Jim Connolly never wanted to start Rural Resettlement Ireland. It came to him like an inspired dream, a chance to save the rural Ireland he loved, while also offering Dublin families a slice of life on the wild Atlantic coast. The problem was that, once he started dreaming, he couldn’t stop, reports Andrew Hamilton

A rural resettlement scheme has been inundated with requests from villages wishing to "order" families with children in a bid to keep local schools open.

Unravelling the web of Government spin, our country is unequal, with senior people paid hundreds of thousands per year from the public purse, while tens of thousands are crippled with debt.

Garda whistleblower John Wilson has joined the ranks of a new, non-party political grouping to contest the local elections next May.

A voluntary housing group will ask Clare County Council to take on 21 of its properties amid warnings that the imposition of the property tax will lead to “a domino effect” as other organisations will be forced to follow suit.

Fianna Fáil's Niall Collins tops the poll with 9,361 votes in Limerick but has not reached the quota of 11,261 to be elected.

In the Mid-West constituencies of Limerick and Clare, the country-wide trend of a swing to Fine Gael is being duplicated.

TWO-thirds of people want the Government to bring in mandatory pensions but experts say the Government’s proposals won’t be enough to fund a comfortable retirement.

LIMERICK is to honour the late award-winning author Frank McCourt with a bronze bust which will be unveiled in the city centre on May 13.

GARDAÍ have foiled another attempt to vandalise the statue of Richard Harris erected in Limerick city centre.

STANDARD Life has warned the Government against lessening the appeal of pension products by reducing tax reliefs, after a survey showed only a quarter of respondents think it’s a good time to invest in pensions.

Donal Hickey on sustainable communities and a low-carbon future.

IT’S a steep drop from €550,000 to €399,000, but that’s the way to get buyers going in the present market.

ALMOST one third of working women (30%) in Ireland do not save towards a pension each month, a survey of more than 500 women by Standard Life has found.

CONTINUED weakness in the markets has led to a massive drop in those interested in taking up a pension.

THE Department of the Environment has been accused of being “totally opposed to rural housing” and intent on the urbanisation of Ireland, following the announcement yesterday of proposals to tighten planning laws.

A SON of Richard Harris has hit out at critics of a statue of the film star erected in his native Limerick.

A SON of Richard Harris has hit out at critics of a statue of the film star erected in his native Limerick.

A GROUP representing rural householders is to tell an Oireachtas committee tomorrow it believes thousands of decisions made by Bord Pleanála may be illegal.

ABOUT 60 people yesterday mounted a protest outside a Kerry County Council meeting in Tralee, against what they claimed were over-restrictive planning policies in rural areas.

A GROUP representing rural families has called for an urgent review of the composition of An Bord Pleanála, claiming its membership may be unlawful.

A LEADING sculptor hit back yesterday at criticism of his bronze statue of Richard Harris in Limerick city centre.

LIMERICK yesterday honoured its most celebrated son, Richard Harris.

MANY towns and villages are becoming over-populated and congested, just like Dublin, a rural dwellers’ conference heard yesterday.

HURLING and football clubs in neighbouring rural parishes are being forced to amalgamate in order to survive, it was claimed yesterday.

POLITICIANS canvassing for votes in the general election are getting plenty of ‘stick’ on the doorsteps from people experiencing difficulties in obtaining planning permission in rural areas, a planning conference heard.

ONE of the most visible signs of the urbanisation of Ireland must surely be the huge number of apartments that are being provided in our cities and towns.

LEGISLATION on the rights of homeowners to defend their property from intruders is likely to be published early in 2007.

Barney McAuley of Loughgiel and Cushendall’s Brian Delargy will make their league debuts for Antrim in Sunday’s NHL Division 1B opener against Galway at Casement Park (throw-in 2.30pm).

A LATE bid to have UCD hurlers banned from participating in the 2006 Dublin county championship seems doomed to fail.

New Antrim manager Jim McKernan wants retired midfielder Jim Connolly to go back on his decision to quit the inter-county hurling.

Beleaguered Antrim have made six changes and a number of positional switches as they bid to stave off relegation to the Christy Ring Cup against Laois on Saturday (Páirc Tailteann, Navan, throw-in 3.30pm).

Ulster champions Antrim have made four alterations for tomorrow's (Saturday's) All-Ireland SHC relegation semi-final against Offaly at Croke Park.

AS long as anyone can recall, the weaker teams at hurling’s top table have been crying out for more summer games with which to hone their skills and close the gap on the Corks and Kilkennys.

HEAD injuries caused by violent street assaults where the victim is kicked on the ground by a gang are on the rise, a consultant at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) warned yesterday.

In the wake of Dinny Cahill's departure as Antrim hurling manager earlier this week, the Saffrons have a lot to prove in tomorrow's All-Ireland SHC qualifier against Laois.

Galway 3-29 Antrim 0-10

Antrim 2-22 Down 1-18

Antrim have retained their Guinness Ulster SHC crown after goals from substitute Karl Stewart and Jim Connolly helped the Saffrons edge past Down for the second year running.

Antrim's first NHL Division One relegation section road trip ended in a 1-10 to 3-21 defeat this afternoon as Waterford's forward power proved too much for visitors at Fraher Field.

Limerick host Waterford in the tie of the round in the Division 1 National Hurling League relegation section today.

Three of the players involved in next week's AIB All-Ireland Club finals picked up Provincial Player awards in Dublin yesterday.

THE All-Ireland club finals will be an all-ticket affair to avoid a repeat of last year's embarrassing fiasco when thousands had to be allowed into Croke Park free of charge to avoid a possible crush.