A sick animal can be treated quicker in some parts of Co Cork than a sick person, according to county councillors.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has led tributes to one of his party’s most popular county councillors, Dan Joe Fitzgerald, who has died after a short illness.

Barely had the tears dried and the emotions been choked back from Wednesday’s farewell to St Andrews by Arnold Palmer when it felt like you needed to start them all over again in Thursday’s opening round of the 144th Open Championship.

The newly-elected mayor of Co Cork has declared his intention to be a candidate in the next general election, but has not decided what constituency he will contest.

Roger Federer is already looking towards Wimbledon after his hopes of winning a second French Open title were ended in straight sets to Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-finals.

Cork County Council is to tackle the growing problem of suicide, after it emerged double the number of people died by their own hand than were killed on the county’s roads.

Cork County Council is taking legal action to recoup an insurance policy to fix what has been dubbed “the worst ghost estate in Ireland”.

Join the Oireachtas and see the world… new figures show that the spend by TDs and senators on overseas travel last year increased from €218,799 to €230,313.

A new ministerial directive on housing vulnerable people has been described as “unworkable” and will put families further down local authority waiting lists.

An anti-water charge TD has pledged to break legal injunctions against demonstrations as he called for "militant" protests.

Turf cutters’ champion Michael Fitzmaurice swept to victory in Roscommon-South Leitrim, dealing a body blow to Fianna Fáil.

The surprise Socialist victory in the Dublin by-election should act as a springboard for a national boycott of water charges in the New Year, Joe Higgins has insisted.

A shooting in a pub in what is described as one of the most peaceful villages in Ireland has shocked the local community.

Bathing restrictions have been placed on three popular beaches on the rugged Beara Peninsula.

Golf fans will need to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to arrive in good time at Fota Island to watch the marquee draw in the first round of the Irish Open Championship.

Fianna Fáil's Thomas Byrne has been eliminated in the Midlands North West European election following the results of the sixth count.

Sinn Féin's Lynn Boylan has been elected in the Dublin constituency European elections after the third count.

Bruce Springsteen may have inadvertently robbed Co Clare of a future political leader.

Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards wants Waterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan and The Island’s Gavin Moynihan to be his silent assassins when they defend the trophy in New York in less than three weeks’ time.

Cork county manager Martin Riordan has asked his councillors to furnish him with proof from businesses and householders that insurance companies are refusing to quote for flood cover.

It can be hard enough to get visitors to come to Ireland these days — so sending them astray on the streets of a leading tourist town cannot help things.

A local authority which regularly takes action against owners of derelict property has been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged that a row of houses owned by it have been unoccupied for seven years.

The late former Clare mayor, Sean Hillery, was yesterday described as “a man of great stature”.

A first count has now been completed at the last constituency in the country to do so.

Sinn Féin's Dáil Leader Caoimghín O'Caoláin has been elected in the first count in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency.

Charlie Flanagan of Fine Gael is ahead of Brian Cowen's brother Barry after the first count in the Laois-Offaly constituency.

DUBLIN CENTRAL - FIRST COUNT

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and his fellow party member Michael Ring have been elected on the first count in Mayo.

Sinn Féin's Padraig MacLochlainn is top after the first count in donegal North East, but nobody has been elected yet.

Roisin Shorthall has been re-elected in Dublin North West on the first count.

Independent TD Michael Lowry has been elected in Tipperary North.

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty has been elected on the first count in Donegal South-West.

Shane Ross has been elected on the first count in Dublin South, which saw a turn-out of 71.4%.

Fine Gael's Billy Timmins, Andrew Doyle and Simon Harris are in the top three after the first count in Wicklow.

Joan Burton has been elected on the first count in Dublin West, with 9,627 votes. The quota was 8,495.

A total of 72% of votes cast in the Donegal South West by-election have now been counted, and Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty leads the count with 39.8% of votes.

US Open champion Graeme McDowell was upstaged by world number 317 John Parry, who carded a second-round 67 to take the lead at the Austrian Open in Atzenbrugg.

BOXING legend Muhammad Ali’s Ennis relatives yesterday joined with former world boxing champion Barry McGuigan to celebrate Ali’s historic visit to Ennis one year ago.

Red Bull Racing were in a league of their own as Sebastian Vettel claimed a stunning pole position for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix.

RORY MCILROY has reached a higher position on the world rankings than any other 20-year-old before him.

Sweden’s Michael Jonzon is living proof that in golf it takes just one week to make it a great year.

Sweden’s Michael Jonzon, with one European Tour win in 290 starts and fighting for his future, leads the Castello Masters in Spain with a round to play.