HITTING an international market with a world-class property bristling with security features on the day the US attacked Iraq may be a blow to the best-laid sales plans of the French owners of an Irish mansion.

A PERIOD home in Clonakilty, Co Cork, has character and aspect - and a half-acre site with development potential that underpins its €1m asking price with local agent Ray O’Neill, of the Sherry Fitzgerald franchise.

AND they’re off. The first new homes launch of 2005 around Cork city is a batch of just under 100 homes at Ashmount Court, Silversprings.

REVENUES at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) increased by 12% to €10.7 million last year, the society said yesterday.

THERE are no plans to toll the major new dual carriageway link between Waterford and Kilcullen, according to those behind the project.

THE National Roads Authority has denied protestors’ claims of victory after archaeologists resumed work on the controversial Carrickmines Castle site.

THE Progressive Democrats insisted yesterday there was no Cabinet split between Tánaiste Mary Harney and Justice Minister Michael McDowell on the Government’s incineration policy.

AS we approach the EPA’s oral hearing on the Indaver incinerator licence, on Monday, it is interesting to note last Monday’s debate on incineration at the Cork School of Culture, Chríost Rí.

THERE was a strong garda presence at the Old Head of Kinsale golf course yesterday where, despite inclement weather, the Cork Anti-War Campaign and Workers’ Solidarity hosted a peace picnic protest.

CLOSE to 300 submissions have been made to An Bord Pleanála on the new Waterford to Kilcullen dual carriageway - more than twice the anticipated tally.

THE Government is hoping to speed up and save money on multi-billion euro transport projects following the introduction of a planning infrastructure bill.

BRIDEVIEW Developments has been granted planning permission to proceed with a multi-million euro development in Midleton, Co Cork.

CONTROVERSIAL plans for Ireland’s first bio-diesel production plant have been approved despite the advice of a senior planner.

SAVINGS of up to an hour on car journeys between Dublin and other cities within five years and a dedicated route from Letterkenny to Waterford are among the main roads projects of the Transport 21 plan.

A BREAKTHROUGH in the Castlehyde House planning wrangle between dancer Michael Flatley and Cork County Council is on the horizon.

THERE is something fundamentally wrong that the communities in Ringaskiddy and those in the surrounding Cork harbour area should be subjected to a Bord Pleanála oral hearing in relation to the proposed Indaver Ireland hazardous waste incinerator.

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday defended its deferral, for a second time, of a decision on a toxic waste incinerator in Cork Harbour.

A DECISION on whether a controversial halfway house for recovering alcoholics can be built has been deferred for another three months, during which time those behind the project hope to allay fears of locals.

TWO experts in Catholic law yesterday said the final decision on controversial plans to alter the interior of St Coleman’s Cathedral should be made by the Holy See in Rome.