Munster Senior Cup: Ardscoil Rís 21 St Munchin’s College 13

As a €15m state-of-the-art facility for the deaf opens in Dublin, John Cradden, who is deaf, looks at the challenges faced by a community trying to keep its identity while pursuing social integration

MARK McCALLON netted a golden goal in Mullingar yesterday to keep Garrycastle on track for an historic Leinster Club SFC football title. Not alone has the Westmeath club never won the provincial title, but no team from the Lake County has ever managed to annex the provincial crown.

Ballyboden St. Endas 1-10 Rathnew 1-7

AFTER a fortnight of energy sapping action, Ballyboden St Enda’s put their fatigue to one side to claim a remarkable Dublin SFC title at Parnell Park.

FAMILIES were yesterday warned to steer clear of moneylenders and to budget properly for Christmas.

THE Credit Union movement announced plans yesterday to roll out a nationwide ATM and electronic payments service.

CREDIT unions in Ireland extended their reach into the economy north and south in 2006 as membership climbed to well over 3 million and lending increased 8% to €7.5 billion.

CREDIT unions should be able to offer longer term loans to customers according to a report from the Department of Finance.

Credit unions launched an assault today on rogue money lenders preying on vulnerable people ahead of the traditionally high-risk Christmas period.

DESPITE a 14.5% surge in Irish credit union member savings to €12.6 billion last year, major changes are needed if the movement is to develop even further.

People are squirreling away €1.8bn in over 150,000 SSIA accounts in Credit Unions, it emerged today.

Many people will face severe financial difficulties in the new year due to the high levels of borrowing over Christmas, it was warned today.

MORE THAN 30,000 budding artists are expected to don a painting smock for one of the biggest art projects in the country.

IRISH credit unions have the highest proportion of savers and borrowers of any credit union movement in the world, it emerged last night.

Irish credit unions have the highest proportion of savers and borrowers of any credit union movement in the world, it emerged tonight.

CREDIT UNIONS loaned three quarters of a billion euro last year to borrowers who couldn’t get the money they needed from banks.

Savings with credit unions grew by 8.8% in the six months to March, compared with the market growth of 5.6%, the Irish League of Credit Unions said yesterday.

The Irish League of Credit Unions has vowed to maintain its commitment to local communities throughout the country.

CREDIT Unions will benefit from customer disillusionment with the main commercial banks, the chief executive of the Irish League of Credit Unions, Liam O’Dwyer claimed yesterday.

HOUSE HUNTERS borrowed €1.2bn in home loans in December, figures from the Central Bank revealed yesterday.

ORGANISATIONS caring for elderly people have warned that proposed industrial action by public health nurses could have serious consequences for thousands of already vulnerable people.