Dublin has benefited most from upturn, says report from Pobal Towns with 1,000 to 5,000 population have been worst affected

Gardaí targeting the illegal sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Limerick area seized cannabis plants with an estimated value of €160,000.

Following a public outcry over a lack of urgency in tackling lead pollution of the water supply to 750 homes in two estates in Limerick, Irish Water has said it is bringing forward the €6m remedial work originally scheduled for completion in 2016.

Winnie O’Donoghue has begun a daily chore which will burden her for the next 18 months or more.

Irish Water yesterday was accused of failing to deal with the issue of water contamination from lead pipes throughout the country, as a second housing estate in Limerick had its supply blacklisted on health grounds.

Public water taps have been installed in a Limerick housing estate where the supply has been contaminated by lead piping.

Irish Water are to be formally requested to attend a meeting of Limerick City Council to hear concerns over harmful elevated chemicals levels in the supply and about the strength of the network.

More than €367,000 hasalready been paid out for flood relief claims, but the Department of Social Protection said more claims are likely.

St Mary’s Park showed true grit in the aftermath of the flooding, says Mid-West Correspondent Jimmy Woulfe.

A man found digging up a huge stash of drugs money in a field in Co Limerick was released without charge yesterday. A file is being prepared for the DPP.

A rampaging gang stormed through a Limerick housing estate early yesterday riding bareback on stray horses.

A judge yesterday admonished a young Limerick drug abuser, telling him he did not give “a toss” what he put into his arms, up his nose or into his bottom.

An 18-month-old girl died when she choked to death on a popcorn kernel she found at her creche, an inquest heard yesterday.

THE population of the four estates in the Limerick regeneration programme has fallen from 12,000 five years ago to 8,000, according to the head of the regeneration agency.

A BABY who died after taking ill at a Limerick city creche may have choked on a piece of food.

MEMBERS of a specialist garda unit opened fire on a crazed drug addict in Limerick yesterday after he stole a car with a two-year-old child strapped into a baby seat.

INSPIRATIONAL, brave, committed, skilful … all these adjectives and many more apply in spades to a magnificent Munster machine that completely outgunned the Australian tourists in appalling conditions at Thomond Park last night.

GARDAÍ are continuing to question six people in connection with the murder of Lee Slattery last May.

Eight people were arrested today over the murder of a man because of a suspected drug debt.

A man and a woman being questioned in Limerick as part of the investigation into the murder of Lee Slattery have been released without charge.

Three men and two women were being questioned today by detectives probing the murder of a young father dumped in a shallow grave.

A handgun and 15 rounds of ammunition have been found in Limerick.

A PRIEST has appealed for an end to the violence in Limerick as its latest victim was laid to rest yesterday.

It has emerged that a man whose body was found in a shallow grave in Limerick yesterday had been shot.

A MURDER investigation was launched in Limerick last night after gardaí found the body of man reported missing in the city last Thursday.

Gardaí in Limerick have launched an investigation after a man was shot in the city last night.

WITH temperatures plummeting to -5C last night motorists were today being advised to exercise extreme care while driving and not to make any non-essential trips.

Bus Éireann has this afternoon announced changes to some of its services as a result of "adverse weather and road conditions".

SIX people were in custody in Limerick last night after garda raids in the city and county in which a huge quantity of cocaine and guns were seized.

LIMERICK lingo is a rule onto its own.

LIMERICK gardaí were last night on full alert in Moyross as the body of stab victim Darren Bennett was brought to the local Corpus Christi parish church.

THE alliance between the McCarthy and Dundon families goes back to the early 1970s, when one of the McCarthy family from Ballincurra Weston married Kenneth Dundon whose family came from Ballynanty, across the city.

A REVOLVER and more than 200 bullets were found during house searches in Ballynanty on the north side of Limerick city yesterday.

THE huge stands at the revamped Thomond Park rugby ground in Limerick are cutting out light to nearby houses.

A plan being put forward by the Limerick City Council Housing Committee to re-locate troublesome families in special clusters of ten to 20 houses has been described as creating 'a ghetto mentality' by a spokesman for Republican Sinn Féin.

LIFE is taking an agonising toll on the life of a Limerick woman whose two children were badly burned in a petrol bomb attack.

Gardaí in Limerick are continuing to question a man in connection with the discovery of €60,000 worth of drugs and a number of firearms in the city on Friday.

A man remains in custody in Limerick following the discovery of drugs and firearms in the city on Friday.

THE greatest testimony to the character and fortitude of the man is that Mick O’Driscoll this evening makes his 40th Heineken Cup appearance for Munster in the most competitive area of the team.

A COMMUNITY whose homes have been bulldozed to make way for the new Thomond Park, gathered yesterday for the first time since moving out for another sad farewell.

A NEW Limerick library which opens today has created a novel way to attract young people.

A LIMERICK teenager was still recovering at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital last night after suffering two bullet wounds to the leg on Monday night.

A 19-year-old man has suffered a leg injury in a shooting incident in Limerick City.

THOMOND PARK is to remain the headquarters of Munster rugby.