Ireland has the capacity to become a new technology hub for central and Eastern European firms looking to access the US market, according to professional services giant, PwC.

Three members of the State’s prosecution team in the long-running Anglo trial are the top three best-paid barristers by the DPP for the first six months of this year.

IF the economy is to break out of its current impasse, it will almost certainly require a sustained uplift in exports by Irish-owned firms, and for this to occur, our exporters must begin to cash in on the growth occurring in emerging market countries.

A man who punched, kicked, and stamped on a terminally ill and defenceless man before being stopped by onlookers from throwing him into a canal has been jailed for five years with the final year suspended.

We’d all like to see six dogs line up for the Derby — not least connections of Kereight King — but there are five great stories with those still standing and I don’t suppose whoever is lucky enough to pick up the trophy and the €125,000 cheque on Saturday night will worry about how many rivals his/her greyhound beat in the final.

Shelbourne Park will be in danger of bursting at the seams this evening as the Ladbrokes Irish Derby draws to what should be a thrilling conclusion.

Two days to the final of the Ladbrokes Irish Derby final and a total absence of any negative stories concerning the finalists.

There is something very magical about the Derby double. On Saturday night at Shelbourne Park the 81st Irish Derby final will be run and in that time only one greyhound has managed to win it more than once.

Many of the top fancies go into action in the Ladbrokes Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park tonight.

It was a sensational session at Shelbourne last night as the second lot of heats in the Ladbrokes Irish Derby were run.

The recent Champion Stakes winner Droopys Jet really brought the first session of the Ladbrokes Irish Derby to life at Shelbourne Park last night when he was a hugely impressive winner of heat 5 in 29.52.

Over half the required 144 entries for the Ladbrokes Irish Derby have been received with another four days to go before Saturday’s closing stage.

The old adage “there’s life in the old dog yet” was pretty appropriate at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night as the veteran pairing of Broadstrand Lad and Tyrur Big Mike impressed in the second round of the College Causeway/Killahan Phanter Easter Cup.

There’s simply no stopping Rathangan greyhound trainer Dolores Ruth.

Rarely have we approached a season with greater expectations than this year.

THE Tyrur McGuigan @ Stud Open 575 has provided some wonderful racing to kick of the New Year at Shelbourne Park over the past three weeks and next week’s final looks hugely intriguing following Saturday’s semi finals.

DESPITE the gloomy economic climate, it has been a tremendous year for greyhound racing.

DOLORES Ruth’s team have been in the driving seat in the ladbrokes.com Derby so far, with litter brothers Razldazl George and Razldazl Jayfkay dominating most betting lists.

The entries are rolling in for the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby and it now looks certain that the target of 144 entries will be received by Friday’s closing date. Up to late yesterday evening there were almost 100 names in the book and with some of the top kennels yet to confirm their plans.

EIGHTEEN of Ireland’s best will tonight battle it out for a place in the final of the €€20,000 townviewfoods.com Champion Stakes. All three semi-finals look exceptionally open and, with only two to qualify from each heat, there is little room for error.

THE 250 marine sector jobs earmarked for Killy-begs harbour, Co Donegal, could become a national model for how to drive collective employment.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS from Kilkenny claimed their first Féile na nGael Division One title when they defeated Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh (3-7 to 0-4) at Pearse Stadium in Galway yesterday.

ALMOST 160 jobs will be created in Ireland’s seafood processing sector over the next three years thanks to a special state investment package announced yesterday.

FEW trainers clock up the mileage like Ballymacelligott’s Liam Dowling and his industrious approach paid dividends on Saturday when he supplied two of the three heat winners in the Tyrur McGuigan Open 575 at Shelbourne Park.

TYRUR BIG MIKE will be an absentee from Heat 7 in the second round heats of the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park this evening.

THE big guns enter the arena at Curraheen Park tonight when the remaining first round heats of the Pat Hennerty Sales Irish Laurels dominate the card.

IT hardly seems like 363 days since that amazing night when College Causeway produced one of the greatest performances ever seen on a greyhound track, but here we are within two days of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby final and anticipation levels are extremely high.

THE Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby at Shelbourne Park is now trimmed to 24 runners from an original field of 144. Following a flying 29.42 last weekend, Tyrur Big Mike now heads the betting lists.

Owen McKenna and Conor Fahy could be the trainers to follow when the first round of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Derby continues at Shelbourne tonight.

THERE’S just over three weeks to the start of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com Derby and a number of potential challengers flexed their muscles at Shelbourne Park on Saturday, although few impressed quite like Barefoot Bullet and Farley Blitz as they took the two feature races.

I’M something of an optimist by nature but I can’t help but detect a number of very positive signs on the Irish greyhound front that provides renewed hope for the future of the industry.

Minister For Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin today leads a delegation of Irish companies to Egypt to boost business links between both countries.

ENTRIES for Table Tennis’ Munster Open continue to flood in ahead of the January 14 extravaganza at the Parochial Hall.