A middle-aged man struck a woman in an unprovoked attack and then continued the assault as she lay on the ground in a crime which the sentencing judge described as despicable and cowardly.

Bantry Bay will ring with the sounds of traditional music as the acclaimed Masters of Tradition series runs for the next four days in the town, having opened last night.

Declan Townsend is relishing the prospect of the aural delights on offer at this year’s West Cork Chamber Music Festival

A school chaplain has spoken out against the long-term effects of an alcohol abuse culture where young people cannot enjoy a night out without “getting seriously langers”.

If you have the courage to make the leap, experimentation can bring excitement to your life, Martin Hayes tells Ed Power in advance of tbe Masters of Tradition festival

This year’s West Cork Chamber Music Festival promises to be the best ever, writes Declan Townsend.

THE 20-year-old Franz Schubert was once asked how it was possible for him to have composed so much music at his age.

Voice of Ireland finalist Kelly Mongan-McDonagh broke down while singing ‘Amazing Grace’ at the funeral of a 7-year-old Traveller who died after being thrown from a pony.

The Voice Squad first performed together in 1985 and went on to sing at the Special Olympics in 2003. Their talents are still very much in demand.

NOW in its 11th year, the Masters of Tradition Festival in Bantry, Co Cork (August 14-18) has turned out to be exactly the kind of festival that its artistic director, Martin Hayes, envisaged.

Declan Townsend finds the programme for the West Cork Chamber Music Festival has him feeling like a child in a sweet shop, hoping he can sample everything

THIS was the question asked of Francis Humphrys, the artistic director of the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, by the French horn virtuoso, Herve Joulain.

Catherine Leonard, one of Ireland’s leading violinists, performs at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, which takes place in Bantry from Jun 29 to Jul 7.

WE’RE bang in the middle of the summer festival season, and July shows no signs of letting up. Practically every weekend is cram-packed with music and/or arts festivities all around the country, ranging from Kinsale Arts Week to the Galway Film Fleadh to a national scarecrow festival. So get planning.

ONCE again, Francis Humphrys has succeeded in attracting a host of wonderful performers to Bantry for the West Cork Chamber Music Festival, which begins on Friday.

The funerals took place yesterday of father and daughter Anthony and Nadine O’Brien, who died together in a house fire in Tralee last Saturday.

The senior garda officer spearheading an investigation into the deaths of a father and daughter in a house fire has criticised local people for spreading unfounded rumours about the case.

In one week, 109 works from the past six centuries will be performed at chamber music festival, says Declan Townsend

THERE were calls last night for continued Government investment in the regeneration of Cork’s northside as one of the most ambitious phases of a housing project costing €120 million was officially opened.

PARISHIONERS are to be asked to help raise around €1 million to complete restoration work on three Catholic churches on the northside of Cork city.

A TRIP to Cork Airport by two couples heading off on holidays ended in tragedy when two men died and two women were injured in a collision.

A CANCER patient begged Bus Éireann last night not to axe her “lifeline” bus route.

A man whose savage drugs and alcohol-fuelled attack has left a taxi driver living on disability allowance has been given nine years in consecutive sentences for the assualt and for thefts from psychiatric inpatients.

Sentencing of a man whose savage drugs- and alcohol-fuelled attack has left a taxi driver living on disability allowance has been adjourned again while the judge considers psychiatric reports.

A taxi driver hasn’t worked since being left with serious head injuries after he was attacked outside a church by a man who had consumed cannabis and alcohol and wasn’t happy about the price of his fare.