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Row looms within Aosdána over Ó Searcaigh documentary
A ROW is looming within Aosdána, which holds its annual general assembly tomorrow, arising from the controversial recent documentary about poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh. p

Fianna Fáil councillor sent for trial
A FIANNA Fáil councillor, hotelier and Fáilte Ireland director has appeared at Killarney District Court on two summonses alleging breaches of the local government and ethics Acts on foot of a rezoning motion. p

Man held over deaths of Irish pair in Spain
A SPANISH man arrested in connection with the deaths of two Irish tourists in a road traffic incident on the Costa Blanca early on Tuesday morning has been remanded in custody. p

Taoiseachs Last Day

It's Broadway by the Boyne as leading man Bertie finally goes out with a bang
Featuring a cast of thousands, the closing number in the Bertie Ahern show was a stunning production, writes MIRIAM LORD p
'Let us be friends, let us live in peace'
BATTLE OF BOYNE: AHERN SPEECH: THE BATTLE of the Boyne site, which for so long was a symbol of division, would in time come to symbolise how the two great traditions on the island of Ireland could live in harmony, outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said at the official opening of the site. p
First Minister says everyone has responsibility to sustain peace
BATTLE OF BOYNE: PAISLEY SPEECH: THE NORTH'S First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, said yesterday that everyone on the island of Ireland had a responsibility to ensure that the current peace was maintained and sustained. p
'Tell them of the lovely day we have come to'
BARONESS PAISLEY: BARONESS EILEEN Paisley described yesterday's official opening of the Battle of the Boyne site as a great day for all of the people of Ireland. p
New book claims pope bankrolled King Billy
HISTORY: Did Pope Innocent XI bankroll King Billy? It is a question which historians have been mulling over for years, and a new book threatens to generate more debate. p
Grand masters and Nobel winner converge
WHO WAS THERE: MORE THAN 30 members of the Orange Order were in attendance at the opening of the Battle of the Boyne visitor centre, including former grand master Rev Martin Smyth and current Deputy Grand Master Edward Stevenson. p
Laser beams and multilingual guides create eloquent account of fateful day
VISITOR CENTRE: Exhibits with modern flourishes help deliver a stirring history lesson p
Ahern tenders resignation in brief ceremony at Áras
BERTIE AHERN last night tendered his resignation as Taoiseach after 11 years in office to President Mary McAleese at a brief ceremony in Áras an Uachtaráin, although he will retain the title until this afternoon. p
Cowen urges party to push for Yes vote
BRIAN COWEN last night said he did not want to have to explain to other European leaders why Ireland had voted down a referendum for a second time. p
Brennan resignation gives Cowen more options
THE resignation of arts, sports and tourism minister Seamus Brennan gives extra room for the Fianna Fáil leader Brian Cowen to make wider-then-expected cabinet changes after his election as Taoiseach today. p

The Ahern Years

Poor old unlucky Bertie
Recent events have exposed depths beneath the image of a simple, hard-working man, writes MIRIAM LORD
A most cunning man of the people
A BIOGRAPHY: From the 1980s, Bertie Ahern directed support in Fianna Fáil like a general would his troops, writes HARRY McGEE p
Ahern and the Ulster Question
ASSESSMENT: Bertie Ahern's seminal role in bringing about "the greatest ever expression of self-determination by the people who share the geographical space which the world knows as Ireland," ensures him an honoured place in Irish history, writes JOHN BOWMAN p
Seconds out for Bertie's final round
THE MAHON TRIBUNAL: Ahern's appearances at the tribunal had the effect of shortening his reign as Taoiseach, writes COLM KEENA p
The historic value of Bertie-speak
THE NORTH: Bertie Ahern's negotiating skills were critical to the success of the peace process, writes DEAGLÁN DE BRÉADÚN p
A departure of unrivalled ambiguity
HAIL AND FAREWELL: We tend to forget now that, even 12 or 15 years ago, Bertie Ahern was an unlikely Taoiseach, writes JOHN WATERS p
An international role that stands up well
INTERNATIONAL ROLE: Ireland's role in the Lisbon Treaty may have influenced the timing of Ahern's departure, PAUL GILLESPIE p
Well-oiled political machine
THE CAMPAIGNER: Ahern designed and led the most formidable urban political machine ever seen in this State, writes NOEL WHELAN p
'He never makes enemies if he can make a friend . . '
THE POLITICIAN: Elections reflected Bertie Ahern's ability to appeal outside the traditional Fianna Fáil vote, writes MARK HENNESSY p
Does future include Brussels or Park?
DURING HIS second term as Taoiseach between 2002 and 2007, Bertie Ahern first signalled that he would step back from a prominent role on the national stage when he reached 60. p
Great man for deals but not for decisions
ASSESSMENT: Bertie Ahern achieved success at the polls, in the North and in Europe but he let the economy drift, writes STEPHEN COLLINS p
In the words of the man
Quotes from Mr Ahern's time in office p

Other Stories

US executives gather for NI investment conference
MORE THAN 100 senior executives from US companies gather in Co Down this evening for the three-day US-Northern Ireland Investment Conference. p
Developer paid €1.5m in premiums to ex-PD councillor's employer
AN INSURANCE brokerage that employed former Progressive Democrats councillor Colm Tyndall collected premiums of almost €1.5 million from companies owned by Cork developer Owen O’Callaghan, the Mahon tribunal was told yesterday. p
Parents of Derry family miss court to fly home
A CO DERRY couple whose children were temporarily taken into care after they allegedly passed out in their Portuguese hotel last weekend were believed to be returning to Ireland yesterday. p
Former 'Real IRA' chief loses fight to block spy's evidence
CONVICTED 'REAL IRA' leader Michael McKevitt lost his fight yesterday to have hearsay evidence from an FBI spy who infiltrated the organisation excluded from the Omagh bomb civil action. p
Larkin to appear at tribunal next month
CELIA LARKIN, the former partner of Bertie Ahern, is to appear at the Mahon tribunal next month, according to the tribunal’s website. Ms Larkin is due to appear on June 3rd, and is listed for one day. p
Assembly discord over victims' commissioner
THE NORTHERN Assembly has been told of newly-agreed plans to establish a four-member Victims Commission. However, both the UUP and the SDLP have criticised the plans. p
Drink-driving detections up one-third over bank holiday
THE NUMBER of motorists found to have been drink-driving over the May bank holiday weekend was up by more than one-third on last year, according to the Garda. p
Charges over death of Katy French 'unlikely'
THE GARDA inquiry into the cocaine-related death of model Katy French is nearing completion with a file on the case due to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as early as next week. p
Mandelson critical of IFA linking trade talks to treaty
EU TRADE commissioner Peter Mandelson has hit back at the Irish Farmers Association for linking ongoing world trade negotiations with next month's vote on the European treaty and has accused it of getting its facts wrong. p
Lisbon Treaty will turn EU into a 'fully fledged' federal state, says Benn
THE LISBON Treaty is a "right-wing" text designed to create a "federal state of Europe", former British Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn told audiences in Dublin yesterday. p
ESB confirms bog slide near Corrib gas site-related work
THE ELECTRICITY Supply Board has confirmed that a “bog slide” occurred in north Mayo during works to facilitate the Corrib gas onshore pipeline over the bank holiday weekend. p
Aer Lingus to increase fee for short-haul bags to €18
AER LINGUS is to increase charges for checking in bags on its short-haul flights by as much as 50 per cent from tomorrow. p
Psychiatric nurses threaten to extend industrial action
UNIONS REPRESENTING psychiatric nurses have said that they will escalate their industrial action from next week if no progress is made in resolving their dispute with health service management on a new compensation scheme for staff injured as a result of assaults at work. p
National asthma strategy demanded
THE GOVERNMENT has been called upon to develop a national strategy to address and manage the increasing number of people suffering from asthma in the State. p
Academic consultants offered salary increase for public-sector contracts
THE GOVERNMENT has offered increased salaries of up to €295,000 to academic hospital consultants who opt for new contracts under which they would work only in the public sector. p
Deal not finalised on work hours for nurses
AGREEMENT HAS not yet been reached at local level to facilitate a reduction in the working hours of about 25,000 nurses as planned from next month. p
Dempsey and taxi unions to discuss number of licences
UNIONS REPRESENTING taxi drivers are to meet the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, next week to discuss the industry following protests yesterday over what drivers claim is an oversupply of taxi licences. p
Case against Ireland over religious bias is dropped
THE EUROPEAN Commission says it is no longer pursuing a case against Ireland relating to exemptions that, in certain cases, allow for more favourable treatment to be given to employees on religious grounds. p
Bull Island site offered in port expansion plan
DUBLIN PORT Company has said it will transfer full ownership of its portion of Bull Island to Dublin City Council and give the council more than €1 million towards the island’s protection and development, if planning permission is granted for the expansion of Dublin Port. p
Four bathing areas fail EU water quality test
FOUR COASTAL locations in Cork, Dublin and Galway have been deemed to be unsafe for people to swim at, but the quality of bathing waters around Ireland remains good, with 97 per cent of designated bathing spots meeting the EU mandatory standards. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief p

Regional News

Boy (13) may have drowned as a result of unexpected change in tide
AN UNEXPECTED change in the tide has been blamed for claiming the life of a 13-year-old schoolboy in a swimming accident on the river Foyle. p
Charity sends children to Eurodisney
AN EXCITED group of 44 children set off for Eurodisney in Paris yesterday on a holiday organised by Cork City Hospital’s Children’s Club. p
Gardaí stop gang beating in Blarney
GARDAÍ WERE praised yesterday for their intervention in a violent dispute in Blarney, Co Cork, in which four young men were severely beaten by a gang armed with iron bars and knives. p
Body of missing hillwalker found at bottom of Sligo cliff
THE BODY of a missing hillwalker was discovered at the bottom of a 500ft cliff in north Sligo yesterday, 24 hours after he was last seen by friends. p
Gangland victim's nephew remanded
A NEPHEW of Limerick gangland victim Kieran Keane was one of two men remanded in custody yesterday charged with possession of a loaded Glock pistol on the outskirts of the city over the weekend. p
Wife (54) charged with husband's murder remanded in custody
A 54-YEAR-OLD woman was charged yesterday with the murder of her husband. p

In the Courts

Man says he had 'no hand, act or part' in wife's death
A WATERFORD man accused of murdering his wife has told a jury at the Central Criminal Court that he had no idea he would end up facing a murder investigation. p
Real IRA convictions quashed
THE COURT of Criminal Appeal has quashed the convictions by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of five Munster men on charges of membership of the Real IRA. p
Solicitor agrees he was embroiled in 'web of deceit' in course of land deal
A SOLICITOR has told the Commercial Court he told “lie after lie after lie” in relation to a land deal in Co Offaly which is the subject of a High Court inquiry over the whereabouts of €7 million loaned by a bank. p
Former nurse jailed for four months for running brothel
A FORMER student nurse has been jailed for four months for running a brothel. p
Three men lose challenge to extradition law
THREE MEN have lost their Supreme Court challenge to the constitutionality of legislation under which their extraditions to the Czech and Slovak republics and Britain have been ordered. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other court stories in brief... p

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