What the papers say

Journalist Liz Kennedy takes a look at what is making the headlines in Friday's morning papers.

A young person's medical emergency with a happy ending makes the headlines locally.

From fit and healthy to being given just hours to live, but fortunately now well recovered, teenager Cealan McEvoy smiles out from the front of The Irish News.

The 13-year-old collapsed after suffering from a freak virus, which led to liver failure.

He was rushed to England for an emergency transplant.

The case leads the paper to examine the need for donors and says that 14 people locally are waiting for a liver transplant.

Meanwhile, the threat to sheep farmers is the lead in the News Letter, following the news that a major meat processing plant is to stop its lamb operation.

Glastonbury prince

But inside the paper, the Prince of Wales is pictured, making his first visit to Glastonbury.

His festival gear was a regimental tie and polished brogues, though he did unbutton his jacket.

Whilst Prince Charles was at Glastonbury, the Queen was at Wimbledon.

After much speculation about the subject, Andy Murray is seen firmly shaking Her Majesty's hand on the front of the Daily Telegraph.

"Game set and Maj", says the Mirror, as Murray cruised to an easy victory on Centre Court. Of course on court 18, the historic fifth set went to 70-68.

Hard work, and with the Government revising pension provision, "work until you drop" seems to be coming for all of us.

That is the take from the Express, which is exercised by what it sees as "the glaring divide" between public and state pensions.

The Mail says that life for many millions became harder on Thursday. But the Times documents that when the state pension was introduced in 1926, two-thirds of men did not even reach their 65th birthday to claim it.

The Daily Telegraph comes up with a simple sentence. "We're now living longer", it says, "we must work longer".

Or perhaps governments have to look to other money-making schemes, like the Greek government for example.

Island dream

It is selling off its islands or at least letting them go on a long lease, reports the Guardian.

Only 227 of its 6,000 odd islands are populated, so they could be just the thing for reclusive millionaires with Russians amongst the main people interested, including Roman Abramovich, it is reported. Greek property prices have plummeted by 10 to 20% since the Athens riots in May.

There are Irish property concerns in the southern papers.

The International Monetary Fund is backing measures in the Republic that will help mortgage lenders to thrash out new payment terms for struggling homeowners.

The Irish Independent says that every Monday courts in Dublin are clogged with homeowners threatened with repossession. Some four out of 10 cases are taken by sub-prime lenders.

The Irish Times quotes the preliminary report issued by the IMF on Thursday. It said that Irish policymakers have gained significant credibility as a result of measures taken to avert the current crisis in the south.

And finally, she has always been a children's favourite and now Cinderella is top of the adult fairy tale pops.

The Sun has the story of the poll topped by Cinders the classic "rags to riches" tale. Beauty and the Beast came second in the ratings and A Christmas Carol was third.

The cheery news from the Sky broadband poll was that even in this age of technology, seven out of 10 parents still read fairy stories to their children - to help them tell right from wrong, they say.