A roundup of today's other stories in brief.
Maginn TV honour earned, says President
President Mary McAleese has expressed her delight at the selection by the viewers of the BBC's See Heartelevision programme of Francis Maginn (1861-1918) as the "Greatest Deaf Briton", writes Patsy McGarry. She said: "Francis Maginn united the two islands as a Cork man educated in London who was a wonderful champion of the deaf in Ireland and in Britain. There could be no more worthy a recipient of the award."
Francis Maginn was born in 1861 in Mallow, Co Cork, where his father was a Church of Ireland rector.
At the age of five he contracted scarlet fever and became deaf. Later he went to a special school for the deaf in London, becoming an apprentice teacher at the Royal School for the Deaf in Margate. He became president of the first association to further the cause of the deaf and dumb throughout Britain.
Boy (14) dies after collision with car
A 14-year-old boy has died as a result of injuries received after his bicycle collided with a car in Co Wexford on Friday evening.
Darragh Sinnott, Coolree, Wexford town, was out cycling with a friend when the incident occurred. The boy was taken to Wexford General Hospital, where he died on Saturday.
March pays tribute to Famine victims A march to commemorate the victims of the Great Famine took place in Dublin yesterday. The Committee for the Commemoration of Irish Famine Victims walked from the Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square to the Famine sculptures on Custom House Quay, where a minute's silence was observed.
A reception was held afterwards in Iveagh House, marking the first time the State had officially recognised the annual procession since its inauguration in 2004.
Minister of State Conor Lenihan represented the Government at the event.
Whitsuntide message by Harper
In a Whitsuntide message, the Church of Ireland primate, Archbishop Alan Harper, has said that "new structures of government and signs of a new cordiality among political leaders of all parties are convincing signs of a new spirit abroad across the whole community in Northern Ireland".
He continued: "It is with great thanksgiving to almighty God that we now look forward, with renewed hope and confidence, to a peaceful and prosperous shared future."
He prayed "that this new spirit may also begin to enable more progress to be made in resolving the difficult issues associated with contentious parades. New attitudes and new structures are creating a completely new working environment."
Nine students ordained deacons
Nine students for the priesthood at the national seminary, St Patrick's College, Maynooth, were ordained deacons by the Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Anthony Farquhar, in the college chapel yesterday, Pentecost Sunday.
The nine men were: Rev Seán Corkery and Rev Gerard Cremin from Cloyne diocese; Rev John Coughlan from Elphin diocese; Rev Stephen Crossan from Dromore diocese; Rev Vincent Cushnahan and Rev Peter McGurnaghan from Down and Connor diocese; Rev Tomás Kehoe from Ferns; Rev Michael Kelly from Dublin; and Rev Billy O'Sullivan from Cork and Ross.
When a man is ordained deacon in the Catholic Church, he has begun the last stage of his preparation for the priesthood and is an official minister of the church. Commenting on the ordinations yesterday, Msg Dermot Farrell, president of St Patrick's College, said they were "a source of joy for the staff and students of the college".