WE HEAR a lot these days about a condition known as nature deficit disorder — the ill effects on children resulting from lack of direct contact with the natural world — while at the same time there were never more school programmes on the environment, writes Donal Hickey.

Last Monday, as I left the house for a late night walk, a hundred or more woodlice were climbing the walls outside my front door. 

A case in which two Romanian pleaded guilty to stealing €600 worth of perfume and aftershave from a pharmacy in Macroom has been referred to a later court date for sentencing.

Graham Dwyer saw his victim as nothing more than an object to fulfil a depraved fantasy, writes Michael Clifford.

The judge in the Graham Dwyer murder trial told the jury that the question of suicidality was important for both sides and he should revisit it as he recalled them.

Psychiatrist: She gave no indication of suicidality

Graham Dwyer's murder trial has heard Elaine O'Hara had an internal violent fantasy world from the age of 12 that involved restraint situations.

The Irish community in New Orleans is rallying around Garda Brian Hanrahan who was shot twice in a mugging earlier this week while on holiday there with his father.

Young seafarers from west Cork arrived home last night to a rousing reception after claiming, for the fifth time, the top prize in an international competition for maritime skills.

THE younger generation might be forgiven for believing that recycling is a new concept here. In fact, it’s quite old.

ONE of Simon Coveney’s first ministerial board appointments saw a key election organiser for his Cabinet colleague Phil Hogan installed as the chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board in Apr 2011.

A man who founded a renowned marine research station has been honoured for his contribution to life in Co Cork.

WHAT would our grandmothers say if they ever saw us paying for bottles of water?

The Murphy family from Inishbeg in Baltimore had an afternoon to remember on finals day at the Ballabuidhe harness racing festival yesterday when their runners captured the two big finals.

Courtmacsherry in West Cork has seen plenty of blue shark about this month.

MY visit to the National Aquarium of Ireland, the Galway Atlantaquaria, in October was enlightening and memorable.

GORT are determined to continue Galway’s remarkable record in the All-Ireland club hurling championship, according to star attacker Aidan Harte.

VICTORIOUS All-Ireland minor winning manager Matt Murphy rounded off a great year when he guided his club Gort to their sixth Galway SHC title with a deserved success in front of a crowd of almost 9,000 at Pearse Stadium yesterday.

THE doctor who administered photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment to two terminally ill cancer patients under the care of Dr Paschal Carmody had been struck off in the US, a court has heard.

THE 2010/11 point-to-point season came well and truly alive at yesterday’s well-attended Lisgoold meeting, which was staged on a new left-handed course at Leadington.

ONE of the expected results of the use of domestic water meters, due to be installed in all households in the coming years, is that people will use less water, already a costly resource that could become scarce before we realise it.

TAKING his defence to the airwaves rather than his impeachment trial, Governor Rod Blagojevich lashed out at his accusers yesterday and revealed he had considered naming chatshow host Oprah Winfrey to the senate.

GALWAY GAA delegates last night gave their backing for their senior hurlers to move into the Leinster championship — despite most of the top officers in the county vehemently opposing it.

Donal Hickey learns how uisce beatha is truly the water of life.

Share trading has been busy at Cork Marts, according to the co-op’s annual report.

ANGLERS are, arguably, the best watchdogs you can have regarding water quality. They are the first to take note when things go wrong, but all too often the powers-that-be do not listen to them.

A TWO-DAY conference highlighting the inadequacies in Ireland’s enforcement of environmental regulations will begin in Cork tomorrow.

A father-of-10 who was found shot dead in a pool of blood had been involved in a long-running feud with members of his extended family, an inquest heard tonight.

AN 18-year-old man who killed another teenager in "a motiveless crime" within hours of meeting him at a house party has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by Judge Michael White at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

A SON found his father crushed to death on a family farm in Co Cork yesterday morning.

Galway minor attacker Kerril Wade has been named the county's Hurler of the Year.