Over half a million children — 544,696 — are expected in primary schools over the coming days.

The schools were facing closure due to declining enrolments.

Aside from a keen and active interest in coursing, John O’Sullivan runs the very successful Dublin Coach company, and the Clare-native, now resident in Kildare, is eager to merge the two, with an eye to promoting next month’s National Coursing Meeting at Clonmel.

DIARMUID O’FLYNN on how a north Kerry village is uniting behind Call Her Now in next week’s Oaks in Clonmel