As landlords’ enclosures of villages and commonages during England’s industrial revolution drove landless countrymen into the maws of the poet William Blake’s “dark Satanic mills”, a romantic nostalgia for the countryside began to grow.

Yesterday marked the birthday of Beatrix Potter, the author who gave us the beloved animal stories such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

He sliced seven hours off the record, completing the equivalent of 12 marathons and four summits of Everest in six days and six hours.

On a fast and furious opening 96km stage, Alex Luhrs (Ribble Pro Cycling) took the win from a breakaway trio ahead of his teammate Dan Bigham on day one of the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan. Ben Healy (Team Ireland) just hung on to the flying English duo to take third.

Ruth O’Connor gets crafty as she attempts hand-embroidery and finds a new skill as well as an enjoyable hobby.

Jon McGregor wrote one of the best novels of 2017. In advance of his visit to Listowel, he tells Richard Fitzpatrick about his magnificent tale

An amateur endurance athlete and his three friends are believed to have set a new world record for rowing the Atlantic, raising more than £250,000 in memory of his tragic mother in the process.

Having failed to go the full distance in the opening two rounds of the World Rally Championship, the Irish duo of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) seek better fortune on this weekend’s Rally Mexico, the first gravel event of the year. 

IRELAND’S Environment — An Assessment 2016 has been published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

The Duchess of Cambridge’s younger sister Pippa Middleton and hedge fund manager James Matthews have announced their engagement, setting the stage for a celebrated society wedding in the coming year.

Called after a Cumbria, Lake District beauty spot, the Midleton home Seatoller is itself no slouch either, and is now coming for sale for its trading-down owners, who built it 16 years ago.

Check out our guide the best of tonight's TV.

Six destinations on the island of Ireland have been named on a global must-see list for tourists.

USA: Police say a belligerent man dressed in scuba gear caused a stir at a northern Michigan McDonald’s.

TENSION runs under the narrative of this fine novel like a river under a cave. 

Check out our guide to the best of tonight's TV.

Our guid the best of tonight's TV.

The Irish pair Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) could find little comfort at the end of Rally Guanajuato Mexico where they finished well outside the top ten.

As the World Rally Championship moves to higher temperatures in Rally Guanajuato Mexico in stark contrast to the two rounds in Monte Carlo and Sweden, the Irish crew of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle in their Total Abu Dhabi Citroen DS3 WRC know they have to stop making the type of mistakes that have already cost them valuable championship points.

And of course she said "Yes".

Just astounding!

‘Waterloo’ meticulously recalls the events of four days in June 200 years ago when 200,000 men were engaged in a struggle which laid the foundations of contemporary Europe, writes Allan Prosser.

Motorsport: Organisers of the Irish Forest Rally Championship received a major boost at their awards ceremony in Clonmel on Saturday night with the announcement that Valvoline will underpin the series for the next three seasons.

BASEBALL RAID

A mountain in England has been put up for sale as its owner attempts to pay off a hefty tax bill.

Graham Norton is joined by X-Men stars Hugh Jackman, Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy, with music from Eurovision hopeful Molly on BBC1 at 10.35pm.

Done and dusted

A lake which inspired William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter is up for sale on eBay.

A man has been killed in a 656ft (200m) fall down a mountain, a rescue team said.

Britney Spears has hinted she is rehearsing for a "top secret" new video.

Teenage sensation Connor King took Cork by storm last night, landing a spectacular four-timer.

Check out out tips for today's racing in Ireland and the UK.

Venus de Milo is hard to oppose in the featured Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Give Thanks Stakes at Cork this evening.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth said that she is hoping the royal baby is born soon - because she is about to go on holiday.

Michael Le Vell has been saved "from the brink" by his new girlfriend.

Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen can combine for a first and last race double with Lake District and Spirit Of Concorde at Goran Park this afternoon.

A mother and daughter killed by suspected “gas poisoning” while on a boating holiday in the UK's Lake District have been named by police.

A woman and a young girl have died of suspected carbon monoxide poisoning during a boating holiday.

Accumulated losses at companies in Ireland and the UK controlled by celebrity gardener, Diarmuid Gavin increased by €73,000 in 2011.

A climber from the North who was killed in an avalanche in Scotland had a great zest for life and wanted to make a difference, her former schoolteacher said.

A man has been arrested for trespassing at Taylor Swift's home.

Taylor Swift and Harry Styles enjoyed a romantic mini break with his parents ahead of the country singer's 23 birthday today.

Fresh thinking is needed if Northern Ireland is to succeed in the lucrative tourism market, Arlene Foster has claimed.

Tom Cruise is planning to spend Christmas Day with his daughter Suri.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are planning a family holiday to the British countryside.

THIS morning Marie Callaghan, 57, will embark on one of the most “exciting’’ challenges of her life as she attempts to climb the five highest peaks in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales in just three days.

A new walking trail, which will pass through some of Killarney’s most famous scenic attractions has been given the green light.

Diane McDermott visits Ireland’s Lake District for the ultimate in relaxation

LADY, Britain’s oldest osprey, has returned to the Loch of Lowes in Scotland after spending the winter in West Africa.