A round-up of today's other home news in brief ...
Chauvinistic politics criticised
The mayor of Clare has criticised what she calls the male-orientated outlook and chauvinistic thought processes that permeate Irish politics.
Councillor and former Fine Gael frontbench spokeswoman Madeleine Taylor Quinn made her comments as she announced that she would not be contesting the forthcoming local elections.
U2 songs for Broadway show
A new Spider-Man musical, featuring songs by U2’s Bono and Edge, is set to open on Broadway next January. The show has a reported budget of $31.3 million (€24.6 million), making it Broadway’s most expensive production.
It will be directed by Julie Taymor, who won a Tony award for The Lion King.
Iveagh House portrait donated
A portrait of Bishop Robert Clayton, the original owner of Iveagh House, attributed to Charles Philips, has been presented to Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin on behalf of U2’s Adam Clayton.
Now headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Iveagh House was commissioned by Bishop Clayton from the architect Richard Castle in 1736.
Library buys Montague papers
The National Library has announced the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, of a substantial archive of papers by acclaimed Irish poet John Montague.
The collection, most of which dates from post-1987, consists of dozens of boxes of manuscripts and drafts as well as extensive correspondence with other writers, including Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney.
Brooklyn-born Montague was raised in Co Tyrone. He celebrates his 80th birthday on Saturday.
Ill man had to wait hours for hospital
A seriously ill man waited for up to seven hours before he was taken by ambulance from prison to hospital where he died two days later, an inquest has heard.
Joseph Mangan (35), Gloucester Place, Dublin, was brought by ambulance from Mountjoy Prison to the Mater hospital on July 25th, 2007, having been found unwell in his cell that morning.
Mr Mangan died of multi- organ failure due to endstage liver disease two days later.
5,000 fine and ban for car death
A Cork man has been fined €5,000 and banned from driving for five years after he admitted causing a man’s death in a two-car collision in west Cork last year.
Barry Stevenson (24), Ballincollig, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday to dangerous driving causing the death of Peter Dukelow (38) at Dromasta, Drimoleague, on May 30th, 2008.
Cork man found guilty of assault
A man has been convicted of assault causing serious harm to former Republic international Miah Dennehy who suffered a brain injury which has left him incapable of independent living.
David Naughton (54), Avonmore Park, Mayfield, had denied assault causing serious harm to Mr Dennehy (58) on August 17th, 2007.
Women settle Pod damages
Four young Dublin women, who between them claimed damages of more than €150,000 for defamation of character and wrongful imprisonment, have settled their actions against The Pod nightclub.
Sandra and Louise Laffey, Rafters Road, Drimnagh, Charlene McGuane, Mobhi Grove, Glasnevin, and Ruth Kelly, Carlingford Road, Drumcondra, had sued Sandgate Ltd, which trades as The Pod, for €38,000 damages each.