A former senior army officer has claimed that civilian officials in the Department of Defence are interfering with operational issues, which should only be a matter for the Defence Forces.

There was a time when surnames such as Murphy, Keane and Quinn would predominate among new recruits at passing out parades in the Naval Service.

Junior officers in the naval service were regularly ‘acting down’ to fulfill duties normally carried out by ordinary and able seamen due to staff shortages months before two vessels were docked due to staff shortages.

Two decorated former senior Naval Service officers have called on Paul Kehoe, the junior defence minister, to resign.

A former Army private, a rugby international, a martial arts instructor and a one-time IT recruitment consultant are among nine young men who have become the latest additions to the Naval Service officers' ranks.

The naval service is to tie-up two of its ships in port indefinitely due to a deepening manpower crisis.

Henry Shefflin enjoyed a winning start to life in management as Ballyhale Shamrocks blitzed their way to the points in the Kilkenny senior hurling league.

Mayo 1-12 Kilkenny 0-8: Kilkenny’s decision to line out with two sweepers in Saturday’s All Ireland Junior Championship semi-final had backfired spectacularly within 20 minutes, as Mayo opened up a 1-5 to no score lead at O’Connor Park.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has announced a review of An Bord Pleanála, aimed at ensuring that the planning body is adequately supported to meet future challenges.

Seven retiring local authority chiefs executive last year enjoyed a pensions bonanza walking away with a combined pension lump sum of €1.8m.

The country’s first shipping container home is to be completed and then likely to be donated to a Cork charity in time for Christmas.

The fee-paying members of the Golfing Union of Ireland and its constituent clubs have dropped by 43,795 (or 5%) over the last 10 years, according to the union’s financial controller, Michael Malone.

Tackling the problem of cross-contamination in hospitals, Waterford company CMC Hygea has come up with a practical solution — a basin and liner system that incorporates germ-killing anti-microbial technology.

Clyda Rovers 0-10 Miltown-Malbay 0-7

Kildare County Council has named the foreman killed in a collision in Maynooth yesterday as 59-year-old Kevin O'Sullivan.

Two men are facing trial on charges of stealing €10,000 worth of oak trees from the property of Charles Colthurst of Blarney Castle.

The trial of a District Court judge accused of attempting to deceive an elderly man out of half his estate has heard that the alleged victim is not suffering from any memory problems.

In the pursuit of excellence, sportspeople make extraordinary sacrifices.

Unsurprisingly, Clare had no problem overcoming Kilkenny at Cusack Park in Ennis yesterday to set up a promotion decider away to Wicklow next weekend.

A double goal blast either side of half-time put Borris VS into the Leinster Vocational Schools SAHC final after a surprise win over Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown in Thomastown.

DUBLIN were comfortable 2-13 to 1-9 winners over Wicklow in last night’s Leinster JFC first round tie at Parnell Park.

Rough seas generated by Hurricane Alex pushed more oil from the massive spill on to US Gulf coast beaches today as clean-up vessels were sidelined by the storm.

University of Limerick 0-14 Waterford IT 1-15

THE newly formed Alliance for the Betterment of Coursing held its inaugural National meeting on Sunday last in Nenagh and organisers were delighted with the huge turnout.

Dual All-Ireland winning star Teddy McCarthy was accused today of being threatening or abusive and assaulting a man in the early hours of New Year's Day.

The team selected to represent Ireland in the Seniors (over 55's) Home Internationals, to be played at Seaton Carew Golf Club from September 30 to October 2 has been announced.