Update 7.33am: Two men who drowned on a weekend fishing trip have been named as friends originally from Lithuania.

In 2011, Fianna Fáil’s Charlie McConalogue defied the national trend to become a new TD in Donegal while the Tánaiste Mary Coughlan lost her seat in the neighbouring constituency.

The newly-formed Independent Alliance which expects to have 20 candidates in place for the general election yesterday unveiled new hopefuls who have joined its ranks.

Despite a marked improvement in the local elections, women still account for just 20% of local councillors, write Adrian Kavanagh, Fiona Buckley, Claire McGing, and Noirín Clancy

DAVID McCARTHY (St Augustine’s, Dungarvan) made an impressive return to cross-country running with victory in the senior boys’ race at the Kit Kat Munster Schools Championships at St Augustine’s College on Saturday.