Excitement is building in the Mayo village of Cong as it braces for the wedding of the year when Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll tie the knot at Ashford Castle next weekend.

The Royal Cork Yacht Club (RCYC) — the world’s oldest — has just joined an exclusive club after twinning with Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM).

Nicole Kidman’s new film Grace Of Monaco has failed to impress at the UK box office on its opening weekend.

Nicole Kidman’s new film ‘Grace Of Monaco’ has failed to impress at the UK box office on its opening weekend.

Nicole Kidman has said she would give up her Hollywood career if her husband asked her to.

Nicole Kidman felt taking the lead role in 'Grace of Monaco' was a "chance of a lifetime".

Nicole Kidman’s Grace Kelly biopic has been met with a volley of damning reviews after it opened the Cannes Film Festival.

The allure of superstar Nicole Kidman was not enough to salvage "Grace of Monaco" from the scathing wrath of critics as the movie opened the Cannes Film Festival.

We’ve been waiting a long time for it, but the new — and very

THE significance of President Michael D Higgins dining in state at Windsor castle last night is that it is the culmination of British recognition of Irish independence. It is also a full recognition of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

From food to fashion, movies to music, our critics reveal their Hot 100 choices for the year ahead.

ROYALTY has set trends and led fashionable society for millennia.

The Ring of Kerry gem-set hotel Parkna-silla, on 500 acres and with 62 lodges and villas, has been put up for sale for €10m.

When Grace Kelly came to Dublin, she always requested the same room in The Shelbourne Hotel. Today it is known as the Princess Grace suite, writes Vickie Maye.

IF YOUR holiday reading includes a Le Carré blockbuster or a Graham Greene reliable, then you will find no better backdrop than Estoril — the stylish coastal town just north of Lisbon in Portugal.

The Irish media’s right to report on celebrities has been supported by two potentially groundbreaking rulings at the European Court of Human Rights.

The media’s right to report on celebrities has been supported by two potentially ground-breaking rulings at the European Court of Human Rights.

IT will be “business as normal” at the five-star Ashford Castle Hotel, receivers appointed to the leading European hotel said yesterday.

HE prelude took place on the first Sunday of October 52 years ago.

PRINCE ALBERT of Monaco has revealed that an Irish university research post is to be established to commemorate his mother, the late Hollywood actress and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly.

A DILAPIDATED cottage in Co Mayo — the home of his emigrant great grandfather in the 1800s — has been added at the last minute to the itinerary of Prince Albert of Monaco during his visit to Ireland next week.

PRINCE Albert II of Monaco, son of late Hollywood star Grace Kelly, announced his engagement yesterday to South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, ending decades as one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors.

SECURITY concerns over a private visit by Princess Grace and Prince Rainier to Ireland were raised with senior gardaí, ahead of a private ball in Co Wicklow.

She married in a pink meringue, but Jordan’s Barbie-style wedding outfit has been named among the most stylish of all time.

ONE of Kerry’s oldest hotels is due to close this weekend for a major facelift over the winter and spring months.

ONE of Kerry’s oldest hotels is due to close this weekend for a major facelift over the winter and spring months.

PRINCE Albert II of Monaco yesterday acknowledged having fathered an illegitimate child with a flight attendant from Togo.

BELOW a golden crown, Prince Rainier III was given a tearful farewell yesterday at a funeral in Monaco's cathedral.

A young man shot dead in a gangland attack had a history of involvement in crime and arson, it emerged today.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco is to be laid to rest today beside his late wife, the American film star Grace Kelly, in the cathedral where they were married a half century ago.

MONACO prepared to say farewell to long-time ruler Prince Rainier with a solemn funeral in the Mediterranean statelet’s cathedral, attended by a smattering of European royals and political figures.

The prince of Hanover, the sometimes rowdy husband of Monaco’s Princess Caroline, is in a “serious” condition in a hospital with an acute pancreas problem, his office at Monaco’s royal palace says.

Princess Caroline of Monaco’s husband, the prince of Hanover, was in serious condition in a principality hospital today, a palace official said.

PRINCE Rainier III, whose glittering marriage to Irish-American film star Grace Kelly endowed a reign that spanned more than a half-century with elegance and glamour, guided Monaco’s transformation from a sleepy retreat for the wealthy into a centre of finance and tourism.

PRINCE Rainier of Monaco, whose fairytale marriage to Hollywood star Grace Kelly brought elegance and glamour to one of Europe's oldest dynasties, died yesterday.

President Mary McAleese and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern have expressed condolences on the death of Prince Rainier of Monaco.

The palace in Monaco has announced that Prince Rainier has died.

Monaco's Prince Rainier has died in hospital, according to media reports.

PRINCE Albert made his first official appearance since assuming Monaco’s royal powers from his critically ill father, attending mass for the late Pope John Paul yesterday.

Prince Albert made his first official appearance since assuming Monaco’s royal powers from his critically ill father, attending Mass for the late Pope John Paul today.

PRINCE Rainier of Monaco’s chances of recovery are very slim, his doctors said yesterday.

Prince Rainier of Monaco’s chances of recovery are very slim, his doctors said today.

Monaco’s palace prepared for what appears the imminent death of Prince Rainier tonight by announcing that his bachelor son and heir has taken over the royal powers.

A spokesman for Monaco's Royal Palace today said Prince Albert, heir to Prince Rainier, is to take over the regency of Monaco.

Prince Rainier remained in a stable condition in a Monaco hospital today and is undergoing kidney dialysis and other treatment, his doctors reported.

Prince Rainier of Monaco remained in fragile health today, suffering from heart, kidney and lung problems, his palace said.

MONACO'S Prince Rainier, fighting for his life in hospital after his health took a dramatic turn for the worse last week, remained in a "stable" yet "worrying" condition.

The condition of Prince Rainier of Monaco remains stable, and medical treatment is having an effect, the palace said today.