The public spending watchdog has criticised the outlay on a €21m greyhound stadium in Limerick, which has significantly increased the debt owed by the state body that oversees greyhound racing.

The State body responsible for the greyhound industry doubled its debt while developing a €21m stadium in Limerick, a project described by the public spending watchdog as, "at best, a marginal commercial proposition".

By David Raleigh

THIS is the time of year when pike spawn. They usually travel considerable distances to do so, moving into very shallow water. The males and females travel separately, as the females are much larger and have cannibalistic tendencies.

Junior Minister Brian Hayes said at the Cobh and Harbour Chamber flood-risk management conference (Irish Examiner, February 7) “that, at times, there can be frustration locally at the length of time it takes to implement these large-scale schemes. However, in order to arrive at the solution that is the most appropriate and cost-effective in a particular location, it is necessary to undertake detailed technical analysis”.

Clare 1-14 Limerick 0-11

Agriculture ministers and department officials held more than a dozen unrecorded meetings with the chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board over the course of 17 months when controversies around its operation began to emerge.

A teenager made a desperate attempt to save his school friend from drowning, an inquest has been told.

Explosive materials, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a gun, have been discovered in woods outside Limerick City, it has emerged.

A priest whose parish straddles the Clare/Limerick border admitted yesterday he will be “storming the heavens” at Sunday Mass tomorrow for the Limerick hurlers, even though most of his flock will be cheering on the Banner in Croke Park when the counties clash in the All Ireland senior hurling semi-final. The winners will face Cork.

As someone born and reared close to the border — just off the main road to Ennis on the banks of the Shannon in Cratloe — I grew up with first-hand experience of the Clare and Limerick rivalry.

Safety organisations have warned the public to be extremely careful of water after the sixth drowning in a week.

The loss of almost €1m by a Bord na gCon-owned Limerick greyhound racing company on the sale of its former stadium last year resulted in losses more than doubling at the firm.

The last of the round-robin games in Corn Uí Mhuirí (Munster Colleges SFC) take place today with the four quarter-final places up for grabs.

A disabled chef has been forced to live in appalling conditions in a mobile home for over four years due to a lack of funding for social housing maintenance and repairs.

The Dáil’s spending watchdog has initiated inquiries into a €5m overspend by the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) on its new flagship stadium in Limerick.

THE Irish Greyhound Board more than doubled its debt burden to replace one of its worst-performing dog tracks.

THE chief executive of the Irish Greyhound Board has assured taxpayers his organisation got value for money from building a stadium and headquarters at Greenpark in Limerick.

Conor Power finds craic and calm in equal measure on an Irish riverboat cruise

A DECLINE in revenues at the companies operating Bord na gCon greyhound stadiums in Cork and Limerick last year resulted in both companies recording losses.

COMMENTS by several councillors at a recent ‘emergency’ meeting on Shannon airport revealed their lack of understanding and competence.

A LIMERICK mother has been dubbed “miracle mum” by the US media after emerging from a five-month long coma after a horrific car crash.

LEGISLATION should be introduced to allow firefighters to specifically investigate suspicious blazes for any signs of insurance-related arson.

The body of a young woman has been recovered from the River Shannon on the outskirts of Limerick city.

A LIMERICK woman who emigrated to the US 13 years ago is in a coma and fighting for her life after a car crash in Kansas.

SPARE a thought for Ger O’Loughlin who makes his debut as Clare hurling manager against WIT in Meelick tomorrow.

Brian O'Connell has retained the captaincy of the Clare senior hurlers for 2010 ahead of the Banner County's opening games of the new year against Waterford IT at Meelick this Sunday.

PATRICK CRONIN is set to miss Cork’s entire National Hurling League campaign after suffering a serious knee injury. Cronin will be out of action for a minimum period of three months but it is hoped he may be able to make a return before Cork’s Munster SHC opener against Tipperary in Páirc Ui Chaoimh on May 31.

MICHAEL CUSSEN has quit Cork’s senior football squad to concentrate on making the Rebels’ hurling panel in 2010.

IT was the turn of Kildare and Dublin to deal with the deluge yesterday as flood warnings were issued in both counties.

Gardaí in Co Clare have arrested a man in his 20s in connection with the fatal shooting of Roy Collins in Limerick earlier this year.

LIMERICK gardaí were last night on full alert in Moyross as the body of stab victim Darren Bennett was brought to the local Corpus Christi parish church.

Clare 2-12 Waterford IT 1-12, Meelick

Clare 2-18 IT Tralee 2-13, Meelick

LIMERICK’S skateboard enthusiasts did twirls of delight yesterday in a new €300,000 skate park, which was opened by mayor John Gilligan.

A woman in her 70s has died following a house fire in the Meelick area of Co Clare this morning.

NO FORMAL business appraisal was carried out by Bord na gCon on a proposed €20 million greyhound stadium on the outskirts of Limerick, after it bought land for €1.39m, confidential documentsreveal.

ONE of the most ferocious civil war battles in Limerick is recalled in a new book.

CHANGES in the Garda management of outlying areas of Limerick city will pose a threat to a number of neighbourhoods located across the Clare boundary, it was claimed yesterday.

Waterford IT 0-7 Limerick IT 1-9

The Cork GAA Co Board has decided to grant LIT a walkover in tomorrow night's Waterford Crystal Cup fixture.

The Clare senior hurling manager has played down claims that Davy Fitzgerald's inter-county career is over.

The 2008 Waterford Crystal Cup gets underway in earnest over the next two Sundays but the opening game of tournament took place last night at Carrick Beg where Waterford grabbed a morale-boosting win.