Jan O’Sullivan, a Labour TD for the past 23 years and her 4,667 votes, in the end, brought Leddin into the fourth and final seat ahead of Independent Frankie Daly.

Fianna Fáil is back down to just one candidate in Limerick County after Cllr Eddie Ryan withdrew from the ticket - just twelve hours after he was added.

Signs of recovery are being felt throughout the Munster housing market — but inflation is inconsistent throughout the region, writes Kevin O'Neill

It is according to the REA Average House Price Index for Quarter One.

Decriminalising women who seek to have abortions is one of the items Health Minister Simon Harris is looking at fast-tracking into law, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

Schools in Cobh are to be asked to allow tourists to use their car parks over the summer months amid fears that the harbourside town will not be able to cater for an expected increase in visitor numbers.

The Dáil is set to gain two more TDs from the next election as Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is a major winner in the redraw of constituency boundaries announced tonight, writes Daniel McConnell.

At least one extra Dáil seat will be up for grabs in the next general election as the growth in population has pushed the number of people per TD over the 30,000 legal threshold.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has just announced a number of new junior ministers in the Dáil.

Rural representatives have warned that the rising cost of car insurance will drive more young people from rural areas.

Jimmy Woulfe canvasses with Willie O’Dea and finds knowledge of the local area is his number one asset.

Many constituencies are likely to see upheavals due to boundary changes, seat reductions and a shift in voter preferences.

One of the chief advisers for Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy, who played a key role in highlighting the sale of Siteserv to a firm linked to businessman Denis O’Brien, is set to run in the general election.

A family have been left "traumatised" after their historic family home was destroyed by fire in the heritage town of Adare today.

The happiest group of people at last night’s low-key annual delegates meeting of the Munster Branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland in Mallow were the representatives of Ballyneety Golf Club, formerly Limerick County, who were awarded the Munster Branch Club of the Year award for 2014.

Schoolboy football will have a voice at the FAI top table for the first time since 2007, after Schoolboys FAI (SFAI) chairman Tim Fitzgerald was voted onto the association’s 10-man board.

Private solicitors working for the Director of Public Prosecutions were paid almost €6.5m last year.

Kehlan, Olwen and Avine discus this weeks news including why Irish SMEs are in a better financial state than previously thought. Croom Enterprise Park talks to the show about rural start-ups and businesses. We also talk to the Irish company disrupting the €23bn global cards market and in the final part of the show Libera Terra from Sicily talk about how they are fighting the influence of the mafia by producing organic food and jobs.

The Government has announced that €15m is to be spent on local authority housing.

LIMERICK

Shades of Lazarus!

FIANNA FÁIL councillor Kevin Sheahan is not a racist — some of his best friends are foreign nationals. He’s had a few over to dinner.

Sitting TDs criticise old system that saw parts of Limerick and Kerry put together, writes David Raleigh

THE number of TDs in the next Dáil will be chopped from 166 to 158 as part of a fundamental overhaul of constituencies.

The Constituency Commission has recommended cutting the number of TDs in Leinster House by eight - from 166 to 158.

This year’s finalists for the 15th annual National Enterprise Awards have been announced.

Tony Hayes (K Club) set the pace after the opening round of the 54 holes Irish Seniors Amateur Close Championship, sponsored by Tourism Malaysia, when he shot a one under par 71 at Roscommon Golf Club.

PORTMARNOCK has been voted Ireland’s premier golf course by Irish Golf Digest magazine.

Goalkeepers are a rare breed, hurling No 1’s especially. Diarmuid O’Flynn met two legendary netminders from Cork and Tipperary ahead of tomorrow’s provincial semi final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

IT’S hard to believe that a decade has passed since the death, in a construction accident, of Limerick hurling great Tommy Quaid.

SCHOOL dropout rates are highest in rural areas, according to figures obtained by the Irish Examiner.

CORK city has the highest percentage of moneylenders per head of population.

LIMERICK Chamber of Commerce yesterday warned jobs will be lost if Limerick county and city councils don’t peg rates increases to the absolute minimum.

Despite the heavy rain, three players, Quentin Carew (Edenderry), Iarlaith Keane (Malahide) and Steffan O’Hara (Co. Sligo) share the lead on one over par 72 following the first round of the inaugural Irish Boys Under 15 Open 36 holes at Balbriggan Golf Club.

REDUCING carbon dioxide emissions and harnessing renewable energy resources was the key message at a conference in Limerick Institute of Technology, yesterday. The event was hosted by the newly established Limerick Clare Energy Agency.

USA's J Baldwin leads the Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship after three rounds.

American J Baldwin has taken over the lead at the Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship from Louth’s B Reddan.

A MAN cheated death yesterday when he jumped from the upstairs window of a house which was engulfed in flames.

LIMERICK County board chairman Denis Holmes has emphatically denied a Sunday newspaper report that former Clare hurling supremo Ger Loughnane was being lined up to take over as manager of Limerick in 2006.

The Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship at The Royal County Down Golf club.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has confirmed details of the main public transport initiatives throughout the country for European Car Free Day 2004.