A huge decline in farmland birds in Europe is believed to be mirrored here. Another reason, perhaps, why so many extra voters turned to the Green party in the local and European elections.

A volunteer who is the powerhouse behind Cork’s Penny Dinners first developed the helping gene when she realised that when her father went “missing” on Christmas morning he was actually out feeding the city’s elderly.

It’s National Biodiversity Week and there’s hardly a better time for enjoying the outdoors. The Irish Environmental Network has helped organise over 50 free events across the country over nine days, May 19-27. All about encouraging people to connect with nature and celebrate the wildlife, plants and habitats on our doorsteps.

Is there any month more welcome than May?

Did you know that some of our visiting summer birds engage in a form of cruise control and sleep while flying? Just one of the nuggets of information from readers following our piece last week on swallows, swifts and martins.

Today marks the beginning of National Volunteering Week. Ellie O’Byrne pays tribute to our unpaid heroes.

Health Minister Simon Harris is seeking a one-month national maternity hospital reprieve in a bid to rescue the crisis-hit project from the brink of collapse.

The Department of Health’s secretary general failed to tell Health Minister Simon Harris of serious concerns over the independence of the new national maternity hospital when they were raised in May 2016.

Last Sunday, shortly after lunchtime, Peter Boylan, the eminent ex-master of the National Maternity Hospital at Holles St, picked up his phone to send a text.

Galway-headquartered medical devices company Creganna Medical has been sold for $895m (€821.3m) in an all-cash deal.

The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA)has claimed it has had insufficient staff over recent years to process the volume of complaints about auctioneers and estate agents.

TIME was leading tourist towns like Westport, Co Mayo, and Killarney, Co Kerry, were criticised for not being attractive in themselves, despite their exquisite surrounds.

ONE of the most uplifting aspects of travelling around Ireland now is seeing how the appearance of villages has improved so much in recent years.

A homeless man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering a father of one, whose body he then set on fire in a Dublin park.

The nature page every Monday in the Irish Examiner is second to none. It was great to read Damien Enright’s piece on milk quotas last Monday, given the week that was in it.

The nature page every Monday in the Irish Examiner is second to none. It was great to read Damien Enright’s piece on milk quotas last Monday, given the week that was in it.

IRELAND’S economy seems to be slowly starting to rise out of the mire in recent months but spare a thought for Argentina’s winemakers who have been suffering massive instability in recent years.

Consultants and information technology experts in Belfast have developed a mobile app which can pinpoint potentially life-threatening gaps in doctors’ knowledge and help them improve their skills in that area.

DON’T FRET, you still have time to get wine for Christmas and perhaps pick up a wine-related present for the wine-enthusiast in your life.

Kilcummin 0-13 Finuge 0-08

Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law is likely to have vast knowledge of al Qaida’s central command, intelligence experts say.

Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law has pleaded not guilty to plotting against Americans in his role as al Qaida’s leading spokesman as a landmark case trying a terror suspect on US soil moves forward.

The adventurer who crossed the Atlantic in a craft made of hide in a re-enactment of the voyage taken by St Brendan will be reunited with his famous boat today.

There is something very magical about the Derby double. On Saturday night at Shelbourne Park the 81st Irish Derby final will be run and in that time only one greyhound has managed to win it more than once.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney (and his daughter Beth) were on hand to congratulate Pat and Derek Frawley, from Croagh, Rathkeale, Co Limerick, and their cow handler Stephen McLoughlin, when they won the prestigious Maverick Golden Vale Cup, presented by Kerry Agri Business at Charleville Agricultural Show last weekend.

A RECENT column on difficulties in getting children to play outdoors and learn to appreciate the natural environment led to a big reaction from readers.

All comics are big children.

Stephen Cadogan reports from the National Dairy Show at Millstreet.

THE prestigious Limerick Lady title was won last weekend by John McLoughlin, Falduff, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, with his home-bred qualifier at Westport Show, by Grosvenor Lad out of Falduff Lady.

THE BIG question mark in advance of Saturday’s Sporting Press Irish Oaks final is whether Skywalker Queen can hit top form at just the right moment to win the bitch classic for the second year on the trot.

NINE counties were represented among 20 qualifiers who lined up for the GVM All Ireland €2,500 commercial championship at last week’s Cappamore Show in Co Limerick.

NEW legislation paving the way for the revocation of rogue auctioneers’ licences will be published in a matter of weeks.

IRISH pharmaceutical company Amarin is to buy an Israeli firm in a deal worth up to $32 million (€21.7m).

THE High Court has reserved judgment on whether affidavits by Tony Taylor the founder of collapsed finance company Taylor Asset Managers can be used in proceedings by the liquidator of the Taylor companies.

A 60-COW dairy herd from Co Clare is the 2006 champion herd in the Limerick and Clare Friesian breeders’ club awards.

THE High Court has further adjourned proceedings in which the liquidator of finance company Taylor Asset Managers, which collapsed in 1996, has applied to restrict five of its directors, including financial consultant and TV personality Eddie Hobbs.

IT’S now apparent that the people of Dingle/Daingean Uí Chúis do not want their town to be known as An Daingean.

DESPITE current negative trends, there could be a future for rural tourism and small country shops, according to football legend and Fáilte Ireland director Páidí Ó Sé.

Dr Crokes 1-10 Laune Rangers 1-10

ELAN is to make a fresh attempt to get its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri back on the market.