A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Faithless kick off Live at the Marquee event
British dance outfit Faithless last night kicked off three eclectic weeks of music in Cork when over 4,000 fans thronged a specially constructed marquee for the first of 15 concerts which will attract an estimated 65,000 to the city, writes Barry Roche.
A day of constant rain didn't deter the fans who trekked to the city's docklands for the first concert in the third Live at the Marquee series organised by Aiken Promotions. It is expected to generate up to €10 million for the local economy.
Tickets are still available for veteran rockers Status Quo, Duran Duran, Slayer, Flaming Lips, Cascada, Madness and Antony and The Johnsons who play the venue tonight.
New courthouse for Co Limerick
Limerick County Council is to begin work on a new multi-million courthouse in Kilmallock early next year and plans have now been put on public display.
The existing courthouse, built as a workhouse in 1841, will undergo a facelift as part of the redevelopment project.
Included in the plans are an acoustic room and a facility for digital audio recording. The new public gallery will accommodate up to 60 people.
Director of services at Support after Crime Service, Sally Hanlon, welcomed the decision to allow public consultation on the new courthouse.
Plans are also under way for new offices for Limerick County Council and a library adjacent to the court building.
Music and surf festival for Clare
Plans were announced yesterday for Ireland's first music and surf festival on Clare's west coast next September 7th, 8th and 9th. At the €150 million Doonbeg Golf resort yesterday, promoters MCD along with Sony Ericsson revealed details of the three day Cois Fharraige festival that will feature the Fun Lovin' Criminals, Ocean Colour Scene, Kila, Republic of Loose, The Blizzards and Roisín Murphy.
The festival will be staged in Kilkee-Doonbeg, Co Clare. Seeking to capitalise on Clare becoming a magnet for surfers, the organisers plan a carnival of water sports starting with a surfing event on Doughmore beach Doonbeg on the Saturday in association with the West Coast Surf Club.
Cocaine crisis leads to clinic start-up
Galway's increasing cocaine problem has led to a new night-time drop-in clinic being set up.
The HSE West's Drug Service warns that more and more people in Galway are looking for help in dealing with cocaine-related problems.