Almost without exception the regional papers are celebrating the fact that towns all over the country are to play host to young people competing in the Special Olympics in 2003.
The Leitrim Observer headlines the fact that the county has had four towns selected while the Longford News gives front-page coverage to the fact that the town will host the team from the United Arab Emirates. The Roscommon Herald carries the headline: "Four towns selected as Special Olympics Host Towns".
The Offaly Independent has a front-page headline: Offaly to welcome Moroccan, Malaysian and Kosovan Olympians".
The Western People reports that teams from Venezuela, France Luxembourg, Chad, Tanzania, Algeria and Puerto Rico will visit Mayo.
The Kilkenny People reports: "Kilkenny City will play host to the German national team, the third largest team in Europe. Callan will welcome a team from the Ivory Coast , made up of 14 athletes and four coaches. Thomastown will host a team from St Lucia, an island in the Caribbean "
The Leinster Leader's Niamh O'Donoghue reports : "Athy, Celbridge, Kilcock, Kilcullen, Leixlip, Maynooth, Monasterevin ester, Naas, Rathangan and Newbridge have all been chosen as host towns to the delight of their Olympic committees".
Poetry takes some prominence in a number of regional papers although there seems to be some dispute between Longford and Cavan. The Anglo Celt devotes its front-page lead to a report which is headlined: "Cavan poet scoops Ireland's top poetry prize".
Vonnie Quinn reports: "A Cavan man has won Ireland's most prestigious poetry prize. Noel Monaghan was chosen over 2,500 other poets for his entry, the Funeral Game. Respected poets such as Michael Longley, Evan Boland and Cathal ╙ Searchaigh made up the distinguished panel of judges".
The Longford Leader claims the poet as their own. The paper says: "Premier Irish literary award for Longford poet." The report beneath the headline says: "Noel, who originally hails from Granard, was presented with the top prize of £5,000 by President Mary McAleese at an award ceremony in Dublin Castle."
Litter is a constant concern to the regional newspapers and several papers carry news of bin charges. The Westmeath Examiner reports that : "Ratepayers in Westmeath will face an additional 5 per cent in their annual demand following last month's estimate meeting in Mullingar." The Westmeath Independent confirms the report with their headline: "Ratepayers face hike in fees."
The Wexford People carries a headline: "Bin charges set to rise by more than 10 per cent".
The report by David Tucker says: "Council sources said better Local Government would cost county Wexford in the region of £2.4 million next year, most of the money needed to pay the salaries of additional staff and increases for newly promoted officials."
Also in the Wexford People we are told by reporter David Tucker that: "A couple of weeks ago, May Scallan and her husband Bernard, had a single grandchild now they have four - three of them born to different family members within the space of six days."
May Scallan is reported as saying: "It's like having triplets."
The Gorey Guardian leads its front page with the report, by Colm Lambert, which reveals: "A link to the ancient Ireland of at least 1,500 years BC has been discovered on a building site at Kilmurray, just north of Gorey Town".