It is a rite of passage for thousands of students every summer; a chance to experience life outside of Ireland, make lifelong friends, and unforgettable memories.

Aidan Desmond is All-Ireland Junior C champion after completing a unique sporting triple, in two sports, over two days, culminating in an emphatic win over Conor O’Neill in Sunday’s final at Drogheda.

Declan O’Donovan beat John Young by almost a bowl in the Tim White Cup final at Rosscarbery.

The combined value of new construction projects, started during the first half of 2015, has grown 41%.

There has been a sharp nationwide decline in activity in the residential construction sector, but the overall trend remains positive.

The authors of a new report into the health of the construction sector claim the industry remains in recovery mode, despite noting a 20% annualised drop in the value of building projects commenced during the first quarter of this year.

There has been a “sluggish” start to the year for the residential construction sector, according to a new survey.

There has been a “dramatic” slowdown in residential construction activity in the early part of this year, following significant increases in residential planning applications and construction project commencements last year.

Junior Rugby: Focus

More than 260 multi-unit development projects, worth a combined €1.47bn and currently under construction, were commenced in the first three quarters of the year.

The number of residential developments has more than quadrupled since the low point of 2011, with the majority of large-scale developments concentrated in the capital.

There are more positive signs for the construction sector following increases in the number of residential housing planning applications and project starts so far this year.

Work on the construction of new homes has more than doubled over the past year.

The trend in the Irish construction sector has turned, according to the National Housing Construction Index which is predicting growth in the next quarter.

Several counties saw annual increases in the numbers of house building projects and planning applications last year, despite both being down on a national basis.

September saw the first signs of growth in the construction sector for more than six years, with activity increasing for the first month since May 2007.

Two titles for the USA and one for Connacht was the surprise outcome of the third All-Ireland series in Newtownhamilton and no Munster champion from the series for the second year running.

Martin Coppinger is officially the 2013 All-Ireland senior champion as Eddie Carr has withdrawn from next weekend’s rescheduled final because his injury has not cleared up.

The decline in housing construction continues but there are signs of an improvement emerging in a number of counties, particularly in Dublin.

House planning applications are down nationally by 3% yet 11 counties show significant increases, with Co Dublin revealing a rise of 15%, the latest National Housing Construction Index reveals.

The number of large extensions and new housing developments being built dropped by 8% last year.

House planning applications fell in every county except Donegal this year, the latest National Housing Construction Index reveals.

John Creedon and Aidan Murphy were the big winners over the weekend.

Tony Brouder claimed his fourth club golf title at the weekend.

Owners are putting off planned improvements to their houses with a surge in those seeking extensions to almost expired planning permissions.

House extensions now

A businessman and friend to the stars has been arrested on suspicion of murder, sources said.

RESEARCH at University College Cork could help gardaí and other police forces identify the source of a highly dangerous illegal drug.