A DARK shadow hangs over the reputations of some of Ireland’s greatest athletes and nothing, it seems, can ever remove it.

Gráinne Murphy came agonisingly close to breaking Michelle Smith de Bruin’s Irish record in the final of the women’s 200m freestyle on the opening day of the Carlton Irish National Swimming and Olympic Trials at the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) in Dublin yesterday.

AFTER PASSING one national test, star Irish swimmer Gráinne Murphy faces an examination of a different type this week.

Limerick High Performance Centre swimmer Grainne Murphy has won gold for Ireland in today's final of the 400 metres Individual Medley at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Prague.

AN BORD Pleanála has given the green light for work to begin on the long-awaited Waterford to Kilcullen dual carriageway, despite close to 20 major objections from land and home owners.

FEARS are growing that work on the long-awaited Waterford to Kilcullen route could be delayed.

IRELAND'S greatest woman is an 18th century nun credited with establishing girls' education in the State.

SENIOR design staff involved in the development of the long-awaited Waterford to Kilcullen dual carriageway say they hope to begin the first phase of the 64km route by this time next year.

IN 1998, swimmer Michelle Smith de Bruin became embroiled in one of Irish sport's most controversial episodes.