Ice cream ad banned due to sexual nature of priests and nuns poses

The British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) have ordered an Italian ice cream company to stop running a print ad which shows two male priests about to kiss.


The ad for Antonio Federici gelato ran in Look magazine. The text below the controversial image read "We Believe in Salivation".

The ASA said “We considered the portrayal of the two priests in a sexualized manner was likely to be interpreted as mocking the beliefs of Roman Catholics and was therefore likely to cause serious offense to some readers.”

The authority only received six complaints again the ad.

It is not the first time that the ice cream company has had problems with advertising authorities. In September they banned an ad with the image of a pregnant nun. The tagline read “Immaculately Conceived.”

Charlie Chaplin movie time traveller using a hearing aid

Read more: Belfast filmmaker’s YouTube video finds cell phone mystery in 1928 Charlie Chaplin clip

Speculation has been rampant. Perhaps the woman is simply mad and talking happily to herself or perhaps she really is from the future

Belfast filmmaker, George Clarke's, video has gone viral and he still believes that a time traveler is the most likely explanation for the strange figure, who appears to be speaking on a cellphone in Charlie Chaplin's 1928 "The Circus" footage. 

However people, amongst the millions who have seen the video, believe that this woman is actually using a hearing aid. Back in 1924 Siemens invented a hearing aid that was a "compact, pocket sized carbon microphone/amplifier device." Look under history on their website and see the proof.

Stranger things have happened...unlike time travelers.

Irish designer gives helping hand to government - 'Keep Going, Sure It's Grand'

An Irish graphic designer has vowed to help tackle the countries financial woes with his new design.

Fergus O'Neill, has designed  a new national slogan after he was inspired by the British wartime edict to 'Keep Calm and Carry On'. Adding an Irish twist he has now started selling posters bearing the words 'Keep Going, Sure It's Grand'.

He is also selling postcards and Totebags with the same slogan and has vowed to donate a contribution of each sale towards Ireland's financial deficit.

“If we sell 42 billion I am going to give a euro from each sale to the state”, he told the Tom Dunne Newstalk radio show.

 The Irishman has already passed on several checks to the Irish Department of Finance and last week received a receipt for his contribution thus far.

You can stock up on your 'Keep Going, Sure It's Grand' posters on Fergus' website http://grandgrand.bigcartel.com/

Receipt from Ireland's Department of Finance for Fergus' contribution

Live crabs found in woman's suitcase in Belfast

Five live crabs were found in a woman's suitcase at Belfast International Airport when she was stopped by customs officials.

The crabs had been individually wrapped in tea towels and black bin bags before the Chinese lady concealed the living animals among personal items.

After the crabs were discovered they were handed to officials from the the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and later died.

Maggie Eyden, UK Border Agency Assistant Director for Northern Ireland, told the Irish Examiner: “Certain goods are restricted or banned completely from entering the UK, even if you are traveling from within the European Union.

“These include live animals, endangered species of plants and animals, including souvenirs made from endangered species, certain fur skins and articles made from fur skin.

“Travelers should be aware that if such items are found by our officers they will be seized and people could face substantial fines.”

Irish granny completes skydive for charity SEE VIDEO

Pamela O'Connell from Labasheeda in Co. Clare became one of the first Irish granny's to take to the skies for charity.

The 78-year-old grandmother did her skydive in aid of  Friends of St. Luke's Cancer hospital on September 26th.

“I was a patient at St. Lukes and im trying to give something back,” she told Sky Dive Ireland.

After her skydive the Clare woman was exhilarated!

“It was noisy and we went higher and higher and higher but it was fantastic. We saw the fields, the houses, we saw a lake...we saw everything.

“But I did have a bit of a shout when I jumped out, I was a bit scared jumping out. But I would do it again,” the brave gran added.

Pamela raised almost €3000 for St. Lukes hospital.

Irish police raid wrong house in drugs bust

Local police in Co. Leitrim in the West of Ireland were left red-faced last week after a planned drug bust went drastically wrong as police officers targeted the wrong house.

Confused officers ended up in the wrong house after their planned drug swoop failed.

An elderly man who lived alone was shocked when police officers burst into his house through the front door last Friday.

According to locals the man lives alone and was completely unconnected with the police investigation.

Galway teenager launches debut album

Conor O'Meara, a teenager from Portuma in Co.Galway has launched his debut album. The 16-year-old has won talent competitions and lead roles in musicals prior to recording his first CD.

The town mayor's son who is a fifth year student at Portuma Community School recently won the Tavern's Got Talent competition in Tipperary. His rendition of the Rugby World Cup theme song impressed judges who awarded Conor the top prize.

For his prize the teenager received a day's recording in Earth Recording Studios, Nenagh allowing him to record his first album.

“I’m 16 and my voice could break soon, so we were thinking it would be nice to have those tracks for ever more – if we’re doing it once we might as well do it right,” he told The Connacht Tribune this week.

Conor's soprano's CD covers classical to contemporary including tracks such as Ave Maria,You Raise Me Up and Bright Eyes to Any Dream Will Do.

Gigantic pumpkin grown just in time for Halloween - SEE VIDEO

Cheapest apartments in Ireland go to auction for $16,280

Navenny Place, 47 apartments

Once priced at $278,294 some apartments in Donegal are going to auction for just $16,280. Unfortunately there's a catch you will need to buy a complete block of 47, which will cost you a reasonable $765,332.

Some of the apartments going for auction at Navenny Place, Trusk Road, Ballybofey do not even have bathrooms or kitchen and some need to have their walls plastered.

Its developer, Navenny Developmments, can no longer repay its loans to Ulster Bank. When they undertook this project they had through they would make more than $12.53 million from their development.

Currently the cheapest apartments in Ireland are in Redbarn, County Cork where you can buy an apartment for $55,700. The cheapest apartments in Dublin have been sold for $87,739 on the Blakestown Road, Dublin 15.



Irish amateur astronomer discovers 'demon star'

An Irish amateur astronomer has discovered a “demon” star from his homemade observatory in his back garden in Co. Kildare.

Dave McDonald from Celbridge found an eclipsing star while looking through his telescope on Sunday morning last.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, the 46-year-old explained he how discovered the star.

"I was looking at the brightness of an asteroid and this star popped out at me," he said.

"I had started on my telescope at 9pm last Saturday evening and finished up at about 5am on Sunday. I looked at this star. It was like 'Hey, Presto!' I saw there was a big change in its brightness. I checked to see if the star had been discovered before over the past two days and got the official confirmation in yesterday," the Kildare man said.

"It is very exciting. My name will go down forevermore as the discoverer of this star in reputable journals," he said.

Woman sues Irish department store as dress ignites and melts

A Wicklow woman has taken High Court proceedings against a major Irish retailer after a dress she bought from the Pennys store ignited.

Simone Burke of Fairgreen Dargle Road in Bray was just 11 when the dress alledegy caught fire in her grandparents home.

Now 25, she has launched court proceedings against the retailer claiming she suffered burns to more than 20 percent of her body.

It is claimed that Ms Burke's mother purchased the dress in the Mary Street branch of the store in May 1996. The incident occured two days later when Ms Burke was visiting her grandparents home. The court heard that she was standing with her back to the fireplace when suddenly the dress ignited.

The Wicklow woman was in hospital for over a month afterwards during which she underwent a number of skin grafting proceudures. Primark denies the claim, insisting she exposed herself to a risk of injury.

The hearing continues in Dublin.

33,000 newly built houses in Ireland lie empty

A survery in Ireland of countrywide property has found that there are 33,000 empty and newly built houses and apartments.

The Irish Deparment of Environment took a survey of over 2,800 housing developements across the country this summer. These figures have been released as a group of experts are gathered to find a solution of how to deal with Ireland's 'ghost estates'.

Dublin radio station show's how they feel about Wayne Rooney quitting Man United - SEE VIDEO

Terry Fahy and Jim-Jim Nugent from Dublin radio stations, FM 104's, "Strawberry Alarm Clock" show showed the world how they feel about Wayne Rooney's recent decision by quit Manchester United by creating this little song.

PepsiCo aims to reduce farmers carbon emissions

PepsiCo have announced a new initiative for farmers which involves a web-based crop management system.

The new system called i-crop is being developed with Cambridge University. PepsiCo is aiming to reduce English farmers water use and carbon emission output by around 50percent over the next five years.

According to the company the new crop management system will allow farmers around the world to manage and reduce their water use and carbon emmissions while allowing them to maximize the potential yield.

Richard Evans, president of PepsiCo UK and Ireland, said: “Farming is in the DNA of our business - we rely on fresh produce every day. Finding ways to produce more food with less environmental impact is essential to our future ... i-crop has the potential to revolutionise the way we farm, enabling our farmers to save costs and water and carbon consumption, while at the same time improving their yields.”

PepsiCo incorporates hundreds of brands throughout the world including Pepsi, Tropicana, Ocean Spray, Lay's potato chips, Gatorade and Quaker Oatmeal. With 19 differnt product lines the global company generates revenues of nearly $60 billion.

Enda Kenny questions Brian Cowen over Bertie Ahern’s cupboard ad - SEE VIDEO

Leader of the opposition party, Fine Gael, Enda Kenny questioned the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen yesterday about whether Bertie Ahern’s behavior in The News of the World advertisement as “conduct that is becoming” to an ex country leader.
Former Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, appeared in a cupboard in the ad to promote his new Sunday column with the tabloid newspaper.

Kenny asked Cowen if the former prime minister had consulted him before he took part in the advert. He said that Ahern had had to honor of being elected three times by the Irish public and he was still in receipt of public money.

Mr Cowen did not respond. The Chairman of the house, Seamus Kirk, said the question was out of order.

Irishman gets off on cannnabis charge because he grew his own

An Irishman who grew his own cannabis, so he would not have to deal with “scumbag” (undesirable) drug dealers, managed to avoid jail this week in Dublin. He was given 180 hours of community service.

Gerard Batten pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He admitted that he had cultivated 25 cannabis plants in his home in September 2008.

He said “I smoke it and I didn't want to be dealing with scumbags.”

Batten, who has a considerable drug habit, explained that while he was unemployed he had ordered the equipment and grown the plants.

The police officer Ronan O'Malley said “He admitted the cannabis plants, which are valued at €400 each, were for his own use.”

Judge Tony Hunt ruled that Batten was at low risk of reoffending and ordered the confiscation of his plants and cultivation equipment.

First American soap opera ever revolved around an Irish American family

The first American soap opera ever told the story of an Irish American family, the Moynihans. The show “Painted Dream” was first aired on October 20, 1930.

The radio station, WGN, asked actress Irna Phillips to create a 15 minute daily show about a family to air during the day. The show’s plot centred about the relationship of widow Mother Moynihan and her unmarried daughter.

Irna wrote and acted on the show until 1932 when she realized it’s potential and tried to go nationwide. It was not until 1938 the the show was acquired by CBS.

Irishman tells court he started using heroin to lose weight

A 34-year-old Dublin man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of heroin after he told a court that he started taking the drug so he could lose weight for football.

Darren Mason a drug addict from the north inner city pleaded guilty to the possession of €46,186 ($63,000) worth of heroin on June 21st 2009.

The court heard that the father of two who has been addicted to heroin since the age of 14 is currently undergoing drug treatment for his addiction.

Mason had been house-sitting in Coolock Dublin when the police discovered the drugs. After searching the house they also found €3,500 (4,800) in cash hidden under a cushion.

Speaking about the offender Garda Aoife Haverty described him as “a cog in the machine” and added he is at “the lowest rung in the ladder.”

Judge Patricia Ryan said there is exceptional circumstances in the case as the prosecution accepts that  Mason was unaware of the amount of drugs involved. She suspended the final four years of the term.

€15 coin released in Ireland

The Central Bank of Ireland has released a limited edition €15 silver collectors coin.

Similar to the first coins of the Irish Free State, which were issued in 1928, the coins feature an Irish hunter horse with a foal. The coin was designed by Emmet Mullins. His design was based on the old half crown which was designed by Percy Metcalfe.

This is the first in a three-year series. It will be followed by a coin depicting a salmon in 2011 and an Irish wolfhound in 2012.

Learning an Irish accent - YouTube video reaches almost a million viewers - SEE VIDEO

A stereo type? Certainly. Offensive? Quite possibly. But this sketch mocking the Irish has gone viral.

Drive-in bingo - a new Irish craze

A field in County Meath was filled with car loads of bingo players last week as the latest gambling craze in Ireland took off. Drive-in bingo because popular after the introduction of the smoking ban meant that bingo player who have to abstain from smoking for hours at a time. Their solution has turned into a hit across the country.

"It is proving to be extremely popular, it is good value and the prizes can be a few thousand sometimes...All you have to do is drive in, turn off your engine and buy a bingo book. If you get a line, simply beep your horn and we'll come and literally hand the cash in through the window.

"It's also a great laugh and there's been a lot of positive reaction. You can relax in your own car with friends or family, have a smoke if you want, and enjoy the game and not worry about parking," said Séamus Davis, the organizer of the event.

"It is really catching on, and word of mouth is helping out with this. We are just off the old Dublin road and are completely accessible by motorways. So we expect people from Dublin and from further afield too, perhaps from Cavan and areas like that. It is a day out and you could spend up to three hours playing."

Giants Causeway stones for sale

Historic stones once used to protect US Open golf champion Graeme McDowell's home golf club from possible IRA attacks have been put up for auction. It is believed the stones may have originally been removed from the Giant's Causeway in Co. Antrim.

The seven hexagonal basalt column stones spent almost 35 years outside the Rathmore clubhouse at Portrush Co. Antrim before being sold last year. The stones were purchased by the club in 1974, they were then placed between the car park and locker rooms to prevent possible sectarian attacks. Last year the club decided they no longer required the stones and sold then to man who planned to use them for landscaping his garden. He has since sold them on and now they will go up for auction next week.

Next Tuesday the stones will go under the hammer in Billingshurst, West Sussex with an starting price of £10,000 ($15,000).

The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland's top tourist attraction with 750,000 visitors a year. The historic site comprises a collection of large circular basalt columns which date back to the 17th century.

Facebook campaign exposes traffic gridlock in County Mayo

A Facebook campaign has renamed Ballina, Co. Mayo as the “Gridlock Capital of Ireland”. The page has been set up in response to the town's new traffic system layout.

The webpage is being used as a platform for retailers, shoppers and drivers who are against the new traffic layout. The Facebook page also features photographs of the town's main streets taken during peak shopping times showing few shoppers visible.

The new one-way routes are proving to be very unpopular with locals who are voicing their frustration on the Facebook page.

Locals are insisting that the new layout system is driving people out of the town. One Facebook member left a post saying she missed a job interview because of the gridlock while another said she has started to shop in nearby Castlebar as it was “less hassle”.

800 children in Ireland are homeless

Last year 800 children in Ireland sought emergency accommodation. Two-hundred of these children were under the ago of 12.

The children were placed in emergency hostels, residential services or emergency foster families. Social workers have said that due to a lack of facilities some of the children ended up in hospitals, police stations and in one case a 24-hour internet cafe.

In 2004 the number of homeless children was just 495 however over the last three years the figures have been significantly higher. Most of the children who are in need of emergency accommodation come from violent homes of families with drug or alcohol abuse problems.

Ineke Durville, president of  the Irish Association of Social Care Workers said "This is about children’s lives. They are young for a very short period of time and they have to have their needs met or they will be damaged.”

A Chilean mine rescue in Ireland

A letter to the editor printed in the Irish Times and Irish Independent newspapers:

"If a Chilean mine rescue situation were to happen here [Ireland], the Government would not yet have formed an escape committee, the Greens would demand an environmental impact assessment, objectors would already be demonstrating against unsightly drilling equipment and the funding for all of this would have gone missing.

- K Nolan, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim"

Homework for Irish children could be a thing of the past

The Irish Primary Principals Network, principals of elementary schools in Ireland, have submitted a paper to the Irish Government that could point to homework for Irish kids being a thing of the past. 

In their report they point out nine area of concern with regard to the role of homework in the education system. It says "effective teaching in the classroom, which differentiates both children's learning styles and learning abilities far outweighs any value of homework."

The group's director, Sean Cottrell, said "Homework can often be the source of a huge amount of stress between parents and children."

The Evening Herald questioned people around Dublin on the matter, with mixed responses. Kate Ryan, of Rathgar said "I think it's a good thing. It gives children a good sense of discipline to do school work at home." On the other side of the coin David Kehoe,  of Clontarf, pointed out "I don't really see the point of homework. Children have got better things to do with their time.

Historic images reveal insightful glimpse into Ireland's past

Franz Sebastian Haselback

The Hunt Museum at Limerick's custom house has unveiled a collection of black and white photography which showcases images from the War of Independence, the Civil War, Home Rule meetings, British soldiers parading in Sarsfield Barracks, and meetings of the Irish Volunteers.

The images were taken by Franz Sebastian Haselback, a photographer of German decent. The images were taken in the early 1900s. His collection included original prints and negatives charting events in Limerick and the mid west.

A group of ladies and a gentlemen cycling through the countryside close to Killarney in September 1911.

The collection have been preserved and restored by Haselback's granddaughter Patricia.

"He always had a great interest in photography and this would have begun from an early age. My grandfather lived from 1885 to 1973 and grew up in Limerick in Wolfe Tone Street where four generations of our family lived," Patricia told the Irish Independent.

"I promised my father on his deathbed that his father's work would be shown on display," she added.

Members of the Royal Irish Constabulary on parade in 1913.

Irish businessmen go nude for charity calendar

A group of west of Ireland businessmen, in their 40s, 50s and 60s have modelled themselves on “The Calendar Girls” and are baring it all in their new calendar.

A bank manager, accountant, veterinary surgeon, two auctioneers and some others will see their calendar published in Boyle, County Roscommon, later this month.

According to the Irish Independent Bank Manager, Jim Feighan, aka Mr December poses in a Santa hat with a carefully placed Christmas present. Michael McMorrown, a farmer (pictured above) was shot on his tractor while Micheal Hunt, a veterinary surgeon, is pictured examining a turkey.

All the gentlemen photographed are members of Boyle Celtic Legends team. All 19 members of the football club got, almost, naked to raise money for Brothers of Charity Services.

Fears as the use of crystal meth is on the rise in Ireland

Image from documentary 'Faces of Meth' - how this woman's
 face changed after just three years on meth

Leading campaigners for homeless and drug-addicted youths believe that the dangerous and highly addictive class A drug will soon be as widely used in Dublin as cocaine.

Speaking at the annual Getting a Grip conference he asked that more attention be drawn to the issue of drugs in Ireland. .

"Communities are going to be destroyed by drugs. Crack cocaine is now a drug of choice in Dublin and is 10 times worse than heroin. It can cost an addict €3,000 to €4,000 a day.

"Crystal meth is 10 times worse than crack cocaine and has devastated communities in America. We're now seeing crystal meth here, at about the same level as crack cocaine was five or six years ago. We need to start preparing to deal with crystal meth, but we haven't yet caught up with the cocaine problem.

"I wish we were back with the heroin problem. When someone came to us on heroin we knew what we were dealing with, but with crack cocaine you'd better watch out. And the next wave that's going to hit Ireland is crystal meth.

"Once this gets a hold you'd need to build a high wall around your house and get a good burglar alarm."

33 percent of 34-year-old Irish men live with their Mammys

According to a new survey one-third of Irish males are still living in their family homes.

The Eurostat report showed that Irish men between the ages of 25 and 34 are twice as likely to live with in their parent, compared with the rest of Europe.

The survey also showed that Irish women are the least likely in Europe to live with a partner and Irishmen are least likely to commit by the time they are 34.

New Facebook campaign causes a stir

A new Facebook campaign in aid of breast cancer awareness is causing a stir around the Internet. The new suggestive status update “I like it on...” craze has swept the social networking scene as millions of women worldwide update their status.

Thousands of Irish woman are partaking in the campaign by admitting where they “Like it”. Despite raising some eyebrows the ambiguous phrase has no sexual connotations but instead refers to the different locations where woman like to place their handbags or purses.

October is breast cancer awareness month and this latest Facebook craze represents an unofficial campaign aimed at raising awareness. It was prompted by last year's Facebook campaign where woman updated their status detailing the colour of their bra.

Irish policeman sues for slipping and falling on his own Uzi sub-machine gun

An Irish policeman has lost a $52,900 damages claim for having injured his back while falling on his Uzi sub-machine gun during a training exercise.

In 2005 David Kelly, a special branch detective, fell on his Uzi sub-machine gun during a training exercise at Kilbridge, County Wicklow. The court heard that he slipped on wet railway sleeper.

Kelly was training as part of the anti-terrorist unit, in Ireland, and is described by the Irish police as a marksman. The court also heard that Kelly had not heard the instructor warning him to avoid the wet sleepers.

The judge said that Kelly had not established enough evidence to show negligence against the States.

Kelly did however win $32,730 in damages in a claim against a Dublin taxi-man. He had been a passenger in the taxi when it collided with a police car.

Irish designer comes back to Dublin for his latest launch

The man from Finglas Co.Dublin who has become a coveted designer in Paris returned to the his first job in Arnotts yesterday to launch his new fashion range.

Peter O’Brien launched his collaboration with Arnotts yesterday which is a limited edition collection of coats, dresses and separates ranging in price from $150 to $685.

The collection comprises of 23 pieces comprising of a color palette limited to black, navy, camel and ivory. The timeless collection includes cashmere coats, silk chiffon blouses and wool crepe dresses, skirts and trousers.

Irish astronomer discovers a supernova from his backyard in Dublin

Dave Grennan, an amateur astronomer has become the first Irish person to discover a supernova. The Dubliner made the discovery in the galaxy UGC while looking through photographs he had taken from his back garden.

After comparing photographs he took from a specific area of sky between August and September he noticed a tiny black dot that hadn't been there before. The explosion which caused the tiny black spot will outshine the combined light of billions of stars in the galaxy.

A supernova is a rare phenomenon which involves the explosion of most of the material contained in a star. The explosion results in an extremely bright object which emits vast amounts of energy. Mr Grennan spent the the last year surveying almost 3,000 galaxies before finding the supernova. In the last few years Mr Grennan also discovered two asteroids one of which he named 215016 Catherinegriffin, after his late mother.

Street art celebrates the good, the bad and the ugly in Dublin City

An Irish street artist, Maser, and musician, Damian Dempsey, have joined forces to create a large-scale outdoor collaboration, "They Are Us", which celebrates Dublin city. The beauty of the project is that it appears all over the city, in nooks, crannies and alley ways.

The pair combined their powers, Maser's art and Dempsey's lyrics, to create a street art project which celebrates their 'dirty auld town'.

They say their project is "a tribute to the city: northside and southside, the visible and the secret, the good and the bad."

All proceeds from the project will be donated to the Simon Community, an Irish charity which works with homeless people.

Here are some images from the project:

Message in a bottle travels 3,700 miles from Florida to County Clare

A message in a bottle traveled all the way from Melbourne, Florida to County Clare.

Adam Flannery (17), an NUI Galway student from Athlone, was on holidays in Kilbaha on the Loop Head Peninsula with his family when he spotted the bottle on the beach.

The wine bottle had traveled up through the Gulf Stream across the Atlantic over 3,700 miles. The green wine bottle was part of a science project by a school in Florida.

Upon opening the bottle they found a note inside. "The note inside said it was part of an oceanographic survey and asked that it not be thrown back into the water," Adam's father, Stephen, told the Irish Times.

The bottle was one of 150 bottles thrown into the sea on April 22, 2009. The bottles were dropped into the water 20 miles from Port Canaveral and plotted as they travel through the Gulf Stream.

Former Irish leader Bertie Ahern hides in a cupboard in new TV ad - SEE VIDEO

Former Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, has appeared in a television advertisement for New of the World promoting his sports column in the Sunday newspaper.

His political peers have described his appearance in the ad as terrible for Ireland. The advertisement was discussed on RTE's (Ireland's national broadcaster) show, "The Week in Politics".

Ruairi Quinn, the Labour Party's education spokesman said "I thought it was terrible for us. As an Irish person."

Fine Gael's health spokesman, Dr James Reilly "We give the taoisigh (prime ministers) when they retire from office a driver and a car and a considerable pension so they don’t have to engage in this sort of thing... I don’t think it is appropriate."

Pat Carey, the Community minister said that you can not dictate what former leaders did in their spare time. He said "What the former taoiseach decides to do in his own personal capacity is up to that individual."

Irish American Civil War hero honored in Montana

A statue of Thomas Francis Meagher was place in front of the Montana Capitol and dedicated to July 4, 1905.

Thomas Francis Meagher is a former governor of the Montana Territory. The Montana Historical Society said the statue was meant to portray Meagher as "the gallant commanding officer of the Irish Brigade in the American Civil War, guiding his Irish brothers through some of the most difficult battles of that war."

Meagher, an Irish nationalist, was the leader of the Young Irelanders in the Rebellion of 1848. He was convicted of sedition and sentenced to a penal colony in Australia.

In 1852 he escaped and made his way to the United States where he settled in New York City. He joined the army and rose through the ranks to become a brigadier general.

After the war in 1865 he became the acting governor of the Montana Territory. He drowned in 1867 in the Missouri River at Fort Benton having fallen from a steam boat.

80,000 expected at Ireland's Great October Fair in Ballinasloe

This weekend marked the beginning of the 300-year-old Great October Fair, in Ballinasloe, east of Galway. The nine days will see traders and travelers get down to the serious business of horse trading. 

According to the Irish Independent due to a lack of funding local sponsors raised the $219,000 needed to run the nine-day program. Over the course of the fair it is expected to attract over 800,000 visitors.

Here are some photos taken over the first weekend of the fair: 

Houses in Limerick sell at half-price

Nine homes in Drumshanbo have sold for less than half the original asking price according the the Limerick Observer.

The detached four-bedroom homes were some by the back for between $192,697 and $203,709. The bank took control of the properties after the developer went into receivership two months ago.

Originally these home were to be sold $440,450.

A two-year-old toddler saved his six-month-old brother from suffocating

A two-year-old from County Down managed to raise the alarm when he realised there was something wrong with his six-month-old brother sleeping in his cot.

Aaron realized that his brother had changed position in his cot trapping himself. The boy shouted "Mummy, Mummy, baby, Mummy," until his mother Moira came in and saw the baby.

"He was so tightly under them that he could not cry or move and I feared the worst as I untangled him...He was OK, thanks to his brother Aaron who had just saved his life by raising the alarm. I hugged Aaron so much, he was a real hero and only a baby himself.

“He didn’t realise what an amazing thing he had just done...This is a real miracle — my alarm was due to go off at 7.30am to get my eldest daughter Faith ready for school.

“If Aaron had not woken me, Samuel would have no doubt at all been dead by that time.”

Carlow bodybuilder through to the finals for Face of Ireland

Nicoleta Chiorean, a personal trainer and owner of a Carlow gym is one of the finalist for the Face of Ireland competition to become a model.

Choiorean has said that modelling has been her dream for as long as she can remember according to the Carlow Nationalist.

"I never dared to enter such a show. I am shy and I always compared myself with the best girls in the business and I thought I didn’t have a chance.

“I said to myself, ‘This is my last chance’. I’m 30 now, so even if I don’t get anything out of it at least I know I tried.”