Two Cork teenagers yesterday celebrated their work and friendship which earned one a gold medal as being among the country’s top young volunteers.

THE future of the Church, its power, and its position in Irish society have been glimpsed over the last three weeks in a spat about education. The location was the northside of Cork City, but unfolding events spoke volumes of how the Catholic Church at large intends to shape a future to serve its needs and retain as much power as possible.

The trustees of Cork’s northside primary schools have been urged to consult properly before making any new proposals to deal with enrolment issues in the area.

Parents fighting to prevent the closure of a historic Cork school are taking their campaign on to the streets.

A Cork city centre gaelcholáiste is offering more first-year places next autumn, which could ease difficulties for some families disappointed by a one-third cut in intake at a northside all-Irish college.

The manager of a secondary school criticised for reducing intake from three classes to two is unable to say when a ruling will be made on whether to apply for extra buildings to cater for demand.

Parents have protested over a second-level school’s controversial enrolment policy which could see dozens of children left without a school place next year.

The spirit of John Lennon was alive and well on Cork City’s northside yesterday when a mobile sound studio was laid on for some talented local musicians.

The retirement of Ronan O’Gara ends a career that long ago edged from impressive to incredible.

VINTAGE clothing has come of age. Something, perhaps, to do with the fact that all previously-loved clothes have a back story.

Three families, nine children and just one day missed at school between them across more than a century worth of classes — and counting.

AT a meeting of the Northside Principals’ Group meeting in Scoil Iosagáin, Farranree recently, 22 principals in Cork city met to discuss the proposed cuts to DEIS schools.

THE progress that boys have made in reading and maths will be eroded overnight by budget cuts to a school serving one of Cork’s most disadvantaged communities, its principal has warned.

THE ISPCA has appealed for help following a barbaric attack in which a pony was set alight.

GAS board staff will be reading more than meters over the next six months as they devote their energy to help local children improve their literacy skills.

A MAJOR overhaul of structures for underage, minor and junior divisional competitions was the most radical element of the Cork GAA Strategic Vision and Action Plan (2010-2015), formally launched last night.

FIVE students who never missed a day of school for 14 years have been honoured for their achievement.

TWO of the country’s most successful sports coaches in different codes shared the limelight when they were honoured by a teachers’ union last night.

THE sun was shining heavily in Cork city yesterday morning but the second Leaving Certificate maths papers did not have students sweating too much.

HARROWING medical records detailing the last days of former Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney, are included in a vast collection of British government papers which will be handed over the people of Cork today.

ANNE LOUGHNANE (St. Raphael’s, Loughrea), set a new national junior and senior schools record in the 3,000m walk at the Kit Kat Irish Schools Championships at Tullamore on Saturday when the girls set three records.