A man who ordered a gang to attack a house has been jailed after a court heard the family’s home was sprayed with nails from a nailgun.

Charming hideaway in Cappoquin belonged to Cistercian monks of Mount Mellaeray writes Trish Dromey

As the Vanbrugh Quartet get a lifetime achievement award, Gregory Ellis reflects on his 30 years with the group, writes Cathy Desmond

A Cork artist has had a painting that includes a risqué image of former Taoiseach, Charlie Haughey, withdrawn from an exhibition opening tonight at the CIT Cork School of Music (CSM), according to Colette Sheridan of the Evening Echo.

A Cork artist has had a painting that includes a risqué image of former Taoiseach, Charlie Haughey, withdrawn from an exhibition opening tonight at the CIT Cork School of Music (CSM), according to Colette Sheridan of the Evening Echo.

THE Festival of Youth Orchestras takes place at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Saturday. Along with groups from all over the country, Cork School of Music’s Chamber Orchestra will be taking to the road.

Clermont Auvergne overcame a ferocious Ospreys fightback to retain their proud European home record with a bonus-point 34-29 win in Pool Two of the Champions Cup.

Ospreys 25 Exeter 13: Exeter became the first English club to lose in this season’s European Champions Cup after Wales star Dan Biggar led the Ospreys’ Liberty Stadium victory march.

Wing Eli Walker crossed for two tries as Ospreys secured a much-needed bonus point victory over Zebre at the Liberty Stadium.

Ospreys 18 Munster 20: A last-gasp converted try from replacement CJ Stander saw Munster stun the Ospreys and make it two wins from two at the start of the new Guinness Pro 12 campaign.

Marston Cottage is a real catch for anyone interested in angling holidays as Trish Dromey describes.

Finn Harps 4 Avondale United 1

Ospreys 25 Leinster 19

Ospreys 11 Munster 25

The relics of St Valentine form a shrine to romance in Whitefriar St church in Dublin. The visitors’ book is filled every six weeks with people’s hopes and requests for love, says Barbara Scully

Police have named the victims of a double murder in Belfast as Finbar McGrillen and Caron Smyth.

A major weapons haul recovered during a security alert may help thwart death, injury and misery, police have said today.

Holder Pat Murray (Limerick), Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) and Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan), the three players with most reason to feel aggrieved at the announcement of the Irish Home Internationals team before the South of Ireland began, all bit the dust on an eventful day at Lahinch yesterday.

We view a selection of trading up homes from around the country.

DUP regional development spokesman Jimmy Spratt has expressed concern about a fire on on the Belfast to Dublin train last evening.

Bluebell United 1 Avondale United 4

Anti-war oratorio ‘A Child of Our Time’ will open Cork choral festival, says Jo Kerrigan.

Connacht 22 Ospreys 10

Ospreys 15 Leicester 15

A long-serving prison officer was murdered in a motorway ambush by dissident republicans in Northern Ireland today.

Bohemians 1 Avondale United 0

Day three of the festival and here we are, scrounging around for Irish winners.

NOBODY expected the close to €1.6 million outcome at last Friday’s auction of this 98-acre residential farm at Lismore, Co Waterford.

LIMERICK senior football manager Maurice Horan is on the lookout for a new coach in his backroom team for the 2012 season after Ephie Fitzgerald was last night ratified as the new manager of the Cork minor footballers.

We scan a selection of starter homes from around the country.

ROLL over Beethoven — the hallowed halls of the historic Cork School of Music rocked at the weekend as Ireland’s newest “school of rock” opened for classes.

AIB is to reorganise itself into a single business in what the bank called the most challenging change programme it has ever undertaken.

Avondale United1 Cherry Orchard 0 (after extra-time)

A MAGNIFICENT 200-year-old violin made by one of the 19th century’s greatest craftsmen will be presented to the winner of a prestigious music competition.

An extra 1,000 police are needed to combat the North's growing terror threat, rank and file officers warned today.

Northern Ireland Assembly member Declan O‘Loan was today suspended from the SDLP after he called for a united nationalist party.

THERE are fears the smallest of the RTÉ-funded performing groups – and the only one based outside Dublin – could be axed as part of a cost-cutting drive.

THE greater experience of a well-balanced Galway team proved just too much for the West Waterford youngsters in Saturday’s final of the Bulmers Irish Senior Cup at Tullamore.

Munster 36 Ospreys 10

THE Ospreys maintained their pressure on Munster and Leinster at the top of the Magners League table with comfortable, victory over Connacht at Liberty Stadium yesterday.

Ospreys 22 Connacht 10

Scottish Premier League chairman Lex Gold was today accused of “shying away” from dealing with alleged pro-IRA chanting by sections of the Celtic support.

A CHILD could die if a spate of sinister pet poisonings in a small rural area does not stop, a vet has warned.

Sixteen prison officers have been suspended from duty in the North's top-security Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim, it was announced today.

A former Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer is set to take charge of an Assembly committee tasked with reporting on the transfer of policing and justice powers, it has emerged.

Democratic and Republican leaders appeared close to agreement with the White House today on emergency tax cuts and benefit increases to jolt the US economy out of its slump.

THE €60 million Cork School of Music catering for 3,500 students from ages 5 to 75 was officially opened yesterday — eight years after being first announced.

The remaining restrictions on livestock imposed in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in the UK will be lifted today after experts declared the disease had been eradicated.