The festive shopping period might not have been the glittering revival of consumer confidence retailers hoped for, but one sector has kept its sparkle.

A Limerick farmer was fined €3,000 and ordered to pay €2,000 in costs after he pleaded guilty to six breaches of Department of Agriculture regulations designed to prevent the spread of bovine TB.

CORK city shoppers were treated to a Valentine’s surprise yesterday as the area outside one of the city's best known jewellery shops was transformed into the ballroom of romance.

A Limerick family wants Justice Minister Alan Shatter to find out why it took almost 36 years to hold an inquest into the death of their brother.

A farmer whose wife died over two months after undergoing brain surgery yesterday partially settled his action in the High Court.

A 62-YEAR-OLD woman who had her legs amputated claims her doctor told her on a number of occasions she was suffering from a pain in her back and allegedly discounted complaints about pains in her legs.

JIM STYNES’ appearance at last Friday’s International Rules Test in Melbourne came just days after his wife feared his battle against cancer had taken a dramatic setback.

A DIRECTOR of the company promoting Kilkee Waterworld has revealed that the facility was struggling but claimed it was underfunded when established.

MARTIN CLARKE’S former Collingwood team-mates will sound the Down playmaker out about the possibility of returning to the AFL when they visit Ireland as part of the Australian international rules squad next month.

A tiny Kerry club with huge ambition lines out on the GAA’s biggest stage tonight in Croke Park.

A HIGH Court judge yesterday criticised the decision of the Medical Defence Union (MDU) to withdraw indemnity from a consultant obstetrician who is being sued for €4.14 million the amount of a settlement approved by the court a year ago in favour of a 10-year-old girl who had cerebral palsy and other health complications.

SHANE CRAWFORD, captain of the Australian team which is close to making history against Ireland in the second test in the International Rules Series in Melbourne tomorrow, is almost afraid to think of what it will be like to win.

THE first call alerting emergency services to a fire that killed two young girls at the weekend was logged by the Fire Service nearly 20 minutes after flames were first spotted by neighbours.

THE findings of an inquiry into the crash-landing of an Aer Lingus passenger plane and the controversial sacking of its pilot are to be published in the coming days.