As events, and my 12-year-old girl would have it, I've just spent back-to-back Saturdays in the Parochial Hall on Cork city's northside.Watching Basketball.

Tomás Ó Sé believes the structure of the Munster championship doesn't have the players' interests at heart.

Irish jockey Eddie Ahern will appeal the 10-year disqualification imposed on him by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) following the conclusion of a corruption hearing.

Bank of Ireland has confirmed that it will become main sponsor of Munster Rugby from July 2013.

Rory McIlroy has mended signs of a split in his relationship with long-time friend Graeme McDowell ahead of playing alongside one another in the BMW PGA Championship, which begins at Wentworth today.

Cork U21 football manager John Cleary does not feel Damien Cahalane or Brian Hurley would be overawed by making the step up to senior championship football.

The racism row surrounding Sergio Garcia took another twist this afternoon when European Tour chief executive George O'Grady used the phrase "coloured athletes" when discussing the decision not to sanction the Spaniard.

The head of one of Holland's leading players' unions says the growing trend of players being relegated to the reserves amid stalled contract negotiations is a "sickening state of affairs".

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos believes Gareth Bale would be right at home at the Bernabeu.

Martin O'Neill is a strong candidate on Everton's shortlist to replace David Moyes as manager.

Anything the dogs can do it seems cats are always determined to do better.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he personally supports proposed legislation allowing abortion in limited circumstances, which he said is "consistent with the pro-life position".

British police arrested two more people yesterday in a hunt for accomplices of two British men of Nigerian descent accused of hacking a soldier to death on a London street in revenge for wars in Muslim countries.

This is how the ideal female celebrity would look, according to a survey carried out in Britain.

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.

RABODIRECT PRO12 FINAL: Leinster v UlsterThe perception prior to Brian O'Driscoll's recent decision to add an extra year onto his stellar career was that a place on a victorious Lions tour was the only box left to tick after 14 long years, but it was never that simple.

Champions Donegal will begin their defence of the Ulster SFC against Tyrone at Ballybofey on Sunday (4pm) with the same 15 players who started last September's All-Ireland final win over Mayo.

Byzantium, partly filmed in Ireland, is Neil Jordan's second film in the genre he has loved since Bram Stoker's home first spooked him as a child, says Marc O'Sullivan

A new exhibition in Cork showcases artists from Berlin, says Tina Darb O'Sullivan

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 Fine Gael TD has revealed that pro-life activists have threatened to slit her throat and burn down her house.

It's a story familiar to GAA people all over the country. A stormy annual general meeting, members walking out, transfer applications handed in afterwards.

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

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.

More than 300,000 people have left Ireland in the past four years. Tempting as it is, Ruairí McKiernan is prepared to stay to help make the country a better 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.

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.

Leaflets criticising the TD who chairs the Dáil committee hearing opinion on legislating for the X case, and likening abortion to the Holocaust, are being sent to homes in Cork.

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.