Eirgas considers stake in the Celtic Sea

Exploration company Providence says its new subsidiary Eirgas has secured an option to buy 40 per cent of the Kinsale Head area assets in the Celtic Sea from Petronas.

This would give the company a stake in Kinsale Head, South West Kinsale and the Ballycotton gas fields as well as an 86.5 per cent interest in the gas producing Seven Head field, reports businessworld.ie.

Providence says the move will see its daily production rate double to over 4,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Women killed in Cavan crash

Gardaí are investigating the death of a woman in a crash in County Cavan early yesterday morning.

It is understood the 64-year-old woman lost control of her car on the Mullagh to Crossreagh Road. According to the Irish Times, the car was found overturned in a deep drain at the side of the road at 10.30am.

The woman, who was alone in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Work on Antrim schools project gets underway

The building work for a County Antrim schools project has just commenced, reports build.ie.

Northern Ireland Education Minister Caitríona Ruane and Bishop McKeown joined forces to greet work getting underway at Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock and St Joseph's Primary School in Carryduff.

The new building at St Joseph's Primary School, costing £5million is due to open in May 2010 whilst the college scheme - costing £22million to build on the current site - is due to open in 2011.