A round-up of today's other regional stories in brief
Second Irish Bocelli concert
Singer Andrea Bocelli is to perform a second concert in Ireland this summer.
Tickets for the singer's concert in Nowlan Park in Kilkenny have already been sold out, but Aiken promotions say he will also perform in the grounds of Pearse Stadium, Galway, on July 1st. Tickets go on sale next Wednesday.
Bocelli is being supported by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marcella Rota.
Woman (81) dies in Donegal fire
An 81-year-old woman, Gracie Kelly, died in a house fire near Churchill, Co Donegal, yesterday. The woman's body was located by fire crews in a small bedroom of the house.
Fire fighters from Letterkenny attended the scene but the roof had already collapsed.
Limerick Riverfest launched
The new breed of Zap Cat power boats made a splash in the Shannon yesterday to launch Limerick's Riverfest 2006, which takes place on the May bank holiday weekend. In its third year, the event was given a major boost earlier this year when Fáilte Ireland rowed in with a grant of €30,000.
The Riverfest International Barbecue, the European Market and the Budweiser Global Beats are among the highlights of the festival, which runs from April 27th to May 1st and will also feature street theatre, a four-day celebration of the best of the "Tops of the Town" and the river fringe arts trail.
Limerick mayor Diarmuid Scully donned one of his office's oldest titles yesterday, that of Admiral of the Shannon, to officially launch the Riverfest.
Shannon harbour master honoured
Shannon Estuary's harbour master, Capt Alan Coghlan, has been elected president of the International Harbour Masters Association
The organisation represents harbour masters in 42 states.
Capt Coghlan, from Malahide, Dublin, went to sea in 1966 as a deck apprentice with Irish Shipping. He served in all ranks and became a master with Irish Shipping before coming ashore to take up the post of assistant harbour master with the Limerick Harbour Commissioners in 1982.
Following the amalgamation of both port companies on the Shannon Estuary, he was appointed harbour master in 2000 by the newly formed Shannon Foynes Port Company with responsibility for the entire estuary.
Charges after Limerick brawl
Three men appeared before Limerick District Court yesterday charged in connection with a street brawl in the city.
One man received severe facial injuries in the fight which broke out in Denmark Street shortly after 2am yesterday. He was treated at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.
At least five people were involved in the brawl outside a nightclub.
Seán Slattery (22), London, Leonard Slattery (20), Moyross, and Richard Higgins (21), Ballynanty, face a number of charges under the Public Order Act.
Judge Tom O'Donnell noted there was no Garda objection to bail and adjourned the case until April 20th.