Today's other stories in brief
Over 30,000 taken in post office raid
Gardaí investigating a raid on a shop and post office in Co Roscommon on Saturday morning have arrested three people.
More than €30,000 was taken in the raid in the village of Ballinlough by a gang, who were armed with a sawn-off shotgun, a knife and a hatchet.
A Garda statement last night said two men and a woman had been arrested in Roscommon town.
All three were being detained at Roscommon Garda station.
The men are aged 27 and 36 and the woman is aged 28.
Pilot treated following crash
A pilot was being treated for minor injuries yesterday after a light aircraft crash landed at the Irish Parachute Club near Clonbullogue, Co Offaly.
It is understood the pilot ordered four parachute jumpers out of the aircraft before he attempted to carry out a forced landing at about 2.30pm.
A Garda spokesman said the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Transport was carrying out an investigation.
Brothers win RTÉ talent final
Three brothers from the Aran Islands last night won the final round of RTÉ's All-Ireland Talent Show.
The Mulkerrin brothers, a traditional group comprising brothers Pádraig (14), Éamonn (11) and Seán (9) from Inis Mór, came out ahead of 24 other finalists in the popular vote to claim prize-money of €50,000.
Last night’s final was the culmination of a contest that was broadcast every Sunday night from January 4th. Billed as Ireland’s biggest talent contest, auditions for the show took place in five locations across Ireland last November and December.
200,000 raised by six cyclists
Six young Irish graduates have raised almost €200,000 for charity after completing a 25,000km cycle from Alaska to the bottom of South America.
The group arrived back in Ireland after nine months on the road after becoming the first Irish group to cycle from the top of North America to the southern tip of Argentina.
The group of six – Alan Gray, Kevin Hillier, Brian McDermott, Ben Cunningham, Cillian O’Shea and John Garry – undertook the trip to raise money for Aidlink, who work with children in Kenya.
Commons advice from UCC expert
A linguistics expert at University College Cork is to offer advice to a British House of Commons committee.
UCC dean of arts Dr Maeve Conrick has accepted an invitation to act as specialist adviser to the House of Commons Welsh affairs committee. The committee is preparing for an inquiry into the proposed Welsh- language legislative competence order, which is seeking a transfer of the powers to legislate on the Welsh language from Westminster to the National Assembly for Wales.
Honoured for céilí contribution
Legendary musician Donal Ring has been honoured for 50 years of contribution to céilí music and dance. The Cork-born musician has been named Cork person of the month for longevity and creativity in his work.
The Donal Ring Céilí Band, formed in 1958, will perform at Cork’s Everyman Palace Theatre tomorrow night for a special St Patrick’s Day celebration.
' Pay to pray' on Croagh Patrick
Car parking fees – dubbed “pay to pray” charges – are to be imposed for the first time by Mayo County Council for pilgrims climbing Croagh Patrick. The council has confirmed that from later this year anybody using the main car park at Murrisk, at the foot of the mountain, will have to pay to do so.