A roundup of today's other regional stories in brief
Coast Guard may impose penalties
Surfers rescued off the Cliffs of Moher last month could face penalties from the Irish Coast Guard Service for refusing assistance in a rescue effort, it emerged yesterday writes Gordon Deegan.
The rescue operation was launched last Friday week after two surfers got into difficulty while surfing the 30ft Aill na Serracht wave off the Cliffs of Moher. As part of the rescue effort which involved 40 people, a winch-man from the Irish Coast Guard helicopter descended to rescue the three.
However, they refused as they did not want to lose their jet ski and surf boards.
Christmas tree vandals sought
Vandals who wrecked a Donegal town's Christmas tree lights just hours after it was lit up by Santa are being sought by gardaí, writes Paddy Clancy.
Community leaders last night appealed for public help in capturing the culprits who ripped out the lights and damaged the cable less than five hours after the Sunday switching-on ceremony.
The town's Community Chamber chairman Ernan McGettigan said: "It makes me sick to the stomach to think there are people in our town who would do something like this."
Tributes paid to late councillor
Tributes have been paid to Galway city's longest serving councillor, Michael Leahy, who died at the weekend after a short illness at the age of 74, writes Michelle McDonagh.
Cllr Leahy was elected to Galway city council in 1979 and was mayor of the city on three occasions, from 1983-84 during the quincentenary celebrations, from 1991-92 and 1997-98.
Originally from Limerick, he moved to Galway in the early 1950s. He died at University College Hospital Galway on Saturday morning. He is survived by his wife Bridie and their four children.
He will be buried at Bohermore Cemetery today after 11am Mass at the Church of St Oliver Plunkett in Renmore.
Nightrider service extended
Bus Éireann will extend its Nightrider service from next Thursday to operate daily (excluding Sundays) until Saturday, December 23rd, on its five routes operating from Dublin to Drogheda, Navan, Enfield, Clane and Wicklow.
Nightrider services depart Dublin's Busarus from 12.30am to 3.30am and are priced between €7 and €10.
Services will also operate on Friday, December 29th, and Saturday, December 30th.
Normal operation will resume from the first weekend in January.
Thousands of commuters rely on Nightrider for late-night transport throughout the year, according to Bus Éireann.