AMID the feelings of warmth and generosity and the frenzy that is so much a feature of Christmas, we should spare a thought for the animals and birds sacrificed in astronomical numbers for our festive pleasure.

THE small Roscommon village of Keadue has been named as the 2003 winner of the annual Tidy Towns competition.

The Co Roscommon village of Keadue has won this year’s Tidy Towns competition.

WHAT a beautiful time of year. Such idyllic scenes of pastoral tranquillity in the countryside, as cows and sheep lazily graze the lush meadows.

Gardai have named the two people who died in an overnight car accident in Co Leitrim.