I AM researching a project about Irish freshwater fish species. The other day I set off in search of dace. The dace has an interesting story in this country which is quoted in all the scientific papers and popular articles about them.

“Cockle Beach” is the kind of name to conjure up images of large groups of women in shawls and hardy men in peaked caps, heavy linen shirts and dark waistcoats gathering shellfish along the seashore on a neap tide.

The effects of Storm Frank are still being felt following the latest severe weather event to lash the country.

Crystal Palace 0 Swansea City 0: Patrick Bamford is understood to have opted to end his loan stint at Crystal Palace and return to Chelsea, after missing a gilt-edged chance to settle this stalemate.

THE history of the Norman conquest is threaded through the forthcoming New Ross Piano Festival. The Ros Tapestry shows how the Normans were invited by Dermot MacMurrough, whose daughter Aoife married Strongbow.

Actor Gabriel Byrne has added his voice to a campaign opposing the development of a hard surface on the grassy towpath along the River Barrow which has been used as an amenity for generations.

A campaign is under way in the Kilkenny area to contain an outbreak of giant hogweed — an invasive plant which can result in injuries when it comes into contact with people.

Having three fine sisters himself, The Menu is a great man to hymn the praises of supportive female siblings so reckons the alliance of ‘Three Sisters’ from the South-East, Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny.

Kilkenny hurling supremo Brian Cody is not in the habit of co-operating with the likes of Waterford and Wexford, but has made an exception to join in the south-east region’s bid to become European Capital of Culture.

On the 200th anniversary of The Battle of Waterloo, Carlow’s close connections to the victorious Duke of Wellington are of note. 

A row over the removal of thousands of tonnes of sand from one of the south-west’s most popular beaches has led to calls for a prohibition on its removal from the area.

A new book offer unrivalled insight into life in the 9th century. Clodagh Finn turns the clock back.

Met Éireann has warned of a major flooding risk both from expected stormy weather from Wednesday onwards and from heavy rainfall which will swell rivers already near capacity.

There's no end in sight to the wet weather.

The National Emergency Coordination Centre is warning of a further risk of flooding this weekend.

Communities living next to rivers are on high alert amid warnings that the country’s major waterways could burst their banks today or over the weekend with the forecast of heavy rain.

The National Coordination group said the risk of tidal flooding will recede in coming days.

Fáilte Ireland claims Eirgrid’s controversial plans to upgrade the electricity network between Munster and Leinster have ignored internationally-used guidelines for the selection of routes of high voltage power lines.

THE fact that our lakes and rivers still contain many biological surprises was emphasised recently when it was announced that freshwater jellyfish had been discovered in Lough Derg and Lough Erne.

FOR most people, the Liffey is Dublin’s river.

Technology specialists behind the London 2012 Olympic Torch have arrived in New Ross to work on the newly built Emigrant Flame, which will be lit by members of the Kennedy family and the Taoiseach this summer.

GRAIGUENAMANAGH TO ST MULLINS WALK

SATURDAY

CYCLE the Canal du Midi in the south of France for a wonderful, relaxing holiday.

It was, in the words of a local sage, a day borrowed from the weather gods at the Old Head of Kinsale. The water sparkled, the sky stayed blue and the breeze was testing enough to brook no debate about who was boss.

While there is a certain monastic simplicity and serenity to Peter Cody’s award-winning home located on the cusp of the town, its architectural cues are most definitely in the present.

RESCUING the economy is going to take much more than government action.

THE invasive Asian clam has just been discovered in Lough Derg where it is likely to have serious impact on the biology of the lake, an expert has warned.

The planned merger of the high street travel businesses of Thomas Cook and the Co-op has been referred to the UK's Office of Fair Trading for investigation, it emerged today.

THE 18th century house Fairymount, in Co Waterford’s Cheekpoint had not so much a starring role as a supporting one in the 1995 TV mini-series, Jake’s Progress.

The proposed merger of the high street travel businesses of Thomas Cook and the Co-op was dealt a blow today after the Office of Fair Trading said the move significantly threatened competition.

ONE of the world’s most dangerous invasive species is threatening to devastate top salmon rivers, experts have warned.

SO much of the landscape we imagine as natural is manmade. There’s hardly a corner or vista in Ireland — much less Europe — that does not in some way reveal man’s presence or ambitions.

One of the world’s most dangerous invasive species is threatening to devastate top salmon rivers, experts warned today.

IT was the turn of Kildare and Dublin to deal with the deluge yesterday as flood warnings were issued in both counties.

A FEW days ago I was conducting river walks along the banks of the Barrow as part of the Carlow Floral Festival.

THERE are arguments, sometimes heated arguments, over the claim to be the second-largest river in Ireland.

ON APRIL 23 Fisheries Officers on a routine patrol of Lough Derg on the Shannon came across a party of French anglers fishing for pike from boats.

THERE may be little enough we, as a small island of less than five million people bobbing away like so much flotsam between continental Europe and the Atlantic’s western fringes, can do to influence climate change, but we can prepare for the consequences projected by so many reputable scientists.