News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Not a catchphrase that is seen too often these days of economic doom and gloom but, ‘there is no experience needed’ and it will not cost participants anything more than throwing caution to the wind.

Activities, which are led by experts, include archery, BMX biking, kayaking, surfing, scuba diving, sailing and street orienteering.

Global adventurer and famous mountaineer, Joe Simpson will act as festival ambassador. Simpson’s dramatic account of being left for dead after a fall in the Andes was chronicled in the 2003 BAFTA winning film ‘Touching the Void’.

(Source:Mayo News)

Meath

Major cracks in the Fianna Fail party in Meath became evident this week as Navan councilor Shane Cassells launched a blistering attack on Transport Minister Noel Dempsey and the party hierarchy.

The Fianna Fail National Executive member and Meath County Councilor claimed the "antics" of the last week had served to sour the mood of an already angry people and that "senior members have lost touch with the challenges faced by ordinary families".

He made his comments as details were revealed that Transport Minister and Meath TD Noel Dempsey had used the government jet to attend a summer school in Donegal and as the executive of Fianna Fail launched an investigation into the expenses of Dublin Senator Ivor Callely.

Cllr Cassells said that, for most young couples, the biggest news they had to grapple with over the past week was the announcement that mortgage interest rates were going up and the impact these increases would have on their lives.

(Source:Meath Chronicle)

Offaly

The Chairman of the Dail Public Accounts Committee Bernard Allen  is to write to the head of Fas over remarks made by the manager of the groups Construction training centre in Offaly.

Danny Weston said that a description by Mr Allen that the Mountlucas facility was a white elephant was 'damaging'.
The centre came to the attention of the spending watchdog for training just 12 people at an average cost of half a million Euro per person.

According to the Irish Examiner  Mr Allen has suggested that Mr Westons' comments   'questioned the committee's right' to examine how taxpayers money is used.

(Source:Midlands Radio)

Roscommon

Home baking is seen by many as the holy grail of everything that is natural and simple about cooking. It takes a special talent to mix all the ingredients together and come up with something that's so tasty that you want to come back again and again.

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Nster.com