Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will visit Longford today to mark the completion of a €233m holiday village.

More gardaí patrolling the streets of Longford are the only long term solution to the ongoing feud between two factions in the town according to a member of the Garda Representative Association (GRA).

Viewers got their first glimpse of new Islanders at the end of last night’s episode.

Former Mayo captain Cillian O’Connor made his first appearance in almost five months when he lined out for Ballintubber in the first round of the Mayo SFC on Saturday evening.

Update 7.33am: Two men who drowned on a weekend fishing trip have been named as friends originally from Lithuania.

Natural gas is to be piped into Longford for the first time following the signing of a €3m deal with holiday village operators Center Parcs.

Revitalising small towns takes many things: A bus or rail service is one of them, writes Gerard Howlin.

The Government has been forced to defend plans to rejuvenate rural towns and villages after the opposition claimed the promised €60m cash injection will amount to just €100,000 per community.

More than 600 rural towns and villages will benefit from a multi-million euro fund as part of a plan to bring business, tourism and improved infrastructure to the regions.

Less than a week after a truck tried to beat a level crossing in Dublin, and failed, Irish Rail have released footage of another lorry doing exactly the same thing.

There was delight for students all around the country — but particular elation for an exclusive club of just six who got 12 higher-level As in their Junior Certificate results.

Detailed proposals for Ireland’s first Center Parcs holiday resort have been put on display with a planning application to be made in the autumn.

An elderly taxi driver, who was stabbed up to 30 times and robbed, may never work again.

The acquisition of Center Parcs UK by one of the world’s largest commercial real estate companies will have no impact on plans to bring 1,000 permanent jobs to the Midlands as part of its first venture into the Irish market.

One of the UK’s biggest holiday firms is looking to corner the market on Irish staycations, by opening a multi-million euro holiday complex in the Midlands.

A protest march in support of a disability and special needs service provider in the Midlands was supported by up to 3,000 people yesterday.

Saoirse Lonergan from Conna, Co Cork has double reason to cheer — with 12 As in her Junior Certificate and looking forward to her 16th birthday tomorrow.

Three men arrested by gardaí investigating a post office robbery in county Roscommon earlier this week have been released without charge.

Gardaí in Co Roscommon have arrested two men in connection with a post office robbery in Strokestown this morning.

Ciara Judge is taking it all in her stride, being one of the top young scientists and now one of Ireland’s top brains, after getting 12 A’s in her Junior Certificate.

Gardaí are appealing for information following a serious crash which injured seven people in Longford on Thursday.

A six-month-old baby was in serious condition in hospital last night after a car carrying seven people crashed in Co Longford.

A baby boy has been seriously injured in a car crash in Co Longford. He is in a critical condition in hospital.

Meath 1-9 Longford 1-7

Damien Cahalane is the most notable inclusion in the Cork football side for Sunday’s McGrath Cup game with Cork IT.

New Meath manager Mick O’Dowd admits reducing the county’s yawning injury list is his first big challenge.

Pre-tax profits at the Irish arm of gaming technology firm Scientific Games Worldwide more than doubled last year to $7m (€5.6m).

JACK BRADY and sub Donal Smith struck second-half goals as DCU, without several key players, advanced to the O’Byrne Cup semi-final at Ballymahon yesterday.

Meath, Kildare and DCU advanced to the Bord na Mona O'Byrne Cup semi-finals this afternoon, while in the Shield competition Laois, DIT and Wicklow all claimed victories.

LONGFORD produced a strong final quarter to claim victory over Athlone IT in this O’Byrne Cup tie at Ballymahon.

KERRY, who lost by nine points to Cork in the Munster final, re-ignited their All-Ireland SFC aspirations with a 2-10 to 0-5 win over Donegal in the second round of the qualifiers in Birr on Saturday.

A solid team performance from Kerry ensured that they booked their place in the ladies football All-Ireland quarter-final with a 2-10 to 0-05 win over Donegal at Birr today.

VETERAN trainer Cecil Ross savoured the first double of his training career when favourites Lisrenny Lady and Son Of My Heart, both ridden by Robbie Colgan, landed the opening maiden hurdles at Sligo last night.

CHAMPIONS Cork face Laois in the Bord Gáis Energy Ladies NFL Division One final on Saturday, May 7.

KERRY captain Bernie Breen rifled home a brilliant 56th minute goal at Ballymahon, Longford on Saturday to force this thrilling All-Ireland semi-final to a replay.

Kerry 2-13 Tyrone 3-10

Longford 1-6 Donegal 3-14

A BRILLIANT day of athletics was illuminated by electrifying performances from two of Ireland’s brightest young talents, Ciara Mageean (Assumption, Ballinahinch) and Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Coláiste Iosagain), at the Woodies DIY Irish Schools Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.

Leinster champions Dublin were forced to dig deep against a determined Wexford side, before taking a 2-10 to 0-8 O'Byrne Cup first round win at Parnell Park.

A statement this morning from the Leinster Council has confirmed that all eight of the 2010 O'Byrne Cup first round matches, which were due to take place over Saturday and Sunday, have been postponed.

Parts of the country suffered three times more rain than usual last month sparking some of the worst floods in living memory, forecasters said today.

MONAGHAN and Mayo are through to the 2009 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies senior football championship semi-finals following Saturday’s quarter-final double header at Ballymahon GAA club in Longford.