Kya deLongchamps unleashes a few home truths about pets and hygiene.

The Cork couple from the renowned Carducci Quartet are looking forward to playing with Julian Bliss on their Irish tour this week, writes Cathy Desmond.

With 900 accredited journalists, 350 chefs, 250 bookmakers and 100 helicopter flights a day, it is little wonder that the famous annual Cheltenham Festival which gets under way tomorrow can claim to be the biggest jump meeting in the world.

Former Gold Cup third Road To Riches could return to Cheltenham this autumn after changing hands at Doncaster on Wednesday.

Motorists in the UK have been warned of dangerous conditions on the roads and air travellers of potential disruption as snow and ice hit large swathes of the country.

A lucky UK metal detector enthusiast's breathtaking find is a first in British history, according to archaeologists.

A “fantasist” Corkman, who posed as a barrister to trick a terminal cancer sufferer out of her life savings, has been jailed for eight years.

A collector has been convicted of capturing, killing and possessing specimens of Britain's rarest butterfly - the Large Blue.

Hotpot needs to be tested to prove his greatness.

The weather has improved; the butterflies are flying.

A coach carrying a group of British school pupils has crashed in France near the Swiss border.

British Labour MP Jo Cox died yesterday after being shot and stabbed in the street outside her constituency advice surgery.

Champion chaser Chris Anderson left daredevil challengers trailing in his wake as he won the annual Cheese Rolling again.

Des O’Sullivan gets closer to nature on the spectacular treetop walkway.

It’s more famous for its magnificent scenery, but Gougane Barra can now lay claim to being the best place in the country to answer nature’s call, after it was voted home to one of the world’s top 100 toilets.

Good days and bad days at Cheltenham. 

Ruby, Willie. Cheltenham. Ah, sure, you know the rest.

Poldark star Aidan Turner famously made female viewers swoon by scything topless, but his activities have also boosted the numbers of those wanting to learn more about the country craft.

It is no longer possible to shield children from the world, according to Michael Morpurgo who tells Colette Sheridan of his journey from schoolteacher to best-selling author and how his stories inform as well as entertain. 

FKA Twigs reckons she’s really a traditional girl at heart. The 27-year-old singer claimed that she’s looking to settle down with a husband and kids and has no ambitions to be part of the world of fellow star TAYLOR SWIFT and her “squad”.

Before taking charge of the Springboks, Kitch Christie made a bold prediction: “Six months is long enough for a coach to win the World Cup.”

ENGLAND: Ram-raiders have escaped with a five- figure sum after using a JCB digger to smash a cash machine from a wall.

What's on telly?

She made her name writing children’s book yet is considered one of the literary talents of a generation. As her 50th birthday approaches, fellow author, Louise O’Neill profiles the wonderful JK Rowling

A three-year-old boy who was missing with his mother in England for more than two weeks is now “safely back” in the care of his father.

USA: Screen and TV star, diva and beloved Muppet Miss Piggy has been recognised for her contributions to society with a feminist award at the Brooklyn Museum in New York.

Cricket Ireland chose John Bracewell as the new head coach “because he gets us and he gets Test cricket’, according to high performance director Richard Holdsworth.

Vautour is one of five potential runners for Willie Mullins after a total of 18 horses stood their ground for the Ryanair Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

Plans for Hidden Cyclone are on hold after the 10-year-old sustained a nasty gash on his leg in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

“A bad day at the office,” said one bookie after the first day of the Cheltenham Festival ended with five of the seven races claimed by Irish trainers.

Hundreds of convicted sex offenders have gone missing across the UK, police have revealed.

David Bridgwater was in the news for the right reasons at Plumpton yesterday when Bravo Riquet followed up a recent victory at the course in the TV Focus At timeform.com Handicap Chase.

Rachel Joyce

USA: A woman and her daughter both gave birth at the same hospital in Florida on the same day.

An Englishman suing the Irish state for wrongful arrest in connection with the murder of a French film-maker was told he would be shot dead if he could not be framed, a court has heard.

Here's our spoiler-free guide to the best shows on TV tonight.

A new cafe serving meals made from food rescued from the bin has opened in the UK.

A band of "greedy" women masterminded a £21m (€26m) get-rich-quick scheme — fleecing at least 10,000 victims.

As a rule, football matches are normally called off if the pitch is waterlogged. But the rules don’t seem to apply in the Cotswolds – particularly over the August Bank Holiday.

The Badger Trust is back in court today with a new legal challenge over the British Government’s badger cull policy.

A trip to the seaside for a group of children could have turned into a tragedy when a coach crashed and overturned on a motorway in England.

Unlike his new character, Simon Pegg has found contentment at home, writes Keeley Bolger

Former BBC Radio 1 breakfast show DJ Mike Smith has died aged 59.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a member of staff at a hospital was stabbed to death at work.