Large swathes of the country are going to be left without any GP if supports are not given to doctors, according to the Irish College of General Practitioners.

Almost 80% of GPs have experienced a patient suicide, and most are adversely affected, it has emerged.

The crisis in mental health has become a crisis in general practice, says the Irish College of General Practitioners.

GPs are sending non-urgent patients to hospital emergency departments in the hope they will get diagnostic tests for which they would otherwise have to wait up to two years.

BIG TIME road racing returns to Blarney this weekend when the Blarney Cycling Club Festival of Cycling gets under way tomorrow night with the Osborne Butchers Criterium, followed by the Donal Crowley Memorial and Kay Stratton Memorial races on Sunday.