Continued infighting within Irish football appears inevitable after the FAI narrowly succeeded yesterday in having their first-ever rule on restricting the movement of players passed at an emergency general meeting in Dublin.

More than 180 horticulture leaders were represented at the Bord Bia National Amenity Horticultural Awards in Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry, Dublin.

SUCCESSFUL Irish food companies will share their expertise with a new generation of entrepreneurs in a mentoring initiative unveiled yesterday.

IRISH boxing is looking likely to have at least one other man between the ropes at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

DEIRDRE RYAN (Dundrum South Dublin) was named Athlete of the Year at the National Athletics Awards in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry on Saturday night.

The businessman Hugh Morgan has admitted in a statement that he gave presidential candidate Sean Gallagher a €5,000 cheque for Fianna Fáil in June 2008, a few days before a party fundraiser.

Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald has said that "no amount of bluster" by Seán Gallagher will hide the reality that he received a cheque for €5,000 in connection with a Fianna Fáil fundraiser.

Fianna Fáil has said this afternoon that it received a cheque for €5,000 from Mr Hugh Morgan of Morgan Fuels Ireland Ltd.

IN a remarkable coincidence, the County Dublin village of Swords netted the young Driver of the Year awards for rallying and racing as Motorsport Ireland honoured its top achievers yesterday.

GALWAY farmers Noel and Bernadette O’Toole have won the overall prize at the inaugural Irish Dairy Board (IDB) Dairy Farmer of the Year awards.

A Ballymun man who bit the tip off a work colleague’s nose in an unprovoked assault at a Christmas party has had his sentenced adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

A 21-year old woman from Co Meath has been crowned the new Miss Ireland.

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) today announced that it will be targeting the €115bn global medical devices industry in a bid to increase foreign direct investment into Ireland.

A TAXI driver whose quick thinking saved the life of a passenger was last night crowned driver of the year.

The inaugural National Athletics Awards 2007 were launched today by Athletics Ireland.

The Heineken Cup semi-final draw will take place next Monday, January 27 at 11am in the Guggenheim Room of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Heathrow.