A small town on the River Brosna in County Offaly with a population of over 3,000 people has earned its place on the map this evening following champion golfer Shane Lowry's homecoming party.

The family of a man who went missing after a night out more than 14 years ago have given a cautious welcome to the announcement that an independent inquiry is to be set up into allegations of garda misconduct in the investigation of his death.

Each evening, two avian armies descend on the village of Kilbeggan to confront each other, writes Richard Collins 

A review of more than 200 complaints about garda misconduct and malpractice has been described as "inadequate" after it emerged that those who made the complaints will not be interviewed.