An elderly widow from Wilkinstown in Co, Meath says she would be lost without regular visits and phone calls from a volunteer who has been checking in on her in the midst of this frightening pandemic that is terrifying elderly people in communities across the county.

Like a person who at an all-is-possible drinks party promised to take a Christmas Day plunge in the sea when they find themselves shivering on a beach, freezing waves washing their ankles, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil can hardly defer what now seems unavoidable for much longer.

The FEI has announced that show jumpers from Qatar and Sri Lanka will not be allowed compete at this year’s Olympic Games

Students of University College Cork (UCC) have paid almost €11,000 in fines as part of a new crackdown on antisocial behaviour.

It’s the story everyone is talking about.

A growing number of old dogs are being surrendered to a Meath rescue centre who say they are now tiring of hearing the 'same old excuses'

Kilcoo trained on New Year’s Eve night and would have trained on Christmas Day too if their management team hadn’t called a halt.

The sparkle went out of the alcohol trade over Christmas as we bought less booze than usual and opted more for non-alcohol drinks, according to the latest consumer survey.

The brutal death of Frankie Dunne, whose dismembered body was found dumped behind a derelict house in Cork just over a week ago, is incomprehensible, wrong, pointless and without justification, mourners at his funeral Mass were told.

Ballyhale Shamrocks captain Michael Fennelly has added his voice to the criticism of the condensed club calendar, bemoaning that Christmas was “cancelled” as the prepared for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final win over Slaughtneil.

Gardaí are believed to be spearheading an international manhunt for a suspect after the “macabre” decapitation of a man in Cork City.

Towards the end of our conversation, Nemo Rangers goalkeeper Micheál Aodh Martin is asked what it would mean to get back to an All-Ireland club football final.

A young Cork man charged with carrying out the robbery of €1,800 from a Cork city convenience store breached his bail eight times over the holiday period and was today remanded in custody.

Here’s a new year wish: May our politicians remain clothed while there are cameras around.

New Year celebrations were ignored in many towns and villages across Co Donegal last night as the body of tragic nurse Mary Ellen Molloy was brought home for burial.

Gardaí have confirmed they are investigating an alleged sexual assault on a female which occurred in the south east of the country on Christmas day.

The victim of a gruesome murder was not a violent man and garda sources say they do not know what he could have done, if anything, to have warranted being killed in such a brutal fashion.

Murder victim Francis 'Frankie' Dunne was a client of a high-support shelter a short distance from where his decapitated body was found.

Gardaí investigating the gruesome killing of another homeless man in Cork, whose head and arms were apparently cut off, have appealed for witnesses to contact them.

There is always so much chatter about how much derision they cause, so many people seemingly hating them more than any other vegetable.

There are plenty of simple yet enjoyable ways to spend quality time with your kids post Christmas Day, says Ed Power.

More than 650 people have been arrested on suspicion of drink or drug-driving since the end of November.

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A “worrying” spike in arrests for intoxicated driving were made on Christmas day – with 16 people arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

It's that time of year again - when people push aside the remnants of the selection box and walk off the Christmas Day excesses by barrelling around the St Stephen's Day sales.

Jess Casey finds out what someone can expect to hear when they call Women’s Aid

Not looking good for St Stephen's Day, but pretty good for the big day itself.

Major US stock indexes ended nearly flat after an abbreviated trading session ahead of Christmas Day.

Mr Varadkar declined to say how he would be spending the festive day.

There have been some very naughty elves on the shelves this Christmas, the first-class pupils of Scoil Ursula in Blackrock tell Susan O’Shea, and Santa is going to have a very full sleigh, packed full of gadgets, princesses, and even a pug

Met Éireann is ruling out the prospect of a white Christmas.

The mother of a Kilkenny girl who died at a concert in Dublin is preparing for a fourth Christmas without her beloved daughter.

There are around 40,000 people in Ireland with a gambling addiction, while nearly four in 10 Irish adults play the Lotto regularly.

Paddy Hansard, 73, suffered serious head injuries and broken bones in his neck due to a horrific attack which took place at around 2.30am on August 17, at the Courtney Place flat complex in Ballybough, Dublin.

From Christmas Day swims to Christmas tree flings, there’s no excuse to be a couch potato this festive season, with lots on offer to get you and your loved ones up, out, and on the move, writes Susan O’Shea.

A typical Christmas isn’t available to some, and isn’t suitable for others. Joyce Fegan chats to people who won’t be celebrating the usual way — but are united in making the best of this most wonderful time of the year.

There was good news this week for Irish racing fans with Racing TV revealing it would have a dedicated channel to show Ireland’s three meetings on St Stephen’s Day.

Sports legends including Roy Keane, Tomas Ó Sé, Thomas Mulcahy and Rob Heffernan were among those who dropped in to support broadcaster, Trevor Welch's, fundraising booksale.