Most of the country's new Councillors are now elected, and a battle is underway between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to be the largest party on local authorities.

Two friends of the late model, Katy French have been given suspended sentences for facilitating a drug deal on the weekend the 24-year-old died.

Two people arrested by Gardaí during the investigation into the death of model Katy French will be sentenced later today.

Clare will field a team showing two personnel changes when they try to upset hot favourites Cork in Sunday's Munster SFC final.

A Co Cork man has today changed his pleas mid-trial and has admitted murdering his neighbour in Youghal before stealing from the man's apartment and setting it on fire.

A Co Cork man has gone on trial accused of murdering his neighbour and setting fire to his apartment in Youghal.

Fermanagh continued their unbeaten run in Division 4 of the Football League with a facile 46-point victory over Kilkenny, while there were also away wins for Waterford and Carlow this afternoon and Clare accounted for Limerick in Ennis.

The Irish Heart Foundation has said that the Government has missed an opportunity with its 25 cent increase on tobacco in today's Budget.

A man is due to appear in court in east Cork this evening in connection with the killing of a man in Youghal earlier this week.

Gardaí investigating the murder of a man in Youghal in Co Cork have arrested a man.

A murder inquiry has been officially launched in Cork after the remains of a man were recovered from a flat in Youghal.

Gardaí in Cork have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a man's body after a fire at an apartment in Youghal.

Limerick 1-13 Clare 1-09

Clare manager Frank Doherty has handed debuts to three players ahead of the Banner County's Munster SFC clash with Limerick at Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday.

Clare team captain Michael O'Shea has lost his race to be fit for the Banner's Munster SFC quarter-final clash with Waterford on Sunday at Cusack Park (throw-in 3.30pm).

Team captain Michael O'Shea is the biggest injury worry in the Clare camp ahead of their Munster SFC quarter-final encounter with Waterford on Sunday (Cusack Park, throw-in 3.30pm).

London 1-12 Clare 2-13

ALLIANZ NFL DIVISION 4: Kilkenny 1-4 Clare 4-19

A convicted Louth sex offender has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to raping his daughters.

Clare 2-11 Cork IT 0-6

Limerick's footballers got their season off to a winning start when they proved far too strong for Tralee IT in a 2-11 to 1-07 victory at Moyvane this afternoon.

The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed an appeal brought by a Stable-hand against his conviction for an assault that left a publican in a wheelchair.

Clare manager Paidí O'Sé will not be naming his team for Sunday's NFL Division 2A clash with Monaghan at Cusack Park (throw-in 1.30pm) until the morning of the match.

Páidí Ó Sé's first league game in charge of Clare ended in a 0-17 to 0-9 victory as centre forward Michael O'Shea hit two crucial late scores against Carlow.

Cork's senior footballers proved too strong for Cork IT at Pairc Uí Rinn today, winning their McGrath Cup quarter-final tussle by 3-10 to 1-9.

The Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has welcomed the 50c increase on a pack of 20 cigarettes announced in today’s Budget.

Clare 0-10 Fermanagh 0-15

St Senan's, Kilkee 1-14 An Ghaeltacht 2-7

WATERFORD hurler John Mullane assaulted a pool player in a pub after being goaded by a group of men, including one who threatened to kill him, a court heard yesterday.

Michael O'Shea tried everything, from the conventional to the alternative, to help cure his stammer.

Cork 3-15 Clare 1-7

DARA Ó SÉ returns to the Kerry team, while teenagers Enda Coughlan and Sean O’Meara will make their Munster SFC debuts when Clare take on the newly crowned National League champions at Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday.

The Irish Heart Foundation is hoping to get the Government to co-fund a €250,000 survey on the needs of recovering stroke patients.

BRILLIANT wing-forward Stephen Kelly is a surprise omission from the Limerick team to play Galway in Division 1B of the Allianz NFL at Ballinasloe on Sunday.

Clare 1-14 Tipperary 1-10

IT MIGHT NOT have been pretty, but the historians won’t give a second thought to the quality of An Ghaeltacht’s first ever provincial football success.

I HAVE noted with interest attempts to shift the debate about the proposed smoking ban in the workplace from health to arguments around economics and job losses.

THE Irish Heart Foundation fully supports the views expressed

THE woman who helped kidnap her daughter was jailed yesterday, but Christine O’Sullivan said the case is not closed.

IRELAND has the highest death rate from heart disease in Western Europe, new figures show.

The two brothers who were abducted at gunpoint in Limerick city last Thursday night have turned up safe and well in Co Laois.