The notes of nostalgia were only too apparent over the past few days as the Lahinch traditionalists informed you that “the South of Ireland is nothing like it used to be”.

Noel Pyne reaches a remarkable milestone when he makes his 50th successive appearance in the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch next Saturday.

Hundreds of firefighters battled into the night as bush fires raged out of control through tinder-dry suburban bushland around Sydney’s fringes, destroying at least 20 homes.