The latest addition to our stellar team of rugby writers reflects on the ups and downs of a magnificent playing career — and reveals the reasons why he's chosen to move to Paris to kick-start his coaching career.

Mice raised without bacteria in the gut showed distinctly autistic patterns of behaviour, choosing to interact with objects more than other mice, scientists at University College Cork (UCC) have found.

THERE are three reasons why a managed exit by Ireland from the eurozone is the most urgent economic priority. But first consider this reality.

WATCH them riding on, the three musketeers, Alan Shatter, James Reilly and Phil Hogan!

The latest addition to our stellar team of rugby writers reflects on the ups and downs of a magnificent playing career — and reveals the reasons why he's chosen to move to Paris to kick-start his coaching career.

A TD has said those behind misleading anti-abortion leaflets being circulated in her constituency which contain graphic images and purport to come from her are "sick people".

The sleek white Lauren L yacht has become Cork's latest tourist attraction, and you have to admit, it definitely adds a touch of glamour to the place.

Paddy Power are today refunding all win and each way singles to customers who backed Ireland's Ryan Dolan for last night's Eurovision.

A man was killed and two others were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds today following a "serious incident" understood to involve a serving British soldier.

A man who mugged an 83-year-old lady in Cork city centre thought he could outrun his pursuer — but found to his cost the chaser was training for a marathon.

There is less than a 10% probability that the euro will break up, but if it did corporate Ireland would be able to cope with the fallout, says Tiarnan O'Mahoney, head of Moneycorp in Ireland.

Legislation that would force every company with more than 500 workers to declare how much it earns in each country, and how much tax it pays, could have a major effect on Ireland.

It is believed the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan told the IMF that he will look to Contingent Convertible Capital (CoCo) Notes if the banks need additional capital buffers following the stress tests.

Vegetarian food producer Dee's Wholefoods has launched a range of vegan, gluten-free, and GMO-free sausages in Tesco stores.

An external review into the risk management of the Irish electronic payments system following the failure of Ulster Bank last year has found that reviews weren't carried out often enough.

Cubic Telecom, the Dublin- based communications firm, has attracted $5.2m (€4m) in external investment and is to create more than 70 jobs over the next three years.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has confirmed that Nama has agreed annual rent reductions totalling €14m from businesses "in order to help businesses survive".

Glanbia MD designate Siobhan Talbot will be the first female head of an Irish plc with a turnover in excess of €2bn and given John Moloney's impressive record, the Kilkenny woman has a tough act to follow, writes Kyran FitzGerald

Shares in Irish exploration firm Petroceltic International fell nearly 4% yesterday on the back of the company abandoning an exploration well in one of the territories into which it expanded last year.

The significant level of job vacancies in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector highlights a "severe" shortage of suitably skilled applicants in the Irish workforce, a new study has warned.

Teacher unions and others that remain opposed to €300m public sector pay cut proposals will be subjected to laws cutting higher salaries and other work changes, Enda Kenny said yesterday.

University College Cork intends to be largely self-funding within five years, saving the Irish taxpayer millions of euro a year.

The British parliament is to investigate if security services could have done more to prevent the murder of a soldier hacked to death in a London street after it emerged that his suspected killers were known to intelligence officers.

ULSTER SFC QUARTER-FINAL:Donegal v Tyrone For too long, we've been decrying the anti-climactic starts to thevarious provincial championships. Now we have a genuine no-holds barred contest in Ballybofey.

Joe Schmidt has opted against speculating whether Sean O'Brien will miss the opening weeks of the British and Irish Lions tour after omitting the injured flanker from his squad of 23 for today's RaboDirect Pro12 decider.

First volume of Margaret Thatcher's authorised biography is predictably flattering, but not a hagiography, says Shaun Connolly

Highlights include Colin Stafford Johnson's new series on the Shannon, and highly-rated new spy drama The Americans.