Séamus McGrath, who has died in Dublin, was regarded as the State's most successful horse owner-trainer for a time in the 1970s.
Levmoss was his best known colt, having led from start to finish in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and also winning the Ascot Gold Cup. In 1973, he won the Irish Sweeps Derby with Weaver's Hall, the race having been the brainchild of his father Joseph McGrath, founder of the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes.
Mr McGrath died after a short illness at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary, sons, Joseph, Peter, Robert and David, daughter, Pamela.
US ambassador celebrates July 4th
Over 1,000 people attended an American Independence Day party hosted by the US ambassador, James C Kenny, and his wife Margaret at the weekend.
Mr Kenny dedicated the July 4th celebrations at his residence in the Phoenix Park on Saturday evening to Frank Patterson, the late Irish tenor who enjoyed huge popularity in the US.
Among those in attendance were Government ministers Michael McDowell, Mary Hanafin and Dick Roche, former Labour leader Ruairí Quinn and the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Joseph Finnegan.
Canadian leader visits Dublin
The prime minister of Canada, Paul Martin, and his wife arrived in Dublin yesterday for a three-day official visit.
The prime minister's engagements include a courtesy call on President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin, a meeting with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern at Government Buildings and an award ceremony for Ireland Canada University Foundation.
Man rescued off Donegal coast
An English yachtsman who was trying to sail around England and Ireland was rescued off the Donegal coast yesterday after his yacht overturned during stormy conditions on Saturday evening.
The Arranmore lifeboat and the Sligo-based search and rescue helicopter located him almost 50 miles off the coast. He was slightly injured but the vessel righted itself and was towed to Tory Island.
Bar Council criticises Mugabe
The recent actions of the Mugabe government in ignoring the rule of law and destroying the homes and livelihoods of nearly a million Zimbabweans have been condemned by the Bar Council of Ireland, at a joint conference with the Australian Bar.
"These forced removals were carried out without any judicial authority and show again the contempt of the Zimbabwean government for the rule of law," said Hugh Mohan SC, chairman of the Bar of Ireland.
North/South training initiative
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has presented certificates to 20 civil and public servants under a North/South training initiative.
Mr Ahern described the programme, which marks the first time since partition that public officials from the North and the Republic have undertaken joint training, as "an example of cross-border co-operation working at its best".