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Limericks Mark ORiordan celebrates with teammate Mike OBrien after the final whistle in yesterdays Guinness All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-final success over Waterford at Croke Park

Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho.

Decision on Heathrow flights will not change - Mannion
The chief executive of Aer Lingus, Dermot Mannion, has said he does not expect the airline will change its position on the ending of its Shannon-to-Heathrow service despite pressure from politicians, business interests, church leaders and trade unionists.
Grown-up child soldiers can only hope for better life
Had Mohammed and Meshach met seven years ago, they would have tried to kill each other. Both were child soldiers in Sierra Leone's brutal civil war. Mary Fitzgerald writes from Freetown.
Number of firsts at DCU doubles in less than decade
Students in DCU and UCC are more likely to secure a coveted first class honours degree than their counterparts in Trinity, UCD and the University of Limerick (UL), new figures show.

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Ireland

Fears for 280 jobs at pig plant damaged in fire
Glanbia has said it will make a decision as "quickly as possible" on the future of its pig processing plant in Edenderry, Co Offaly, which was badly damaged in a fire yesterday, as well as the future of the 280 workers who have been put on protective notice. p
165 children and teenagers sent to adult prisons in 2006
A total of 165 children and teenagers were placed in adult prisons last year, in contravention of international treaties which prohibit the detention of juveniles alongside adults. p
11 major Transport 21 projects delayed
Almost a third of the 39 key road, rail and motorway projects announced in Transport 21 have been delayed and their delivery dates on Department of Transport funded websites have been altered. p
Berkeley Court, Jurys close their doors for the last time
For the guests at both Jurys Ballsbridge and the Berkeley Court, breakfast will be served as usual between 7am and 10am, they will check out by noon, but at 4pm today, the car park will be closed and the gates will be shut on two great institutions of Dublin life. p
Hearty cheers for Irish Grand Prix win
If you like to go to the Dublin Horse Show - and who wouldn't - then Sunday, the last day of the five-day event, is definitely the best day to go. p
Puck is in luck as sun breaks out
The sun came out yesterday on the last day of what had been one of the wettest ever starts to Puck Fair in Killorglin, Co Kerry, on Friday. p
Officials count cost of cancellation
As teams of stewards and helpers dismantled the stands at the Tullamore Show, which was cancelled late on Saturday night because of bad weather, the show committee was counting the cost of the cancellation. p
Call to increase foreign nationals in Civil Service
The Civil Service should introduce employment policies similar to those adopted by An Garda Síochána in order to increase the number of foreign nationals among its ranks, according to the Minister of State with responsibility for integration, Conor Lenihan. p
Union may appeal Garda pay ruling
The Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) is to consider appealing a Labour Court ruling which rejected its claim for equal pay for clerical staff carrying out similar administrative work as gardaí. p
Keenan back in Beirut to make film on his ordeal
Irish hostage Brian Keenan, who spent four years in captivity in Lebanon, has returned to Beirut to film a new documentary about his experiences. p

Finance

Trading to begin on ALG shares
Shares in Dublin-based American Leisure Group (ALG) will begin trading on the Alternative Investment Market in London today in what is expected to be one of the biggest flotations on that market this year. p
Fast-growing software firm set for stock market
Wall Street is braced this week for the most anticipated technology initial public offering (IPO) in years as VMware, a fast-growing software company, prepares to float 10 per cent of its shares on the stock market. p
Building sector declines in July, survey finds
Activity in the construction industry declined in July, with a drop in housebuilding and a fall in employment in the sector, according to the latest Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers Index (PMI). p

World

SNP to call for vote on Scottish independence
Britain: Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond is to reignite debate about the future of the UK with the launch of a White Paper tomorrow proposing a referendum on Scottish independence. p
Outcome will test nation's stability
Sierra Leone : Turnout was high in the first poll since UN peacekeepers left the war-ravaged country, writes Mary Fitzgerald , Foreign Affairs Correspondent in Freetown. p
Iraqi ministry in secret Mafia arms deal
Iraq: US loss of control over the flood of weapons into Iraq was highlighted again yesterday when it emerged that Italian anti-Mafia investigators had uncovered an alleged shipment of 105,000 rifles of which the American high command was unaware. p

Sport

Horgan begins race against time
RUGBY/World Cup Squad: Candlelit vigils will, hopefully, not be necessary for Shane Horgan in his latest race against time to return from injury. But a grade-two ligament tear, with a projected four-week recovery, is a prognosis he would have accepted on Saturday night. p