissions from the public opposing plans to build a motorway near the Hill of Tara in Co Meath.

Munster Club champions An Ghaeltacht could be without two key forwards for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against London club Tara in Ruislip.

FINNISH metals group Outokumpu is to buy the Bula ore body next to its Tara zinc mine in for €35 million which will extend the lifetime of the mine.

Following the contract signed in May 2001 and having received the necessary court approvals, Outokumpu to acquire the Bula assets (the Bula orebody, known also as the Nevinstown orebody).

The implementation of the Tara Improvement Program that was started in March this year is progressing on schedule.

Tara mines in Co Meath is expected to announce around 700 job cuts later today due to low zinc prices.