Irish city centre drivers had a shock to the system yesterday after their normally snail-paced congested routes were transformed for an ear-cracking 160km/h Formula One exhibition.

An estimated 110,000 people attended the Bavaria City Racing Dublin motorsport demonstration today, despite an unseasonably cold downpour.

Planning permission has been sought in Co Louth for a twenty-three bedroom, four-star, eco-friendly hotel on the Battle of the Boyne site.