A round-up of today's other news in brief
No slowdown for foreign trips
The number of foreign trips taken by Irish residents continued to grow up to August this year - the latest month for which figures are available - according to the Central Statistics Office.
Despite the downturn in the economy, the CSO reported yesterday that the number of foreign trips for August reached 845,600, while the corresponding figure for August last year was 815,700 and 729,500 for August 2006.
The numbers indicated that more then 5.5 million Irish residents travelled overseas from January 1st to August 31st this year, an increase of about 5 per cent on 2007.
However, the CSO said there was some evidence that the rate of growth was slowing, as the figures for 2007 had shown an increase of 12 per cent on 2006.
While the number of Irish residents going abroad on trips is still rising, the overall number of trips into Ireland has fallen marginally.
Two men die in separate road incidents in Cork and Kerry
A 36-year-old motorcyclist died in hospital in Cork last night following a road incident in Mallow during which his bike collided with an SUV. Gardaí are investigating the crash which occurred shortly before 8am yesterday at Castlecor, Mallow. The man was taken to Cork University Hospital, but subsequently died from his injuries.
A man died after he was struck by a van yesterday morning on the main Kenmare to Sneem Road. It is understood the dead man, named locally as Patrick Downing (56), Rossacoosane, Greenane, Kenmare, was helping to load cattle onto a truck when the incident occurred at around 8.30am near Templenoe, after a cow broke free.
New Archdeacon of Glendalough
Canon Ricky Rountree, rector of Powerscourt and Kilbride in Co Wicklow is to be the new Archdeacon of Glendalough, writes Patsy McGarry. He will succeed Ven Edgar Swann, who recently announced his intention to retire at the end of the year. Canon Rountree will not formally assume the office of Archdeacon of Glendalough until January 1st, 2009.
Gardaí track car used in arson attack
Gardaí investigating an arson attack on Blarney Garda station in Co Cork last week have appealed for help in tracing the movements of a stolen car which they believe may have been used in the attack.
The green four-door Mazda 323 saloon, registration number 98 C 1886, was stolen from the car park of the Weigh Inn in Dripsey between September 28th and October 4th.
Rathdown production aids Rwandan children
SUCH (Students Uniting for Childrens Health) will stage their third fundraising production on October 22nd and 23rd in Rathdown School, Dublin. The multicultural show "One World, One Vision"aims to raise funds for UNICEF to provide for the children of Rwanda.
Contact Sorcha O'Meara or the Rathdown School Office on 01-2853133.
Sub-contractors demand €3.2m
About 50 people protested outside a hotel in Wexford yesterday claiming they were owed substantial sums arising from its redevelopment.
The protesters claimed 60 sub-contractors were owed a €3.2 million for work on White's Hotel, completed in 2006. White's Hotel said €37 million was paid to the contractor, who was responsible for paying sub-contractors.