Towns in Cork, Waterford and south Tipperary see the migration of manufacturing jobs to Asia and struggle to cope with a changing world economy

An organisation which had its charitable status withdrawn by the Revenue Commission eight years ago is still collecting money from donation boxes in shops across Ireland.

Ireland's newest national party, while too small to be a major player in the next elections, could add a new dimension to Irish political debate. The Priorities Party, launched on 21 April by defectors from opposite ends of Ireland's narrow political spectrum, is running on a ticket of political standards, accountability and transparency.

The Ring Gaelteacht in Co Waterford, once an island of an Irish-speaking community now is engulfed by English-speaking commuters. By Siobhan Tanner