Tiarnan McLarnan and Eugene Smith, both 23, and Robin Dawson, 20, and Alex Gleeson, 21, have qualified to meet in this morning’s semi-finals of the AIG Irish Close Championship at Tramore.

As a player accomplished enough to win the prestigious Mullingar Scratch Trophy over the August Bank holiday weekend and having seen his brother Shane thrill the golfing world both as an amateur and professional, Alan Lowry is no stranger to outstanding deeds and shot making on the golf course.

Local teenager David Brady made a sensational debut in the Radisson Blue sponsored West of Ireland Championship when he racked up nine birdies in a seven under par course record 64 at Rosses Point.

Holder Pat Murray (Limerick), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) and Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan), the three players with most reason to feel aggrieved at the announcement of the Irish Home Internationals team before the South of Ireland began, all bit the dust on an eventful day at Lahinch yesterday.

Stuart Grehan and Pat Murray are amongst the big names competing in the South of Ireland, which begins in Lahinch this morning.

Ireland swept into the quarter-finals of the European Amateur Team Championships at Silkeborg in Denmark yesterday and will play seventh placed qualifiers, the Netherlands, in the first matchplay contest today.

Pat Murray’s perseverance was finally rewarded when after 20 years of trying, he finally won the South of Ireland at Lahinch yesterday, defeating Stephen Healy from Claremorris by two holes in the final.

Moyola Park’s Chris Selfridge took the title but not before West Waterford’s Gary Hurley hit one of the most dramatic birdies ever seen at Royal Portrush to set up a nerve-jangling finale to the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close at a sun-kissed Dunluce Links.

Muskerry’s Niall Gorey and West Waterford’s Gary Hurley are just five shots off the pace after a scorching start to the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close.

Top hats and green waistcoats will be de rigueur in the West Cork town of Bandon and Donegal town of Glenties this St Patrick’s Day, as hundreds of “leprechauns” arrive to break the world record for a gathering of the Little People.

DEFENDING champion Alan Dunbar hopes his batteries will be recharged when he tees it up at Royal Dublin this morning and takes on six of his fellow Walker Cup squad members in the Irish Amateur Open.

Three players sharing the lead after the opening round of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Bangor Golf Club today.

Lucan's Richard O'Donovan recorded a fine opening round of 70 to lead after day one of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Portumna Golf Club.

A Donegal man has been convicted of killing his friend in a dangerous driving incident in Co Louth in which several witnesses said he appeared asleep as he drove on the wrong side of the road.

A convicted Louth drug dealer has had cash totalling some €34,000 and a car confiscated as the proceeds of criminal activity by order of Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Limerick's Pat Murray fired a three under par 69 to share the first round lead in the East of Ireland Amateur Championship at Baltray.

Scrabo's Andrew McCormick put a poor start behind him to grab the early lead in the East of Ireland Championship at Co Louth.

Today's scores from the Nissan Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship.

East of Ireland Championship at the Co Louth golf club

Mark Campbell of Stackstown leads the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Co Louth Golf Club.

The First Round of the East of Ireland Amateur Open Championshiop has been completed at Baltray Golf Club in Co Louth.

KIDS may be more likely to send a text message than a letter to their friends but teachers believe handwriting is still an essential skill.

Brendan McGovern again shot to the top of the leaderboard after the Killester Travel pro-am tournament at Greenore, the curtain-raiser to the 36-holes PGA Challenge event there this week.

John Langan with a two-under-par 69 topped the leaderboard at Ardee as six players qualified in the Sunderland of Scotland PGA Irish Region Masters at Ardee.