THE role that shows play in rural life has been praised by Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith, when he officially launched the Irish Shows Association 2009 Year Book in Roscommon town.

IMAGINE you were at home or at work on an ordinary sort of spring day and you were called to your daughter’s school to bring her home.

EMER McGRATH was jumping for joy yesterday after being hailed as the country’s top student with eight A1s and one A2 — but for thousands of teenagers the future was not so bright.