‘The excess for the summer keeps us going through the winter, and that’s gone now’

John Early dies after swimming near Terryglass; a man in his 40s dies near Portumna

Co Antrim town also won the Best Kept Small Town category in this year’s competition

Tim O’Brien imagined a life of ease, messing about on his boat at weekends, but after yet another wet summer he says owning a cruiser is like standing under a cold shower tearing up €50 notes

Change is ‘difficult and necessary’ at Macnas, as budget issues meant no arts festival parade