More regional news in brief.
Sub-aqua divers rescued after losing touch with support vessel
Four sub-aqua divers had a lucky escape when they drifted more than eight kilometres from their boat due to a strong underwater current, writes Paddy Clancy.
The three men and a woman, in their late 40s and 50s, got into difficulties while diving close to Portronan near Malin Head, off north Donegal.
The Coast Guard helicopter from Strandhill, Co Sligo, and another from Northern Ireland mounted a search after an alert was flashed by the crew of the divers' support boat to Malin Head Coast Guard Station.
Several fishing vessels joined in the search before the divers were spotted by a fisherman after almost two hours swimming close together on the surface. They were brought ashore, unharmed, by a Coast Guard vessel.
The incident happened on Sunday when the group, all members of Sligo Sub-Aqua Club, failed to realise that a strong underwater current near the sea floor caused them to drift eight kilometres from their support vessel.
Two new Garda divisions set up in Wicklow and Wexford
Two new Garda divisions came into operation at the weekend. The new Wicklow and Wexford divisions replace the Wicklow-Wexford division.
The change is the first in a series of similar boundary reforms that will bring Garda districts more closely into line with local authority districts. A total of eight changes will be made as part of the reform programme.
It is hoped the new divisions will make it easier for Garda management around the country to work more closely with officials from local authorities in addressing crime.
Under the new arrangements for the Wicklow division the office of the Chief Superintendent for Wicklow, Thomas Conway, will be in Bray with superintendents' offices in Bray, Baltinglass and Wicklow.
In the new Wexford division the office of the Chief Superintendent for Wexford, John Roche, will remain in Wexford town with superintendents' offices in Wexford, Enniscorthy, Gorey and New Ross.
Rally raises €100,000
Ireland's biggest steam and vintage rally, which takes place annually in Innishannon, Co Cork, came to a successful conclusion yesterday after raising well over €100,000 for the Irish Cancer Society, writes Olivia Kelleher.
The rally has been running since June 1998 and was awarded charitable status in 1999.
It attracts thousands of visitors every year from all over Ireland and the UK.
The Innishannon rally officially got under way on Sunday at lunchtime with a performance by Millstreet Pipe Band.
More than 200 vintage cars, 10 fire engines, 200 oil engines, 30 steam engines and 250 tractors were on show over the two-day event.
A wide range of military vehicles, including lorries, sidecars and jeeps, were also on display, along with close to 50 motorbikes.
The rally was organised to promote heritage machinery of all classes at work and to provide a suitable venue for vintage enthusiasts to display their machines.
The event concluded yesterday with a beer barrel race, a demonstration of vintage machinery, an obstacle race for steam engines and a dog show.