War has been declared in the north-west, the Sligo Champion reports, with the local health authority beginning a major offensive against cigarette-smoking in public.
The enforcement of a complete ban on smoking in bingo halls and moves to ensure that all restaurants have clearly marked and ventilated "No smoking" areas are two elements of a campaign announced by the North Western Health Board.
The board is also going after retailers who sell cigarettes to children, and may even enlist young volunteers to make test purchases in shops and other outlets. "This will not be a short-term campaign. We are here for the long haul," said Mr Martin Beirne, principal environmental health officer for Sligo and Leitrim.
Under-age drinking is another cause of concern in the west. A meeting of Castlebar Urban Council was told that drink is being sold to 13and 14-year-olds at inflated prices by a local gang of "drink pushers", the Connaught Telegraph reported.
Council member Mr Liam Coady said the pushers were dealing in imported cans of Dutch lager and bottles of Buckfast wine, which gave the youngsters "a quick fix". It was imperative that the Garda clamped down on the pushers before the situation got out of hand, he added.
Day-trippers hoping for an alcoholic fix, quick or otherwise, aboard a Fishguard-bound ferry on Good Friday were disappointed when ferry companies explained that more than 1,000 passengers were stranded at the Welsh port waiting to come to Ireland.
The Wexford People said there were lots of glum faces around Rosslare Harbour after Irish Ferries and Stena Line said they could not accommodate the day-trippers due to the backlog caused by bad weather, which had prevented a number of sailings the previous day.
The thirsty hopefuls were told they could travel to Fishguard, but they might not get home until Sunday. "As a result the majority of day-trippers headed back home or to dry-land hostelries where an illegal pint could be quaffed."
Fianna FAil councillors are fighting among themselves in North Tipperary, according to the Tipperary Star. It reports on a "bitter row" within the party over a decision to give Roscrea priority over Thurles and Nenagh for designation under the urban renewal scheme.
Nenagh UDC member Mr Jimmy Moran accused three Borrisokane councillors of voting for Roscrea because of their "affiliation" with the local Minister, Mr Michael Smith.
The claim was vehemently denied by one of the Borrisokane three, Mr Tony McKenna.
"The heavy hand was not placed on me in relation to this issue," he told the paper. "The Minister never phoned me to ask for my support. The Minister never once interfered on my deciding what I should do."
Mr Moran is described as a long-time supporter of Fianna Fail's other North Tipperary TD, Mr Michael O'Kennedy.
The Limerick Leader reports on its front page that Mr Jack Ryan has just finished planting this year's potatoes. Mr Ryan, from Gurth near Doon, will be 106 in November, and up to last winter he played cards every night in his local pub. "I'm getting a bit old for that now," he said.
A "Love triangle" involving three workers at the Goblin vacuum cleaner manufacturing plant in Tralee was at the centre of a court case reported on the front page of the Kerryman.
An employee who found his girlfriend in bed with a co-worker was fined for assaulting the other man and damaging the front door of his house. The girlfriend explained in evidence that her relationship with the defendant had deteriorated "because he was more fond of the television than of her".
Judge Humphrey Kelleher commented: "There are a lot of fellows looking at too much television these days."
