In day four of our special report on rural Ireland we visit Ballydehob, Co. Cork.

Speaking to Newstalk last month, resident hurling pundit Daithi Regan made a telling remark about the state of refereeing in hurling.

Murphy’s Stout have announced that New York’s Guards, Cork troubadour John Spillane, Fred frontman Joe O’Leary and newcomers Elastic Sleep will join headliner MGMT and Irish legends The Stunning for the upcoming Little Big Weekend.

Members of a 2,000-strong audience have expressed their shock after comedian Billy Connolly told an award-winning photographer she was “a fucking c**t”.

Loughrea, winners in 2006 and runners-up in two of the last three finals, booked their place in the Galway SHC semi-finals with a 2-10 to 1-13 win over neighbours and arch-rivals Mullagh yesterday.

THERE’S always been a fascination about blacksmithing and the village forge — the intense heat, the gruelling amount of physical labour, and the almost magical transformation of metal into such a wide variety of objects — both utilitarian and beautiful.

IT was “a miracle” more people weren’t killed when a crash involving two cars travelling at speeds of up to 180km/h claimed the life of one of the drivers, an inquest heard yesterday.

A SPIRITED Clare bounced back from a horror start to win Saturday’s exciting All-Ireland IHC semi-final at Cusack Park, Ennis.

FEARS are growing for the driver of a car involved in a serious crash in south Tipperary on Saturday after his condition deteriorated in hospital.

Na Piarsaigh 1-11 St Catherine’s 0-5

FOR the last two weeks, much of the talk around Cork’s one-point All-Ireland quarter-final win over Limerick revolved around balls: subterfuge balls, sleight-of-hand balls, all nonsense talk.

CORK have been rocked by injuries to squad members ahead of next week’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Waterford at Croke Park.

LIMERICK selector Gary Kirby has reacted angrily to reported comments attributed to Cork’s Joe O’Leary after Cork’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final win over the Shannonsiders.

If Cork’s forward line is considered a liability, then the Rebels’ three-in-a-row bid is firmly on track, says Michael Moynihan.

WATERFORD GAA officials have slammed the decision of the Games Administration Committee to postpone Sunday’s Division 1B NHL game against Offaly to April 9.

JOHN Allen and Billy Morgan were officially re-appointed as coaches to the Cork senior hurling and football teams at last night’s meeting of the County Board.

The five selectors who guided Cork to All Ireland SHC hurling glory last September will be in place again next year.

MUNSTER hurling coach Joe O’Leary says the southerners are determined to win the M Donnelly Interprovincial championship after their tough semi-final against Ulster last Sunday.

THE training gear was a giveaway - an Australian jersey, bicycle shorts under his togs and runners.

GALWAY have selected the same fifteen which started the semi-final for Sunday’s Guinness All-Ireland senior hurling championship final with Cork at Croke Park.

JOE O’LEARY was enjoying his spell as a Cork selector even before Tipperary arrived as Cork’s opponents in this year’s Munster final.

WAYNE SHERLOCK looks set to miss out on Sunday’s Munster SHC final against Tipperary.

Cork County hurling champions Na Piarsaigh, have nominated Seán Óg Ó hAilpín as the Cork senior hurling captain for the 2005 season, the Evening Echo newspaper reported today.

FORMER goalkeeping star Ger Cunningham is set to join the Cork senior hurling selection committee under new manager John Allen.

FEAR of defeat inspired Toomevara to an amazing comeback against Na Piarsaigh.

AISAKE Ó hAILPÍN is poised to join his brother Setanta back in Australia for trials with the Carlton club in Melbourne.

Cork's Mark Prendergast is set to miss the All-Ireland hurling semi-final on August 10.

A PHASED €40 million plus mixed development is coming out of the starting blocks in the East Cork town of Midleton - moving from its market town status to major growth centre.