BELEAGUERED Bord na gCon chairman Paschal Taggart last night again went against the publicly declared request by Sports Minister John O’Donoghue to refrain from public statements about the sacking of Bord na gCon chairman Aidan Tynan.

THE decision of Paschal Taggart to go ahead with a weekend press conference was an unprecedented affront to Sports Minister John O’Donoghue, Labour sports spokesman Jack Wall said yesterday.

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte last night launched a stinging criticism of the handling of the Bord na gCon controversy, claiming that Sports Minister John O’Donoghue and chairman Paschal Taggart had both displayed a serious lack of judgement.

CLOSE on 1,500 delegates representing GAA clubs throughout the country will assemble in Killarney tomorrow for a day-long forum.

THE cost of the planned redevelopment of Lansdowne Road is believed to have jumped by €65m, although the taxpayer is unlikely to be asked to foot the additional bill.

THE FAI yesterday welcomed a €15 million government investment in football in Ireland.

THE Government is expected to approve the revised €100m blueprint for the controversial Sports Campus Ireland at Abbotstown in north-west Dublin later this month.

THE ALREADY booming horse racing industry received another boost yesterday when Sports Minister John O’Donoghue announced a €200m fund for the upgrading of racecourses.

Ireland’s home international football and rugby matches may have to be played in England during construction work at Lansdowne Road, sports chiefs admitted today.

Sports Minister John O’Donoghue is expected to deny reports that the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road could be delayed for a number of years.

Irish gold medallist Cian O’Connor arrived back in Dublin today to a rapturous welcome.

THE GAA is optimistic that the Government is prepared to give formal recognition to the game of hurling by grant-aiding it as a separate entity from Gaelic football.

Mourners today heard how Irish rugby legend Mick Doyle was a great giant of a man and a loveable character who touched every one he met.

FAI CEO Fran Rooney yesterday said he believed a major UEFA final in Dublin would be worth up to €50m to the economy.

Athletics Ireland has accused Sports Minister John O’Donoghue of scuppering its bid to host the 2005 European Cross-Country Championships.

THE GOVERNMENT is considering funding a new national stadium at Lansdowne Road which would cost taxpayers millions of euro.

GOVERNMENT grants worth €60million promised to the GAA have been placed in doubt by the decision not to build the National Stadium with taxpayers money.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste Mary Harney will today begin efforts to find a compromise on the planned National Stadium as time begins to run out for the joint Irish-Scottish bid for the 2008 European soccer championships.

Fine Gael’s Jimmy Deenihan has called on the Government to intervene and have the venue for the Irish football team’s homecoming switched to Dublin city centre.

The Government hopes an official presence at the national team’s next World Cup tie - against Spain in Suwon, South Korea, on Sunday - will help to spur them on to further success.

There is to be an official Irish Government presence at Ireland’s next World Cup tie against Spain in Suwon, South Korea, on Sunday.