Primark opened its doors in France last month, the same year they recorded a 44% increase in yearly profits.

Irish company TNS Distribution has acquired Australian distribution firm Conexus for an undisclosed sum.

Cork-headquartered PCH International generated €510m ($710m) in revenue in 2011 — a 72% increase on the previous year.

The majority of low-paid workers and the unemployed voted against the recent EU fiscal treaty referendum, new research has found.

Sigurdur Kristjansson scored a hat-trick as Bohemians suffered shuddering Europa League humiliation in northern Iceland.

Sigurdur Kristjansson scored a hat-trick for Thór Akureyri to humiliate Bohemians 5-1 in northern Iceland to dump them out of the Europa League by the same score on aggregate.

Support for Scottish independence has dropped to 30% while those who would vote against it has risen to 50%, according to a new poll.

THE Martin Jol era at Fulham got off to an encouraging start last night as Fulham secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Faroese minnows NSI Runavik in the Europa League first qualifying round first leg at Craven Cottage.

Liam Casey saw a potential gap in a rapidly developing market. Now the Cork-born entrepreneur employs 1,200 people across the globe, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

Fulham will face NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.

A €21 million acquisition by Cork-based technology manufacturer PCH International will lead to the creation of jobs in Ireland.

GLENN WHELAN is hoping to repay the club who gave him his break in English football by extending their run without a major trophy to 36 years.

THE climax of the domestic season is almost upon us and, for once, we find ourselves hoping that the storm precedes the calm.

Single people are better at saving than those who live with a partner, a British survey suggested today.

ALMOST two-thirds of people believe migrants here on work permits should be allowed to change their employer without condition, according to a new opinion poll.

ASTON VILLA caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald hailed the impact of his young guns on a night when they kept their Europa League hopes alive.

Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa will face Austrian side Rapid Vienna in their Europa League play-off this month.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC boss Pete Mahon has demanded that his side keep a hold of top spot in the Airtricity Premier Division when they take on Bohemians at Dalymount Park tonight (7.45pm).

Bohemians will be looking to bounce back from their midweek European humiliation when they take on Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

AFTER their humiliating 4-0 midweek Champions League defeat by Welsh side TNS, Bohemians must somehow lift their morale for tonight’s Premier Division clash with bottom side Bray Wanderers at Carlisle Grounds (7.45pm).

BRIAN SHELLEY fears for the long-term financial implications of Bohemians’ sorry Champions League exit on Tuesday night.

TNS 4 Bohemians 0 (TNS win 4-1 On aggregate)

SHAMROCK ROVERS v Juventus. As U2 might put it, it’s far away, so close.

Bohemians can move to within touching distance of table-toppers Shamrock Rovers with victory over Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

CHAMPIONS Bohemians can move up to third place in the Premier Division table with victory over improving Sligo Rovers in tonight’s Airtricity League clash at Dalymount Park (7.45pm).

BOHEMIANS will have every reason to hope that they can advance to the third qualifying round of the Champions League after a second-half goal from Killian Brennan gave them a narrow victory over Welsh side TNS in a tense second-round, first-leg tie at Dalymount Park last night.

Bohemians 1 TNS 0

Bohemians take on Welsh champions TNS (The New Saints) at Dalymount Park in tonight’s second qualifying round of the Champions League (kick-off 7.45pm).

THE World Cup is barely over but, already, the Champions League is kicking off.

BOHEMIANS have been drawn against Welsh side TNS (now The New Saints, formerly Total Network Solutions) in the Champions League second round qualifying round.

SuperValu today toasted a hugely successful Christmas — and said a major part of its success was down to the fact consumers wanted to buy Irish.

MORE than €100 million of taxpayers’ money has been spent by the Government on compensation to farmers and processors following last December’s pork contamination scandal.

BELEAGUERED Taoiseach Brian Cowen got a minor boost last night when a new opinion poll showed Fianna Fáil recovering some support and his own approval ratings increasing.

Ireland's national newspapers are continuing to give greater coverage to supporters of the Lisbon Treaty, according to the latest assessment by TNS.

British supermarket shoppers are turning away from eco-friendly products, research suggested today.

THE volume of Irish organic food sales has increased year-on-year by 13.2%, according to the findings of new research released yesterday by Bord Bia.

PUBLIC support for Fianna Fáil continues to crumble, leaving the Government with a massive struggle to push through the Lisbon treaty, NAMA and budget cutbacks.

THE retail market for fruit and vegetables fell by 3.1% in volume and 5.7% in value during the 12-week period ended June 14.

BRIAN COWEN was staring into the political abyss last night as Fianna Fáil slumped to third place in the polls just a week out from elections that could break his premiership.

Turnout in the euro-elections next month could be much higher than expected, a new European survey showed today – with voting interest greatest in Ireland and Malta.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen today insisted morale in his party was good despite a slump in recent opinion polls.

BOTH main parties are in danger of losing a seat in the Euro polls as Labour is set for a surge, it emerged last night.

SPECULATION over a post-election pact between Labour and Fianna Fáil has finally been killed off by Eamon Gilmore.

Fianna Fáil is on course for major losses in the upcoming elections, according to a new opinion poll published this morning, which puts the party 17 points behind Fine Gael.