Balmy temperatures, no rain to spoil the party and a minister bearing a gift of a million euro - the omens were good at the opening night of WexfordFestival. Families out for an evening stroll mingled with opera-goers in posh frocks and tux at the hurdy-gurdies on the waterfront and local troubadours on guitar and keyboards warmed up the crowd before the opening fireworks lit up the clear skies.

A chain of private UK rehab clinics best known for helping wean celebrities off their addictions has been sold to private equity in a deal worth up to £925m (€1.1bn), it was announced today.

BULLS rated 166 to 205 for EBI won FBD Gene Ireland awards for their owners at the ICBF dairy cattle breeding conference at Fermoy.

Four former senior executives with AIB have been named in the latest Revenue Defaulters List, which was released this afternoon.