Clemens Fankhauser became just the seventh rider in Rás history to win the race more than once yesterday, the Austria Tirol man riding into sun-baked Skerries adorned in the yellow jersey he claimed last Tuesday in Dingle.

An Post Chain Reaction took their first win of the Rás so far this week with a trademark sprint from Aaron Gate as Clemens Fankheuser retained the yellow jersey by the skin of his teeth once again.

Of all the fine foodstuffs produced on this green isle, The Menu finds it hard to look past our splendid farmhouse cheeses and so was delighted to see the Irish Cheese Awards finally afforded an occasion worthy of acknowledging that particular sector’s contribution to Irish food at a most splendid night at Ballymaloe. 

She misses him and “everything about him” every day. But Donal Walsh is still inspiring people, his mother Elma tells Clodagh Finn.

Reports are coming in that a light aircraft has crashed on Mount Leinster.

A car used during a cash-in-transit van robbery has been found burnt-out in County Carlow.

EUROPE has only four big meat-eating mammals. 

THE howling of wolves has been heard in Denmark. The species became extinct there in 1813 but, two centuries later, footprints have been found in Jutland. According to the Timber Wolf Information Network, at least four individuals visited the country recently.

She’s a bit of a pig and he’s a real boar but, together, they’re as happy as pigs in … love.

Step House Hotel, Co Carlow

She’s a bit of a pig and her place is a sty — but she’s a one-in-a-million with hair to die for and she’s looking for love.

Almost all Coalition TDs living in constituencies along Eirgrid’s proposed GridLink in the South and East of the country want a cost-benefit analysis done on running parts or all of the extension underground.

Darren Stamp insists Oulart-the-Ballagh only have themselves to blame for their latest Leinster senior club hurling final collapse.

GLENBARROW LOOP ON THE SLIEVE BLOOM WAY, CO LAOIS

Nine piglets are looking for good homes after being found abandoned in Co. Wexford.

THREE-TOES, one of South Dakota’s most notorious outlaws, was easily tracked; having lost toes to a metal trap his footprint was recognisable.

Wolves in Ireland, A natural and cultural history

SOCIAL networking and the Stations of the Cross hardly seem natural companions, but one young priest is combining the two tomorrow in a bid to reach out to the tweeting generation.

A Co Wexford woman has given birth to three little boys after being rescued from her snowbound rural home in Co Wexford after going into labour two weeks early.

OF all the large animals that have become extinct in Ireland the most fascinating is the wolf.

A man has been airlifted to hospital in Waterford after he was injured in a hang-gliding crash in County Carlow.

ERA Donohoe Properties had a great auction last week at the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny.

I TOOK my grandchildren to see Fantastic Mr Fox, the film based on a Roald Dahl story.

LONG-HAUL operator Tropical Sky could have picked anywhere to feature in their latest holiday promotion, but chose the tiny unspoilt island of Grenada to offer chill-out breaks to Irish clients.

The Real IRA tried to invent a new explosive device using propane gas and petrol and tested it at a remote area on Mount Leinster in Co Carlow, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

The Real IRA tested an explosive device at Mount Leinster in Co Carlow for use in extorting money from drug dealers, the Special Criminal Court was told today.

Some of the worst forest and bog fires for years have been brought under control, the Fire Service said today.

Gardaí believe they have may foiled a Real IRA bomb plot aimed at disrupting the deadline set in the Northern political process, it emerged today.

A councillor vowed not to be intimidated today after a gas cylinder was set alight in a burning pyre of tyres outside her Co Carlow home.

OAKWOOD HOUSE looks as if it has withstood, insurrection, confiscation and famine. But, incredibly, it’s only two years old, and it’s been entirely designed and built by a woman - with direct labour.

OAKWOOD HOUSE looks as if it has withstood, insurrection, confiscation and famine. But, incredibly, it’s only two years old, and it’s been entirely designed and built by a woman - with direct labour.

CHRISTY MOORE’S song Lisdoonvarna has a line “climb a mountain, jump in a lake” - and this house near Boris in Carlow has the same range of outdoor activities on its doorstep.

A POPULAR tourist trail used by hill walkers and wind gliders is being destroyed by youths racing cars, particularly at weekends, say residents.

DAVID McCANN finally earned himself a place among Irish cycling's legends by claiming victory in this year's FBD Milk Ras, fulfilling an ambition he harboured since he was runner-up to Tommy Evans eight years ago.

Double Olympian David McCann all but sealed victory in the 2004 FBD Milk Rás this afternoon as the Belfast amateur’s solo breakaway at 107km saw him claim the seventh and penultimate stage, 149km from Carrick-on-Suir to Tullow.

A HANG GLIDER died after attempting to perform a manoeuvre that neither he nor his equipment were qualified to perform, according to an official report into the accident.

TEAM Bianchi Nordid, one of the most powerful cycling teams in Scandinavia, will contest next month’s FBD Milk Rás.

ALL done up to best conservation practice is Killarney Farmhouse - a confusing name for a Co Kilkenny located home.

The scare over Foot and Mouth Disease is spreading to continental Europe. A suspected case has been found on a pig farm in Belgium and in France a farm near Lyon is under quarantine.

There has been another foot and mouth scare here in the past couple of hours.