A charity that supports tens of thousands of older people in Ireland has called for the state pension to be increased by €7 in this year’s budget.

Six years after the Boston Marathon bomb attack, three Irish athletes recall the events of that shocking day, and how out of that darkness, the city, its people, and its marathon came back stronger

Tyrone 1-12 Donegal 1-16: Donegal and Tyrone threw the play-books out the window and served up an entertaining Bank of Ireland McKenna Cup final.

Moy Tír na nÓg (Tyrone) 1-5 An Ghaeltacht (Kerry) 0-6: Harry Loughran’s great goal broke An Ghaeltacht hearts at Semple Stadium as the Tyrone men snatched victory to qualify for the All-Ireland Club IFC final.

Large quantities of seaweed are marring the popular Ballyheigue blue flag beach in north Kerry.

Tyrone 0-11 Monaghan 0-13: Monaghan were crowned Ulster U21 champions for the first time since 1999 last night in another statement of the current strength of football in the county.

Galway United 3 Mayo League 1: Padraic Cunningham marked his first start of the season for Galway United with a 13-minute first-half hat-trick as last year’s beaten finalists eased their way into the next round of the EA Sports Cup.

HOLDERS Crumlin United disposed of FAI Intermediate Cup specialists Avondale United for the second time in two seasons after coming away from Avondale Park with a hard fought 2-1 victory after extra-time on Saturday.

One of the GAA’s most respected physiotherapists believes a “copycat phenomenon” is partly to blame for pushing inter-county training workloads “over the edge”. 

Crossmaglen co-manager John McEntee has branded Dromintee’s decision to field a severely depleted team including three players in casual clothing as an “absolute disgrace”.

An Irishman has told how he prayed for three hours as he waited for his wife after two bomb blasts ripped through the Boston Marathon, killing at least three people.

Louth 1-12 Armagh 1-10

Armagh manager Paul Grimley has made five changes to his Armagh team for Sunday's Allianz Football League clash with Wexford.

Tributes have poured in for a Garda detective who was shot dead in Co Louth last night in a botched hold-up.

A manhunt was underway tonight after a Garda detective was shot dead in in a botched hold-up.

A detective garda was shot and killed last night during an armed raid on a credit union in Dundalk, Co Louth.

An early own-goal by Derek Griffin along with strikes from Jake Carroll and Jake Kelly put St Pat’s into the third round of the FAI Cup at Richmond Park.

Holy Trinity claimed their second All-Ireland Vocational Schools SAFC title, exacting revenge on champions Gallen, who beat them in last year’s semi-final.

A commanding first half performance helped Holy Trinity College record a comfortable victory over Clonakilty Community College in the All-Ireland Vocational Schools’ SAFC semi-final at St Conleth’s Park on Saturday.

FABIO O’BRIEN hit a hat-trick as confident Monaghan United turned on the class to brush aside the challenge of Munster Senior League side Everton at Gortakeegan.

IF Avondale are to take back the FAI Intermediate Cup they last won in 2007, they will probably never have surmounted a greater set of obstacles.

GOALS from Gerry Bambrick and Danny Loughran sent Crumlin United through to the FAI Intermediate Cup final at the expense of hosts Rockmount in Whitechurch yesterday.

ROGER LOUGHRAN will take the plum spare ride on Vic Venturi in today’s Grand National after jockey Paddy Flood suffered a broken collarbone.

Roger Loughran will take the plum spare ride on Vic Venturi in the John Smith’s Grand National after Paddy Flood suffered a broken collarbone.

Black Apalachi enhanced his Grand National claims with a bold display in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh suffered a rare reverse when Drive On Regardles was collared close home by Dessie Hughes' Lurgan in the Annual Membership At Naas Maiden Hurdle.

DARIAK, absent since finishing fourth behind Indian Pace in the Galway Hurdle, stormed away with the Brandon Hotel Handicap Hurdle at Tralee yesterday.

More then 300 gynaecology patients are to have their cases reviewed amid concerns over the work of a health professional, a hospital confirmed today.

PUNTERS took a St. Patrick’s Day pasting at both Down Royal and Wexford yesterday as a succession of favourites, three of them at odds-on, were turned over.

A FATHER and son will be buried side by side in Limerick today after they passed away suddenly at the weekend.

A NEWBORN baby boy died as a result of an “acute near-drowning incident” while being delivered in a birthing pool at Cavan General Hospital last year, an inquest heard yesterday.

A teenager has been charged with the murder of a father-of-four who was stabbed to death in a street yards from his home.

A taxi driver knifed to death in the North was the victim of a horrendous crime, his manager said today.

CATCH ME, unbeaten in two outings over flights, is expected to successfully step up to Grade Two in the paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown today.

Schindlers Hunt looked a youngster to follow when announcing his arrival on the scene with a taking victory in the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

IT’S A tough job but somebody has got to do it! Jonathan Loughran will get to meet some of the top movie directors and film stars in Hollywood over the next few years… and all on behalf of the Irish taxpayer.

WHAT an extraordinary game this is. On Wednesday, Tony McCoy got injured and was replaced on the eventual winner of the Galway Plate, Far From Trouble, by Roger Loughran.

Kieren Fallon got off the mark at this year’s Galway Festival aboard Flying Knight in the williamhillradio.com Handicap.

THE old adage has it that truth is stranger than fiction! Roger Loughran, whose career looked to be in tatters at Leopardstown last Christmas, came in for a chance ride on Far From Trouble at Ballybrit yesterday and proceeded to land the Galway Plate for owner JP McManus and trainer Christy Roche.

Roger Loughran deputised for the injured Tony McCoy to win the William Hill Galway Plate on Far From Trouble.

Armagh will not risk Francie Bellew and Philip Loughran for Saturday's Ulster SFC quarter-final replay with Monaghan (Clones, throw-in 5.30pm).

CRUCIAL components of Apache attack helicopters transported through Shannon Airport in February were likely to have been manufactured in Ireland, an Oireachtas committee heard yesterday.

When Roger Loughran won the Grade Two Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Central House nobody could deny him his moment in the spotlight.

ROGER LOUGHRAN yesterday banished the memory of a dreadful error of judgement at Leopardstown over Christmas when he guided Central House to an emphatic success in the Byrne Group plc Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.