A scheme which could help increase the population on the seven islands off West Cork cannot supply the social houses needed because it costs around 40% more to build homes on the islands than on the mainland.

Cork County Council looks set to establish a special Rural Affairs Committee amid rising fears that many communities in North and West Cork are dying.

Cork composer Bernard Geary returns to his hometown to hear one of his pieces performed at the choral festival, writes Cathy Desmond

Mary Hegarty cats to Des O'Driscoll about her favourite tastes

A unique arts course on an island off the south-west coast has been saved after Cork County Council said it would double grant aid to keep it afloat.

Cork County Council is to examine barring start-up businesses from securing grant-aid unless they take measures to reduce the use of plastics in the workforce.

A county councillor is seeking a safety audit on all old public buildings, amid fears recent arson attacks on publicly-owned properties in West Cork and Cork city could lead to further destruction.

Cork County Council has been urged to use helicopters or drones to video offenders responsible for causing devastating wildfires in West Cork which have cost the local authority more than €1m to tackle since 2013.

Cork were singing in the rain at the Coralstown Kinnegad grounds, producing a power-packed second-half performance to win the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 2 title for a fifth time.

Major plans to ease traffic congestion at the country’s biggest whitefish port are likely to take years to finalise, unless a relief road can be built.

Here are Des O’Driscoll’s top picks this week

A flood relief project screw-up has led to €100,000 being spent on a preliminary cost/benefit analysis to discover a proposed scheme, at a further €200,000, would not be value for money.

National road planners have made tourist haven, West Cork, a no-go for motorists on a Cork City orbital route.

Councillors in County Cork are demanding Fáilte Ireland reprint a newly distributed brochure on the Wild Atlantic Way because of “glaring omissions” which they claim will hurt the tourism industry in the region.

IDA Ireland has been accused of almost reducing West Cork to an “outback”, in its alleged failure to bring jobs to the coastal region.

Plans to turn former convent buildings into social housing have been thrown a lifeline after the Department of the Environment agreed to fund a feasibility study.

3/5

West Cork’s Wild Atlantic Way may be beautiful, but according to tourists its public toilets are anything but a pretty sight.

A report issued by Cork County Council says that 71 businesses, 19 houses, and a national school were flooded in the county when nearly 200mm of rain fell between December 4-6.

Cork County Council will be asked to formally endorse an appeal to the Government to provide a commercial rates break to businesses in West Cork which suffered severely in the aftermath of recent storm damage.

The Government has been accused of ignoring the huge potential for jobs creation in the dairy foods sector in Cork, as funding in the county’s roads network continues to plummet.

Fears have been expressed in West Cork that the HSE and the health minister may not upgrade community hospitals in the region, leading to elderly patients being transferred miles away from their families.

In recent years, there’s been a something of a reality check around communion day. Ailin Quinlan checks out options for bargain hunting and less price-conscious parents.

Councillors have urged their bosses to defer rationalisation plans at civic amenity sites, claiming it is another kick in the teeth for rural Ireland and will lead to increased illegal dumping.

A potential pact between Civil War enemies has surfaced in Cork County Council, with Sinn Féin and Fine Gael coalescing in a move which may seriously worry Fianna Fáil — the party which currently has control over the local authority.

Cork County Council hopes to co-ordinate a major push to convince the transport minister and Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to cut a deal with Cork Airport on its likely independence and to ease crippling debt.

Councillors in a Co Cork town are hoping broadband will be introduced in tandem with major work on its flood prevention and sewerage systems, to avoid having to re-dig at a later stage.

Young seafarers from west Cork arrived home last night to a rousing reception after claiming, for the fifth time, the top prize in an international competition for maritime skills.

There may still be six months to go to Christmas, but Cork County Council is already thinking of providing towns with a festive treat.

Councillors in West Cork have sent a clear message to officials, saying they will not accept the introduction of paid parking in the region.

By Noel Baker

Fianna Fáil's Christopher O'Sullivan has been elected in Cork West on Count 13.

By Noel Baker

By Noel Baker

Do not adjust your timepiece: Michael Collins could top the poll in Clonakilty.

A sell-out concert at Cork’s City Hall has helped to raise vital funds towards the recovery from a stroke of Evening Echo reporter Deirdre O’Reilly, herself a champion fundraiser for charity.

A major fundraising concert is to be held for a mother of two children who helped collect €1m for various charities but who now needs help herself after suffering a debilitating stroke.

Classical: Defence Forces Massed Bands

Live music: Whelan’s Ones To Watch - Whelan’s, Dublin