The Chairman of the advisory board on commemorations, Maurice Manning, has suggested that the 2022 commemorations for the Civil war will be “a huge test of our national maturity”.

A child alleged to have permanent scarring on her back resulting from a chemical burn suffered after birth when she reacted adversely to a skin cleansing solution administered during a clinical trial has settled her High Court action for €100,000.

A 23-year-old student who has been left brain damaged and blind in one eye after a tree fell on his car settled his High Court action for a total of €3.1m yesterday.

Joe McNamee basks in the comforts of Ireland’s only organic hotel, the Brooklodge Hotel & Wells Spa, in Macreddin Village.

A kind-hearted businessman has offered to put up a German couple at his B&B for free as they recover from Monday’s violent carjacking in Wicklow.

A German tourist has been injured in a car jacking incident in Co Wicklow.

The Strawberry Tree, Brooklodge Hotel & Macreddin Village, Aughrim, Co Wicklow; 0402 36444; brooklodge.com

Global pharmaceutical firm MSD’s announcement that it is to close its Swords plant with the potential loss of 570 jobs comes less than nine months after it confirmed 280 people were to be let go with the closure of its Wicklow facility.

Some 570 jobs at a pharmaceutical giant are being axed and scores of others are under threat at a major fashion retailer.

Bates, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow; 0404 29988 , batesrestaurant.ie

Three protestors in Wicklow are waking up after an uncomfortable night spent in a local authority office.

Two women are conducting a sit-in at a town council offices over claims that the local authority has not done enough to get them and their children proper housing, even though it has a number of vacant properties on its books.

Transition year students are the focus of the ‘Future is Food’ drive to promote Irish artisan foods, launched by the Taste Council of Ireland and Bord Bia.

Wicklow suffered a double jobs blow yesterday with confirmation that MSD is to close its plant with the loss of 280 jobs, and news that at least 58 staff are to be made redundant at a disability support service.

Fianna Fáíl spokesman for jobs, Dara Calleary, has called on Minister Richard Bruton to make an 'urgent response' following the loss of 280 jobs at MSD's plant in Wicklow.

Two hundred and eighty jobs are being cut at a pharmaceutical company in Co Wicklow.

A man has been arrested in connection with the investigation into the discovery of a body in Co Wicklow yesterday.

Gardaí have notified the family of missing Bray man Phillip O'Toole, following the discovery of remains in a wood in Wicklow.

A body has been found in woodland in Co Wicklow today.

Some €115m will be invested in up to 20 new primary care centres.

The Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, has announced that his department plans to recruit more than 270 new staff to work in Primary Care.

PLUMBER.

Irish Rail has is to increase its car-parking charges at train stations across the country, it was announced today.

A FORMER solicitor has been charged with eight offences under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act totalling almost €1 million.

Wicklow-based company Merck Sharp & Dohme has announced they may cut 40 positions between now and December 2012.

THE Archbishop of Dublin has secured summary judgment for €1.5 million against a Dublin solicitor who admitted misappropriation of the amount after it was bequeathed to the church for charitable purposes.

Wicklow and Trinity College were victorious in Leinster hurling competitions earlier today.

High-scoring encounters were the order of the day across the Kehoe Cup and Shield competitions, with Wicklow, DCU, Meath, GMIT, Louth and Trinity College all registering wins.

Most transport services are running normally this morning, despite another night of sub-zero conditions.

Dublin Airport Authority says the airport is fully operational this morning, despite another night of freezing conditions.

Treacherous road conditions are being reported right around the country again this morning following a night of sub-zero conditions.

Field technicians in Wexford, Carlow and Wicklow are almost completely grounded today due to road conditions, eircom said today.

People must help each other through the big freeze as temperatures are set to plunge even further, it was warned today.

ANGLERS are being asked to take part in a project which aims to piece together the life story of the fascinating sea trout, a fish about which not that much is known.

THE Enterprise Minister must establish a taskforce in his constituency after a pharmaceutical giant yesterday announced plans to shed 160 jobs over three years.

An investigation is underway into an armed robbery at the Bank of Ireland in Rathdrum in Wicklow.

AA Roadwatch is warning that black ice is a big problem around the country this morning, with slippery conditions reported on several routes nationwide.

Motorists are being advised to drive with care this afternoon following heavy rain in many areas.

Met Éireann is warning of large snow falls across the east of the country this afternoon, severely disrupting transport, as the sub-zero conditions show no sign of abating.

WICKLOW GAA last night turned the sod on a 57-acre site that will become the county’s centre of excellence.

Some 240 jobs were tonight axed at a pharmaceutical plant as fears grew over the future of a bathroom products maker.