Working in the arts is not a route to riches but it can offer interesting work as Ballincollig native, Gillian Hennessy discovered.

Esther N McCarthy focuses on the bedroom this week, from headboards to jewellery stands, lampshades to desks.

Mehmet Aksoy, 32, who grew up in England, is believed to have joined a Kurdish military force, The People's Defence Units, working as a press officer.

Police in Belfast are investigating a small explosion in the city centre in the early hours of this morning.

A 65-year-old woman and her son have been arrested after police suspected they were planning to take her husband to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to commit suicide, sources said.

Former 'I'm A Celebrity' contestant Aggro Santos was found not guilty today of raping two girls he had taken back to his hotel rooms after performing at gigs.

A man has died while trying to rescue two children after they got into difficulties in the sea, according to the UK Coastguard.

Tony McCoy demonstrated his admirable constitution once again at Fontwell as he shrugged off a crashing fall to ride the winner of the following race just half an hour later.

Surgeons are deciding this morning whether to operate on Ryan Moore’s broken humerus.

Ryan Moore could be sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering a nasty fall on the final day of Glorious Goodwood.

Budget hotel chain Travelodge announced the creation of 200 new jobs in the UK in the run-up to Christmas today.

About 30 people were being rescued from a beachfront caravan park in Britain today after sea defences were breached by crashing waves and flooded the site, coastguards said.

Portsmouth Football Club manager Harry Redknapp said tonight that he was “not directly concerned” with a police investigation into corruption in the sport.

Figures from all sectors of society have paid tribute to “inspirational” Anita Roddick following her sudden death from a brain haemorrhage.

Dame Anita Roddick died tonight after suffering a major brain haemorrhage, her family said tonight.

British pub group JD Wetherspoon reported some respite from falling sales today, as the pubs chain pressed ahead with plans for 30 more non-smoking sites this year.

A guitarist with an up-and-coming band has been found hanging at recording studios owned by Peter Gabriel.

An Argentine judge has rejected a French request to extradite former Argentine Naval officer Alfredo Astiz, wanted for his alleged role in the deaths of two nuns during the South American country’s “dirty war”, a news report said.

For Pete Shannon the next two months of his life will be, literally, a beach.

The pilot of a light plane which failed to return to an airfield is thought to have crashed into the sea.

Television star Michael Elphick is to be cremated during a private service on Wednesday, his mother said today.

A woman suspected of driving her car and a 15-month-old girl on to a public beach in West Sussex before trying to strangle the youngster with seaweed is in custody on suspicion of attempted murder, police said.

The parents of eight-year-old Sarah Payne arrived at court this morning to face the man accused of her killing for the first time.

The man accused of kidnapping and murdering eight-year-old Sarah Payne is due to appear in court.

The man charged with the kidnapping and murder of Sarah Payne has been remanded in custody.

A 42-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Sarah Payne.