CONFUSION reigned at the end of yesterday’s Premier IHC clash between Tracton and Youghal, with the scoreboards in Páirc Uí Chaoimh reading 1-12 a-piece though many observers had Tracton on 1-13 at the final whistle.

THE Defence Forces’ top brass were present at Haulbowline naval base yesterday to watch the latest group of young officers being commissioned.

IT was a question of ‘eyes right’ as 20 potential Non-Commissioned Officers took centre stage in the parade ground at Haulbowline naval base for a passing out ceremony yesterday.

THIRTEEN non-commissioned Naval Service officers made history yesterday when they became the first members of the Defence Forces to be presented with degrees at the National Maritime College.

SIX naval cadets were commissioned yesterday in the presence of Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea.

CONTROVERSIAL author Jeffrey Archer delivered the keynote address at the Thomas Crosbie Holdings annual business dinner in the company’s South Mall headquarters last night.

THERE was some friendly sibling rivalry in the ranks yesterday as “‘brothers-in-arms” were among 37 naval recruits who took part in a passing-out parade at Haulbowline.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese couldn’t make yesterday’s commemoration, but she sent a letter to the victims’ families assuring them her thoughts and prayers were with them.

DRINKS group Diageo is investing €24 million in the expansion of its research operations in Dublin, a move that will position its Irish operations as the global centre for all beer development within the group.

THE daughter of legendary Antarctic explorer Tom Crean was guest of honour yesterday at the passing-out parade at the Irish naval headquarters.

WHEN Giovanni Trapattoni walks out at Croke Park this evening for his first game as manager of Ireland, the scene will be just a little bit different from the one he experienced on the only other occasion he was in the dug-out for a match in the Republic.

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FIREFIGHTERS from Cork city and county joined forces with defence forces personnel to take on a massive blaze at the Haulbowline naval base last night.

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CORK’S city fathers yesterday saluted the 30th birthday of their adopted naval vessel, which has clocked up enough miles to get it to the moon and back.

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UL Bohemians will take in the Christmas break in third place in the Division One table after this impressive dismissal of Dolphin.

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Connacht Senior Cup winners Galwegians edged out St. Mary’s College in a forgettable Division One encounter at Crowley Park.

Irish and Argentinian naval personnel today joined forces to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of the Mayo-born founder of the Argentine navy.

ERUDITE jester John Cleese, of Fawlty Towers and Monty Python fame, entertained key players in the Irish business and media worlds at the Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) annual dinner in the company’s flagship headquarters on Cork’s South Mall last night.

HOW the mighty have fallen.

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DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea took the salute yesterday from five young men and a woman who became the latest batch of officer cadets to be commissioned at the naval base in Haulbowline.

TRACTON made it hat-trick of wins over Carrigtwohill in the county Premier IHC with a deserved two-point victory over the East Cork side in a keenly contested first round tie at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

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THOUSANDS of sightseers were treated to a spectacular show this week as the Irish Naval Service continued its annual exercises off the southwest coast.

CONCRETE products group Readymix saw pre-tax profits boosted to €27.64 million for the six months to the end of June from €10.9m for the same period last year.

IF Andrea Bocelli’s star could have been eclipsed last night, the weather would have been the only contender.

The decorated coffin of the Canadian naval crewman who died in a submarine accident was flown home to Nova Scotia today after an Irish military send-off.

DEFENCE MINISTER Michael Smith will be seeking a share of the €14 billion funds in the SSIA schemes to finance the expansion of the naval service — particularly more high-speed drug trafficking interception boats.

THE parade ground at the navy’s headquarters was taken over by 28 proud young men and women yesterday for their passing out parade.

NAVAL patrols boarded almost 2,000 vessels in 2003 in one of the busiest years for the service.

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