WHILE attending university in Texas in 1964 I was about to play golf one day when somebody asked if he could join me. I was going to agree, until I saw the man was black.

WATERFORD Museum of Treasures has secured a major bequest including letters from descendents of architect John Roberts’s family.

IN his letter (April 12), Mark Cronin reasserts the British view that the Turks bear responsibility for being invaded at Gallipoli because “the pro-German faction within the Turkish government was the controlling party in the lead-up to the war”.

THE author of England’s Greatest Spy: Eamon de Valera was interviewed by John Green on Radio Kerry during the week. The 470-page book, by John J Turi, will not be published until the last day of November so it is not possible to comment on it.

IN the past there have always been people in the wings who have had a vested interest in destroying the various peace initiatives.

WITH clarity of voice and affable manner, Lord Butler of Brockwell delivered his damning verdict on the failings of intelligence over Iraq.

The long-awaited Butler Report into intelligence failings in the run-up to war in Iraq was being published in the UK today, amid fevered speculation in Westminster over whether the finger of blame will be pointed at British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

TED WALH’S Top Strategy can stamp himself the best four-year-old timber-topper in the country by giving weight and a beating to his rivals in this afternoon’s Panoramic Restaurant Juvenile Hurdle at Punchestown, assuming the meeting passes an early morning inspection.

CHAMPION jockey Paul Carberry savoured big race success on his return from a thumb injury when Central House landed the Grade 1 Denny Gold Medal Novice Chase at Leopardstown yesterday.

PUNTERS continue to search out soft-ground specialists in the ante-post markets for tomorrow’s Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury – despite a dry day at the track.

THE biggest surprise this week was that people were so surprised when the Belfast gathering to announce a breakthrough in the peace process turned into a fiasco.

COURSE specialist The Premier Cat, trained locally by Tom Cahill, got the cream when battling like a lion to win the Gerry Chawke ’Chase at Clonmel yesterday.