Further to their maiden WRC win, the Irish duo of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) tackle this weekend’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal, round five of the World Rally Championship, in confident mood. They are also expected to benefit from redefined aerodynamics on the front end and a new bumper and redesigned wings.

For Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle, today’s final round of the World Rally Championship, Rally GB, is the closest they get to competing on home ground.

The make-up of next season’s Irish Tarmac Rally Championship is one of the main topics on the Tarmac Rally Organisers Association (TROA) agenda in Dublin on Sunday.

Cork's Senior Ladies Footballers arrived back on Leeside tonight, shortly after 8.30pm with the Brendan Martin Cup en tow, after picking up an eighth All-Ireland title in nine years at Croke Park yesterday.

Funeral arrangements for the couple who died in a murder-suicide shooting were being made after their remains were released to their devastated families.

A couple found shot in an apparent murder-suicide in a Carlow B&B spent the previous night socialising in the pub across the road.

A 64-year-old woman has died following a housefire in Co Offaly this morning.

Tom Cribbin has resigned as Offaly senior football manager after three years in charge.

Gardaí are continuing to question a man in his 20s who was arrested after the discovery of a cannabis growhouse in Co Offaly yesterday.

Two former lab technicians who developed respiratory and psychological problems after they were exposed to noxious fumes at Athlone Institute of Technology have been awarded just over €1.5m damages by the High Court.

An elderly woman has been killed and another injured when they were hit by a car in Co Offaly.

IRISH boxers face a busy week ahead with both the senior and junior champions in action abroad and the number twos in action against Wales in the first major international of the year at the National Stadium tonight.

FTER a wait rivalled only by the gestation period of an elephant we have a winner.