Autistic traits may be socially disabling, but are also linked to original thought and creativity.

The Joule Donegal International Rally that begins this afternoon is the best-supported event within the Clonakilty Blackpudding Irish Tarmac Championship and also the only three-day event in Irish rallying.

Although Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (pictured) is officially listed to drive his usual Mitsubishi EvoIX at Sunday’s Sligo Rally, the 22-year-old will make his debut in the Ford Fiesta WRC his brother Sam drove to victory in the Rally of the Lakes last May.

Dromcollogher-Broadford 2-09 Monaleen 2-07

Ed Power's essential musical menu for the Electric Picnic weekend

One garda was used as a “human shield” from a hatchet-wielding 16-year-old while gardaí were powerless to prevent another man slashing his victim 11 times across the face and back with a Stanley knife in broad daylight.

HIS name will not be familiar to a younger generation of GAA followers outside of Kildare, but Pat Dunny has a list of achievements to his credit which merit special recognition.

They’re tied on 30 All-Ireland titles each, but there’s more at stake at Croke Park tomorrow for Cork and Kilkenny than statistics. Stars of the 70’s, Cork’s Brian Murphy and Kilkenny’s Phil ‘Fan’ Larkin discuss battles past and tomorrow’s semi-final with Diarmuid O’Flynn.

The final round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, the West Cork Hotel Fastnet Rally in Skibbereen, was won by Cavan’s Patrick Elliott and his co-driver, Paul Goodman.

Leading from start to finish, Derry’s Eugene Donnelly and co-driver Paddy Toner won the Hotel Kilmore Cavan Rally in their Toyota Corolla WRC today.

A keenly contested Seven Oaks Hotel Carlow Rally, the fourth round of the Dunlop National Rally Championship, was won by Charlie Donnelly/Paddy Toner(Toyota Corolla WRC).

AS another instalment of Gaelic football's greatest rivalry is played out in Croke Park tomorrow, stars of the seventies Kerry's Mickey Ned O'Sullivan and Cork's Kevin Jer O'Sullivan recall some of the magical days from their playing careers.

WITH their home event just a week away, Irish drivers, Colin Turkington and Gavin Smith will be hoping to improve their current positions within the British Touring Car Championship in Sunday’s three rounds at Croft.

THERE is much talk this week of the last NHL Final meeting of Kilkenny and Clare in 1995 and how the Banner went on to win the All-Ireland championship, their first in over eight decades.

THE British Government faced new demands yesterday to free a republican jailed for refusing to testify to an inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings.

A doorman guarding a republican social function at the Widow Scallan’s pub in Dublin was shot dead while trying to fend off a loyalist bomb attack, an inquest heard today.

ALL-IRELAND winning manager Dónal O’Grady duly opted out yesterday after two years in charge of the Cork team, during which he restored pride and respectability to hurling in the county after the debacle of the player revolt in late 2002 and inspired the county’s 29th championship title last month.

Hollywood star Matthew Broderick plans a traumatic visit to Ireland to meet with the family of the two women he accidentally killed in a Co Fermanagh car crash in 1987.