A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Charity boat trip around Irish coast
A 28-year-old native of Clare Island, Co Mayo, who almost lost his sight last year because of a rare eye condition, started out in a purpose built rigid inflatable boat from Westport Quay last Sunday on a circumnavigation of Ireland, writes Tom Shiel.
Carl O'Grady, who operates the Clare Island Ferry Company with his father, Chris, is being joined on the trip by his brother, Brian, and Ronan Keys from Sligo.
The aim of the trip, which is expected to last five days, is to raise funds and awareness for the Fighting Blindness Charity.
St Patrick's Purgatory reopens
St Patrick's Purgatory on Lough Derg in Co Donegal reopened at the weekend with almost 1,000 pilgrims from all over Ireland as well as pilgrims from as far afield as Samoa and the Philippines, writes Patsy McGarry.
Pilgrims from 44 countries visited the island last year, with the great majority being Irish.
The island is open until August 15th for the traditional pilgrimage, with people of all faiths and none assured of a welcome.
Labour to hold Galway meeting
The Labour Party is holding a public meeting this week to discuss the need for an integrated public transport system for Galway and its surrounding region.
President of the party and TD for Galway West, Michael D Higgins believes the only realistic way to plan for the future transportation needs of Galway city and its surrounding towns is to structure plans on a regional basis.
The meeting will be held on Thursday night, June 15th in the Great Southern Hotel in Eyre Square.
Údarás in film studio discussions
Údarás na Gaeltachta says it has been in discussions with TG4 and several film production companies in Connemara about securing long-term studio facilities in the Gaeltacht area, writes Lorna Siggins.
The privately-owned Corman Studios near TG4 in An Tulach are currently up for sale and former arts minister Michael D Higgins has said that they must be retained as part of vital infrastructure for the film industry.
The studios are being used to film Ireland's first indigenous television drama series for teenagers, made in the Irish language.
Telegael, which is making the 13-part series, Aifric for TG4, has secured agreement from the owners to use the facility until September.
Cork Temperance Weekend events
Plans for a Cork Temperance Weekend to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the death of Fr Theobald Mathew (1790 - 1856) the "Apostle of Temperance" and the birth of Venerable Matt Talbot (1856 - 1925) are to be announced by the city's lord mayor on Wednesday, writes Patsy McGarry.
The "weekend" takes place from October 6th to 8th.
Fr Mathew was a Corkman and Capuchin friar who led a very successful anti-drink movement from 1839 until he died.
Matt Talbot was a Dubliner and chronic alcoholic who took the pledge at 28 and kept it for the rest of his life.
Events planned for the weekend include a banquet and an international conference of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association.
Man critical after Dublin shooting
Gardaí are investigating a shooting which has left a man in a critical condition in St James's Hospital.
The man (42) was shot once in the back at 10.30pm on Sunday at Aughavannagh Road, Crumlin. Gardaí found him lying on the street. He was taken by ambulance to St James's where he underwent surgery.
The scene was closed off and examined by the Garda Technical Bureau yesterday. Gardaí say a 2006 Ford Focus was seen in the area and they have asked anybody who might have information to contact Crumlin Garda station on 01-666 6200.
Gardaí say youth's death suspicious
Gardaí are appealing to the public for anyone with information about the death of a youth in Co Waterford to come forward, writes Ciarán Murphy.
A woman discovered the body of Patrick O'Regan (17), between 5.30pm and 6pm on Saturday, at Woodstown Lodge, Co Waterford, after returning from a trip abroad.
He was from the Lismore Park area of the city.
A section of road in the upper village was sealed off on Saturday evening, pending the arrival of the Garda Technical Bureau and State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy. Members of the Garda Technical Bureau carried out preliminary forensic examinations at the scene on Sunday.
The preliminary results of a postmortem revealed that the youth died of severe head trauma, consistent with a heavy fall, according to Garda Supt Dave Sheahan.
Gardaí are still treating the death as suspicious and said that reports yesterday that they had ruled out foul play were incorrect.
Gardaí are asking anyone in the vicinity of Woodstown beach between 10.30pm on Friday and 5.40pm on Saturday to contact them on 051 305300.
First nationalist mayor for Larne
Former SDLP Assembly member Danny O'Connor was last night elected the first nationalist mayor of Larne, Co Antrim. He was elected unanimously on the proposal of the DUP, seconded by the Ulster Unionist Council.
Mr O'Connor, who over the years has been subjected to loyalist paramilitary intimidation and attacks, said the election was a proud moment for himself, his town and his party and reflected a growing political maturity in the area.
He paid tributes to the councillors who voted for him and said the election marked a turning point for Larne and indicated an improvement in inter-community relations.
He said that over the next 12 months he would try to be a bridge-builder. "Our worst days are behind us and our best days are ahead of us."
UUP defection to NI Conservatives
The Ulster Unionists have been hit by another defection to the Northern Ireland Conservatives provoked by the controversy over the decision to permit David Ervine to join the Assembly group.
Philip Smith, a former Ards councillor, quit the UUP last night following the resignation of Peter Bowles. Both left the party in protest at its alliance at Stormont with the UVF-linked Progressive Unionists.
City manager at final meeting
The outgoing Dublin city manager, John Fitzgerald, received a standing ovation from councillors at his final council meeting last night.
Mr Fitzgerald is leaving the council on Friday after 10 years as city manager. He is due to be replaced by the current Fingal county manager, John Tierney, next month.
Mr Fitzgerald said he had enjoyed a good relationship with the councillors. He regretted "rows" over the waste-management charge but "there was never any bitterness or rancour of any kind". He was happy that he had done as much as he could over the last 10 years and he thanked councillors for "the company and the craic".