When it started in 1962, producer Tom McGrath intended The Late Late Show to be a light entertainment, informal programme to run as a 'filler' over the summer. Gay Byrne had other ideas.

Look, we know what it’s like in Croke Park at half-time of a major game.

Here are the top three films you don’t want to miss this week, writes Declan Burke.

Tom McGrath reckons it was close to 9pm before his nephew Brian left the Connolly house on the night of Saturday, September 19.

Check out our spolier-free guide to Christmas Day TV.

On September 29, Loughmore-Castleiney beat Borrisoleigh by 1-17 to 2-12 to book a place in the Tipperary senior hurling championship final.

London 1-16 Meath 1-14

After a lacklustre second instalment, which saw Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the hypochondriac giraffe and Gloria the hippopotamus crash-land in Africa, ‘Madagascar 3’ rediscovers some of its animal magic.

Six separate reports on child protection measures in Catholic dioceses in Ireland will be published today.

Six separate reports on child protection measures in Catholic dioceses in Ireland will be published tomorrow.

THE detective responsible for exposing the horrific sex abuse in the diocese of Raphoe in Donegal has said the lid is set to explode on the entire affair.

An animation good Vs evil that does its best to deliver but ultimately disappoints, even though Ferrell is good as the big-headed blue bad dude who must change his ways.

THURLES SARSFIELDS dethroned Mid Tipperary senior hurling champions Drom Inch to claim their 41st divisional title at Templemore yesterday.

Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the hypochondriac giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the hippopotamus (Jada Pinkett Smith) are finally ready to leave the exotic island of Madagascar and return to the plush surroundings of New York’s Central Park Zoo.

The gang – cute jungle animals who come loaded with funny faces, human foibles and great one-liners – are back, still trying to return to their New York zoo home after being stranded and most certainly out-of-water in what should have been their natural habitat.

BRIAN BARRETT, a cousin of former Irish Olympian Francis Barrett, brought the curtain down on a marathon session of National Intermediate Championships quarter-finals with a thrilling win over Patrick O’Shea at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.

FEARS persisted yesterday that thousands of Irish-owned homes in Spain could face demolition despite reassurances from property advisers.

JUST a couple of weeks after a sell-out event at the same venue, Rylane Boxing Club will stage another boxing extravaganza at the Riverside Park Hotel in Macroom on Friday, February 23.

DAVID BARRETT (Rylane) bids to emulate older brother Seanie by winning the light welterweight title at the Irish intermediate boxing championship finals at the National Stadium tonight.

WITH Thurles CBS safely through to the knockout stages of the Harty Cup after Christmas, the battle is on for the second spot in Section C.

MULLINGAR clubmates Martin Fagan and Mark Christie could be reunited on the Irish cross-country team for the first time since 2001 when the squad for next month’s SPAR European Cross-Country Championships in Tilburg is announced.

Thurles CBS 2-13 Presentation Ballingarry 0-5

A Dublin architect has won an international competition to design a state-of-the-art visitors’ centre for the Giant’s Causeway, it was announced today.

From DreamWorks, the makers of Shrek, comes this warm, fuzzy, yet ultimately disappointing animated feature about a bunch of animals who escape from a New York zoo and fetch up in the wilds of Madagascar.

BIG time boxing comes to Youghal tomorrow night when the St. Colman’s Club from Shanagarry move from their spiritual home Garryvoe to stage their annual showpiece at 7.30 pm.

A 71-year-old man was jailed in Dublin today for obstructing the work of the Garda Criminal Assets Bureau.