With over 7000 civil and public servants opting to take up the latest enhanced early retirement offer from the government, many will be wondering about their pension options.

South Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath has launched another broadside against neighbouring TD and Environment Minister Phil Hogan, this time in relation to the recent €1 million investment in Ferrybank Shopping Centre.

Carrick-on-Suir’s Business Association (COSBA) has laid out its stall for the year ahead in its 2012 policy statement, with one of its stated aims to attract more businesses to the town.

Carrick-on-Suir’s Business Association (COSBA) has laid out its stall

Diageo Ireland confirmed this week that 400 applications for support from the Arthur Guinness Fund 2012 had been received, including seventeen from Waterford.

The Arthur Guinness Fund was established in 2009 as part of the Guinness 250th anniversary. The fund, which continues the philanthropic legacy of Arthur Guinness, is designed to support social entrepreneurs in all parts of Ireland.

After a brilliant night in Crystal with Nic Fanciulli, Re:Publik return to the Loft to run their local resident night on Saturday February 11th.

Playing on the night are residents Kenno and Warren Sauvage, who played an excellent warm up for Nic in Crystal but no strangers to headlining a bill after countless gigs over the years.

Kodakid are to launch their new single

“Waterford foursome Kodakid clearly did their homework before creating ‘Shake Skin’, a sultry, swagger-drenched piece of blues rock that could easily be a lost Black Keys number.

Plagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself.

Dungarvan Youthreach are continuing their artistic campaign to brighten up the town’s streets, having have just completed their third mural on O’Connell Street.

The students, under the direction of their art teacher Maria Conroy, have been planning out ideas, using home made stencils and spray paint techniques to deliver different themed murals all around Dungarvan.

That Ireland came so close to victory on Sunday last said as much for the strength of the team’s character as it did for Wales’s inability to convert territory and possession into points.

By half-time, somehow, Ireland led 10-5, despite making twice as many tackles as their opponents and crossing into the Welsh 22 on just one occasion, compared to 14 visits at the other end.

The Watershed gym in Kilkenny hosted the Mick Sherwood Cup last weekend exhibiting the rising underage talent of the Kilkenny league.

Each team of u10 boys played at least three matches each, exposing them to good quality competition that will stand them in good stead in the future.