This week we visit some iconic tourist spots to see if they live up to their reputation. Ellie O’Byrne visits Blarney

EX-CAPTAIN Kieran O’Leary and defenders Jack Sherwood and Pa Kilkenny are among six Kerry footballers that have been released or have left the Kingdom’s Championship squad this week.

Valley Rovers 1-14 Ballinhassig 0-15: The graph remains on an upward curve for Valley Rovers. Despite looking vulnerable earlier in the season, they delivered yet again in the Cork Premier IHC semi-final.

The parents of a young boy who survived being dragged along the road under a car have issued a heartfelt thank you to doctors, emergency workers and neighbours who helped save him.

Congratulations, Greece.

A 30-man brawl marred yesterday’s Waterford SHC third round game between Mount Sion and Dungarvan at Fraher Field. 

Seán O’Riordan’s articles on providing a national air defence system are timely.

Seán O’Riordan (Irish Examiner, February 11) gave us an introduction to the world of military aerospace finance as applied to the schoolyard. 

Sigerson Cup First Round

A man from the northside of Cork City, who claimed to be lost in the southside, was carrying a scissors when gardaí searched him, but claimed he had earlier been wrapping presents.

Irish stars Gordon Lord Byron and Sole Power were out of luck in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint, which was won by Aerovelocity at Sha Tin yesterday.

He famously quoted “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” at the height of the Saipan controversy, and in his new book explains that for him being “on time” for training means showing up half an hour early.

This is Pat Ryan’s second year as Sarsfields senior hurling manager and he’s on course for a 100% strike-rate.

Waterford SHC, Round 4: With their backs to the wall beforehand, county champions Passage came out fighting last night to claim a vital Group 1 win over Fourmilewater in a crunch fourth round clash at Fraher Field (3-18 to 1-18).

Laune Rangers 3-13 East Kerry 2-15 (AET)

The Labour leadership candidates will go head-to-head in one final round of debates behind closed doors today in front of the party’s lawyers society ahead of this week’s vote for a new leader.

TONIGHT

South Kerry 1-14 Kerins O’Rahillys 1-7

THIS week we take a trip down memory lane in a car which will still — hopefully — resonate with many readers.

A solicitor for families of the Stardust victims has rejected Government statements that there is no evidence to warrant the opening of a fresh public probe into the cause of the fatal fire.

Youghal 2-14 Cloyne 2-09

Cloyne 3-15 Carrigaline 3-11

A proposed cross-border car ferry linking Down and Louth could provide a €10m a year boost for the counties, an economic study has predicted.

Your editorial (Nov 28) refers to the “European project”.

Finuge 0-08 Spa 0-08

Ballinhassig 1-19 Bandon 1-15

A total of 119 days separated Fermoy’s first game in this year’s Cork County IFC and their second, but they showed few ill-effects of the lay-off as they beat Cloyne by 11 points at Lisgoold on Saturday evening.

Ballinhassig 2-18 Inniscarra 0-9

A three-goal haul from former Cork senior hurler Diarmuid O’Sullivan helped Cloyne to advance to the fourth round of the Cork IFC at Castlelyons last night.

A strong showing immediately before and after half-time was key for Aghabullogue as they earned a place in the last 16 of the Cork County IFC at the expense of Cloyne at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

A late Paul O’Sullivan goal did little more than salvage some pride for Cloyne, who were outclassed by Éire Óg throughout this IFC meeting at Riverstown on Saturday.

It wasn’t the classic many expected but that won’t bother Dr Crokes who added to their bulging trophy cabinet on Saturday with victory in the Kerry Senior Club Championship final at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

They needed more than 80 minutes of action to get over the line but ultimately Cork’s trip to Austin Stack Park in Tralee proved fruitful last night as they retained their Cadbury’s Munster U21 football title with a narrow success over Kerry.

Irish Examiner journalist Jennifer Hough has been presented with a special award at the Inclusion Ireland annual conference in Wexford.

CLONMEL head the field in Munster Junior League Division One after they collected maximum points with a 28-0 away win over Kilfeacle.

SOCIAL investment funds have thrown a lifeline to community projects hamstrung by the fall in bank lending.

HEARTBREAK for Canovee at Donoughmore on Saturday, a devastating final five-minute spell propelling never-say-die Kildorrery into a Cork IFC quarter-final clash with either Éire Óg or Glanworth, a result, over the hour, they hardly deserved.

MINISTER with responsibility for Disability Kathleen Lynch will tomorrow visit a locked residential institution in Cork city for people with intellectual disabilities.

Éire Óg 4-14 Cloyne 3-5

IT’S a big weekend of Munster Junior Cup semi-final action with cup specialists Cork Constitution taking on Kilfeacle at Musgrave Park while Division Two League winners Galbally collide with Junior League winners and Tipperary rivals Cashel at Clanwilliam Park.