The Offaly county councillor topped the poll in the Birr constituency in the recent local elections.

A farmer who started the campaign to have farmers compensated for loss of income due to a ban on agricultural activity in hen harrier conservation areas has declared his interest in running as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the next European Parliament elections.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has finally won a by-election at the seventh time of asking in a badly needed victory that has relieved pressure on his leadership position.