Seven companies spent last night pitching for investment from leading venture capitalists and angel investors at Cork’s County Hall.

Bank of Ireland has selected Cork as the test bed for its first ever accelerator programme which will be home to 10 innovative start-ups from September.

The main players in Ireland banking sector have said there is no "real basis" for claims from a leading economist that small and medium firms are facing a "wipe-out".

Cork members won all three prizes at this year’s Macra na Feirme/Bank of Ireland National Leadership Awards, recognising their leadership skills within their clubs and the wider community.