Three Irish writers — Maggie O’Farrell, Bernard MacLaverty, and Mark O’Connell — have made the longlist of 12 authors for the 2018 Wellcome Book Prize.

As holiday season kicks into gear, a number of broadcasters and authors tell Jonathan deBurca Butler which books they’ll be packing in their suitcase.

The Nire (Waterford) 1-11 Ballylanders (Limerick) 0-7

Despite trailing 1-4 to 0-5 at the break, Fr Casey’s booked the first place in the Limerick SFC semi-finals with a 2-11 to 2-8 win over St Kieran’s at Newcastlewest on Saturday on the back of second-half goals from Pádraig McEnery and Robert Browne.

CHAMPIONS Monaleen remain on track to defend their title.

A CONSTITUTIONAL challenge is to be brought against Ireland’s bankruptcy laws, the High Court has been informed.

MUNSTER’S Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final with Harlequins could generate more than €5m for Limerick city and the surrounding region.

THE importance of sport to the people of Limerick is already well documented, but the commercial benefits are also huge.

THOMOND Park has given a boost to the Limerick economy equal to an industry employing 565 full-time workers since it opened in October 2008.

MUNSTER’S failure to reach the Heineken Cup knock out stages will have financial implications for the provincial economy.

Chimneys and walls crumbled to the ground, roads cracked in half and residents were knocked off their feet as a powerful magnitude-7.1 earthquake rocked New Zealand’s South Island early today.

New Zealand’s South Island was under a state of emergency today and rocked by aftershocks after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake caused widespread damage.

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck much of New Zealand’s South Island early on Saturday.

CAVAN attacker Seanie Johnston has emerged a major doubt for their All-Ireland SFC round 1 qualifier against Wicklow on Saturday evening in Kingspan Breffni Park after suffering a recurrence of an elbow injury.

PUBLICANS awaiting a court ruling with “bated breath”, will find out tomorrow if they can open on Good Friday for the big Munster versus Leinster game at Thomond Park.

TWO goals in the opening 12 minutes from the O’Connors, Cian and Ronan, proved the decisive scores in this disappointing AIB Munster IFC final at Mallow yesterday.

A YOUNG father inspired by his infant son has roped three friends in to climb the world’s highest free-standing mountain.

Sligo Rovers 0 Killester United 0

MORE than half the top industries in the mid-west predict increased turnover in the next six months.

MORE than half of 120 Mid-West business surveyed by Limerick Chamber of Commerce predict increased turnover levels for the next six months.

Cork 0-18 Clare 0-6

CLARE have made two changes from the side that defeated Waterford for next Sunday’s Bank of Ireland Munster senior football championship semi final with Cork at Cusack Park, Ennis.

BRIAN McGUIGAN will be back for Tyrone’s Ulster SFC clash with either Cavan or Antrim. McGuigan is due home on June 9 from Australia, 10 days ahead of the Clones clash.

FORMER star forward Joe McKenna was last night elected interim manager of the Limerick senior hurling team by his fellow selectors.

A YOUTH who claimed he had been doused in petrol and set alight in a late-night mugging has told gardaí the incident never happened.

A new study, out today, reveals that 44% of regular pub-goers are smokers.

Offaly 1-12

PEADAR MCMAHON is a man of steel. Flesh and blood predominantly, but the Kilrush man has a will and a shoulder of iron.

Drinking pints in the pub is a more important part of Irish life than worshipping at church, a survey concluded today.