IRELAND was once described by WB Yeats as "the Hungary of the West". A century on, sculptor Maria Lugossy also believes there are many similarities between the two countries.

SPRAOI, the production company behind Saturday night’s riverside extravaganza in Cork city has received widespread praise from as far afield as Europe and America.

IF you thought Saturday’s 2005 celebrations were good, then watch this space because there’s more on the way.

THE night sky above Cork lit up with thousands of fireworks but the real sparks were on the street of the 'People's Republic'. The city was thronged as more than 85,000 people poured in to gawk at the hundreds of carnival performances, bask in the atmosphere or gaze at the colourful eruptions over the River Lee.