This constituency could be best described as hodgepodge, taking in four counties and two provinces.

Communications Minister Alex White has rejected criticisms of forthcoming legislation aimed at regulating the privacy impact of the country’s new postcode, Eircode, amid claims it will cause a “mushrooming” of unwanted mail delivered to homes.

A Sinn Féin TD has announced he will not be contesting the next general election.

Hoping to surprise your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Pól Ó Conghaile suggests a raft of romantic breaks at home and abroad.

The Taoiseach said he was "naturally, personally disappointed" by the defeat of the referendum to abolish the Seanad, as attention now turns to the need for political reform.

The No side has remained ahead throughout the afternoon in the referendum to abolish the Seanad - but with a very tight margin.

Two firms seeking to begin fracking in Ireland to release natural gas trapped in shale have confirmed initial positive results.

The first national meeting of anti-fracking activists will take place this weekend, in the wake of a prediction by an Australian exploration firm that there is 40 years’ worth of gas in the North-West.

A Canadian energy company has said it has made a gas discovery in the West of Ireland capable of meeting the country’s energy needs for the next 40 years.

SINN Féin has long threatened. This time it delivered.

Roscommon/North Leitrim's new TD, Independent candidate Luke 'Ming' Flanagan, has made an unusual demand for a politician - he wants his pay halved.

SLIGO-NORTH LEITRIM - FIRST COUNT

“Ahhhh, sure the dogs on the street know that the fella who smelt it, dealt it.”

One hundred new jobs have been announced for Sligo and north Leitrim.

I READ with considerable interest Matt Cooper’s column (May 14) concerning the state we find ourselves in (pun intended) and how we may one day extricate ourselves from it.

THE euphemistic “snipping” proposed by the Government’s special group to curb public spending could more aptly be described as ripping the heart out of rural Ireland.

GREEN Party leader and Environment Minister John Gormley could trigger resignations within Fianna Fáil if he implements a report on constituency changes unaltered.

A priest at the centre of a sexual abuse allegation has agreed to stand aside from his duties, it was revealed tonight.

Political parties will allow no let-up in canvassing today as they enter the final weekend of the general election campaign.

Election rivals Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny hit the campaign trail today, expecting their TV debate performances to boost voter support.

SINN FÉIN is set to pull off a major surprise in the new three-seat Sligo-North Leitrim constituency, the latest Red C opinion poll has revealed.

Tánaiste Mary Harney couldn’t represent the Government in the Dáil this morning because of a traffic jam outside Dublin, it emerged today.

THE ongoing school bus row hit up to two dozen schools in Sligo and north Leitrim yesterday.

Politicians and residents in Co Leitrim have formed an action group to oppose plans to divide the county in two for future elections.

Tim Collins, joint chief executive of new radio station Ocean FM, talks to David Clerkin.

Ireland's newest local radio station, Ocean FM, has gone on air today.

The north west will get a new commercial radio station this morning with the launch of Ocean FM.

The Sligo local radio station North West Radio has announced plans to mount a Supreme Court appeal in an effort to prevent the loss of its broadcasting licence.

North West Radio, which is the licensed local broadcaster in the Sligo/South Donegal/North Leitrim region, has described today’s High Court decision not the reverse the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland’s decision to withdraw its broadcasting licence as "devastating".

Chief executive of North West Radio, Paul Claffey, has said that Minister for Communications Dermot Ahern's expressed concern about the "transparency" and "fairness" of the current local radio licensing system, as operated by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, is welcome but does not go far enough.

The Constituency Commission believes that the number of Dáil constituencies should be increased.

Around 25% of voters are believed to have cast their votes in the general election so far.

Average voter turnout Cork's five constituencies is between 12% and 15% just after the lunchtime rush.