Four-time Olympian and World Athletics Champion Sonia O'Sullivan was one of three individuals awarded with Honorary Doctorates at Dublin City University today.

The organisers of a 10,000 capacity music festival expect it to sell out well in advance after announcing a raft of artists will appear alongside Manic Street Preachers, The Coronas and Sigma.

A congress for those earning their living from Irish music will form part of events surrounding this year’s Seán Ó Riada Gold Medal Competition in Cork.

The trad singing legend attributes his longevity to a simple diet, regular walks, and a vigilant GP, he tells Sharon Ní Chonchúir.  

Ambitious plans by the Institute of Technology Tralee to increase student numbers envisages the shedding of its south campus in the Kerry town.

The casket which carried the body of Irish Fenian leader Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa home from the US has been restored and will go on public display this weekend.

Up to half a million people are expected to flock to thousands of venues nationwide as they open their doors to the public this evening for a free and fun-filled celebration of heritage, culture, arts and music.

Ireland’s biggest traditional music and culture festival has snubbed energy giant Shell after environmentalists kicked up a storm over sponsorship from the company.

Thousands of traditional music aficionados are due to visit Killarney for the Munster Fleadh Cheoil which kicked off officially last night.

It is incongruous that the debate on Government funding of arts should intensify just as acute hospitals’ budgets are cut — again — by tens of millions.

GATHERINGS may be all the rage for 2013, but the concept is old hat to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, which has been gathering together musicians from across the Irish diaspora for over 60 years.

Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann is planning to build a €500,000 “centre of excellence” in a Co Cork village which, it is envisaged, will spawn a money-spinning touring Riverdance-type show focusing on ancient Irish music and dance.

Its death warrant may not come into effect until the end of the month, but already the lights are out at the Garda station in Ballyduff in Co Waterford, after it was designated for closure under the Government’s latest plan.

Tributes were paid yesterday to one of the country’s best known balladeers Robbie McMahon who helped popularise the Irish immigrant ballad, Spancil Hill.

Plans are being drawn up to create a €750,000 visitor centre to commemorate the man whose name is synonymous with Gaelic football.

Derry was today chosen to host Ireland’s national traditional music festival - bringing the event north of the border for the first time.

AN east Clare community is set to benefit from a Sisters of Mercy response to the fall-out from the Ryan report.

VETERAN senator Labhrás Ó Murchú is no stranger to controversy and his last -minute bid for the Áras has split opinion once again.

THOUSANDS ofmusicians are expected to descend on a Cork town next month for one of the largest traditional Irish music festivals of its kind.

THE story of the immigrant ballad Spancil Hill is as pertinent today as it was when Robbie McMahon first sang the song over 60 years ago.

THE first of an estimated 250,000 people expected for this year’s 60th annual All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil have descended on Cavan town for the official opening of the event last night.

BY JULY of 2001, five-year--old Edel Ryan had made a few introductory visits to Ballagh National School in Tipperary, preparing herself for the big day in September when she would join the ranks of the junior infants.

GALWAY’S St Patrick’s Day parade was very colourful and fair play to all who took part.

FORGET the club hurling finals in Croke Park this St Patrick’s Day, the stick sport with unique appeal will be in Jamaica, where Ireland will play in their first ever ICC Cricket World Cup.

The Irish arts and cultural sector was today awarded extra funding of €16.4m for 2006.

UPWARDS of 50,000 people are expected to flock to Ballybunion, Co Kerry, for the week-long World Fleadh, which got underway yesterday.

THEY say you can’t be in two places at once, but the country’s most famous traditional dancing troupe will prove that wrong on St Patrick’s Day.

To set the scene for the first part of our Top 50 poll, Joe McNamee looks at the state of play in the Irish music industry.

Shouting from the rooftops about Ireland’s rip-off prices is driving away tourists, an Oireachtas Committee heard yesterday.

Shouting from the rooftops about Ireland’s rip-off prices is driving away tourists, an Oireachtas Committee heard today.

ON Sunday last, September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, I was driving home from a holiday in West Kerry.

THE political career of former Clare TD Madeleine Taylor Quinn was in tatters last night when she lost her seat in the Seanad.