The Canadian electronics firm Celestica has announced plans to shed 80 jobs at its plant in Galway within the coming weeks.

SIPTU is meeting workers from Glanbia's Edenderry plant this morning to discuss the immediate future of their jobs.

A man was being questioned by police in the North today following the seizure of a large quantity of drugs and several guns.

Sinn Féin has blamed loyalist paramilitaries for two overnight attacks in Craigavon, Co Derry, and Maghera, also in Co Derry.

A family escaped unharmed after shots were fired at their house in Northern Ireland, police said today.

Five new childcare facilities costing €7m and catering for over 450 children, are being provided on selected IDA business parks around the country.

THE Government yesterday approved 71 grants making a further €4.3 million available for a mix of community-based and private childcare facilities.

Tánaiste Mary Harney has announced that five new high childcare facilities, which will cater for over 450 children, are to be provided on selected IDA Business Parks around the country.

Feared renegade loyalist boss Billy Wright threatened to kidnap and kill three priests if Orangemen were not allowed to march on the flashpoint Garvaghy Road at the height of the 1996 Drumcree stand-off, a court heard today.

Galway has been handed a jobs boost with the announcement 400 jobs will be created there over the next five years.