Energy company announces 1500 jobs

A Cootehill-based company has announced an ambitious expansion to create 10 wind-farms in Ireland.

Gaeltech Energy plan to invest €740 million in the project which it says will create up to 1,500 jobs during the construction phase. Gaeltech energy says its wind farm project will be able to provide electricity to over 135,000 houses when completed.

The company will locate the wind farms in Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Sligo, Offaly, Laois and Longford. According to a statement issued by Gaeltech, 1500 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project and a further 3,500 will be created in supporting industries.

Home Energy Savers Scheme Expected To Create Thousands Of Jobs

Conor Lenihan, TD, Minister for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources today officially launched a nationwide scheme expected to generate thousands of new jobs in the clean-tech sector over the next 6 to 12 months.

The main focus of the Greenloan Home Energy Savers Scheme is to create significant employment opportunities in local communities throughout Ireland by grouping homeowners to avail of large discounts in upgrading their properties.

Over 250 clusters comprising thousands of homeowners in all 26 counties have already been created under the scheme, which was originally piloted in 2008 as part of the pilot phase of the SEI Home Energy Saving Scheme (HES).

See Greenloan.ie

Clare hurlers straight through to Munster semis

Clare have been drawn against the winners of Cork and Tipperary in next year's All Ireland Munster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final.

Mike MacNamara's side were handed a bye in this evening's draw at Croke Park. Justin McCarthy will lead Limerick out against his old side Waterford, managed by Sixmilebridge's David Fitzgerald, in the other semi-final.

Munster Hurling Championship
Quarter-final
Cork v Tipperary
Semi-finals
Waterford v Limerick
Clare v Cork / Tipperary

Leinster Hurling Championship
Quarter-finals
Laois v Galway
Offaly v Wexford
Dublin v Antrim
Kilkenny straight into open semi-final draw

O'Donoghue Freed From Portlaoise

The man sentenced in Ennis for the manslaughter of Co Cork schoolboy Robert Holohan three years ago has been released from the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise this morning.

Wayne O'Donoghue (left) was freed just before 7am after serving three years of a four-year sentence.

The 23-year-old read a prepared statement to waiting journalists and photographers.