Mark Kennedy sealed Presentation College Athenry’s spot in this year’s All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Hurling final with a four-point comeback win against Kilkenny CBS.

A 70-year-old pedestrian has been pronounced dead following a collision with an articulated lorry this morning.

Highfield’s David Kelly has joined a select All-Ireland League club, whose members are as rare as they are durable.

VISIONS. The modern ones relating to rural Ireland started with Éamon de Valera, when in 1943 in a St Patrick’s day radio address he asserted in what is known as the ‘comely maidens speech’ (wildly missquoted).

Ulster Bank is facing the loss of thousands of accounts in the Midlands alone as a result of its decision to axe 14 Irish branches.

Thirty-seven jobs are to at risk with the closure of a number of Ulster Bank branches.

Two separate investigations are under way following the death of a five-year-old boy on farmland in the midlands yesterday.

A five-year-old boy has died in an accident at a farm in Co Offaly.

Gardaí are investigating after a woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash in County Offaly yesterday afternoon.

A woman in her 40s has died after she lost control of her car and it left the road in Offaly.

A woman has died in a car accident in Co Offaly.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a garda who required stitches following a search in Co Offaly last month.

Gardaí at Ferbane are investigating a single-vehicle fatal collision.

Gardaí are today asking for the public's help in finding a missing teenager.

Reigning kingpins Edenderry crashed out of the Offaly senior football championship on Saturday at O’Connor Park, Tullamore as Ross Brady’s brilliant 55th minute goal helped Clara secure a semi-final victory.

Gardaí are renewing an appeal for information about a missing 53-year-old man from Galway who disappeared 10 days ago.

A MAN has pleaded guilty to the attempted abduction of an Offaly teenaged girl as she cycled to her friend’s house on a summer’s evening earlier this year.

A man has appeared in court this evening charged with the attempted false imprisonment of a young girl in Co Offaly.

A man has been charged today in connection with the attempted abduction of a girl in her early teens at Moyclare, Ferbane, Co Offaly on July 19.

Gardaí are still questioning a man in connection with an attempted abduction in Co Offaly last week.

A 42- YEAR-OLD man has been arrested by gardaí investigating the attempted abduction of a teenage girl a week ago.

A man has today been arrested by gardaí investigating the attempted abduction of a teenage girl.

NINE security providers were prosecuted in the first half of 2011, imposing fines and costs of over €70,000.

GARDAÍ are closing in on a man who attempted to abduct a 13-year-old girl as she cycled near her home in rural Co Offaly.

Gardaí are today investigating an attempted abduction in Ferbane, Co Offaly.

Smoke continues to billow from smouldering bogs and forests across the midlands this afternoon.

The outbreak of wildfires raging across Ireland because of the lengthy dry spell is unprecedented, according to fire chiefs.

THE All-Ireland Vocational SAFC trophy arrived in the West Offaly town of Ferbane for the first time on Saturday evening after a powerful late burst saw Gallen CS dethrone champions Clonakilty CC in Croke Park.

THE law in some American states which prohibits any vehicle from passing a school bus when children are stepping on or off should be considered in Ireland, a High Court judge suggested yesterday.

A severely under strength Wexford side fell at the first hurdle in this season's O'Byrne Cup as a determined DIT outfit, who have one eye on the Sigerson Cup, handed them a heavy beating.

This weekend's entire first round of Dr. McKenna Cup fixtures will not take place due to frozen pitches, while there are some other changes to GAA fixtures today.

FERBANE is a cute, south-facing two-bed on the Ballinlough Road, Cork city which has a side access onto the Bellair estate.

A secondary school teacher has claimed before the High Court that she was bullied and sexually harassed by a male colleague.

Loreto Grammar School, Omagh (Tyrone) 2-10 Coláiste na Sceilge, Caherciveen (Kerry) 3-5

THE Shane Lowry fairytale sucked in a sidekick yesterday with confirmation that his caddie of over two years will make the transition from the amateur to professional game with the new Irish Open champion.

PLANS to get better value on school buildings have been welcomed by teachers but they warned against the burden for improvements being placed on schools and staff.

Brian Cowen is set to resume his home-coming tour of Co Offaly later.

Crowds gathered across Co Offaly today to give Taoiseach Brian Cowen a generous welcome home to the midlands on his first homeward trip since taking office last Wednesday.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will today make a triumphant return to his heartland for the first time as leader of the country.

An investigation is underway in Offaly after the discovery of a body.

A new warning light system, installed on 40 school buses will begin operating in three areas of the country from today.

Connacht 22 Newport Gwent Dragons 7