Rail commuters may have fares reduced on the Cork-Cobh and Cork-Midleton lines if Iarnród Éireann fails to introduce, by next month, new technology to accept Leap card transactions.

It’s being joked that Labour councillors are such an endangered species in Cork that the two remaining should be given sanctuary at Fota Wildlife Park.

Fears have been expressed that defences erected around a toxic dump were breached during the recent hurricane, releasing potentially harmful chemicals into Cork harbour.