The only advice I can give to aspiring writers is to keep going. To persist. To keep remembering that the joy of it is in the making of it, not in the fame. And you’d better have an absurd level of self belief as writing can be incredibly challenging.

Louis de Paor and Greg Delanty will be among the readers at an event tonight in memory of the Corkman who passed away in May, writes Marjorie Brennan

Journalist David Rice, himself a former priest, has written a book about Franz Reinisch, who refused to swear an oath to Adolf Hitler, says

IN this book, which is an emotional journey of her 11 formative years in New York City, Meg Fee describes herself as “a small universe in bloom” and suffers bouts of self-pity while losing friends “as if through a sieve”.

Your kids better know their Hippogriffs from their Herbology if they’re going to participate in fun-filled summer celebration of Harry Potter in a West Cork town.

Children have better literacy and concentrate better in class if they are deeply immersed in two languages either in school or at home, a childhood bilingualism researcher says.

THAT Ireland’s 10-year-olds have the best reading skills in Europe and are among the top-performers in the world is an achievement worth celebrating.

Approximately 800,000 people in Ireland have problems with basic tasks which involve reading and interpreting information, according to an international think tank.

Check out the latest titles recommended for kids by Mary Arrigan.

A campaign aimed at encouraging businesses play an active role in improving literacy among children is being launched today.

President Michael D Higgins has today delivered a keynote address marking the launch of National Adult Literacy Awareness Week 2015 at an event in Dublin.

The literacy levels of the average Irish adult places us 20th out of 23 developed countries in a major international study.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn rightly trumpeted the recent, relatively strong performance of Irish universities in the latest world rankings yesterday.

The garda force expressed its regret at the death of John Carthy tonight and offered the sympathy of all members to his family.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has apologised to the family of John Carthy on behalf of the State.

Garda unions expressed regret at the death of John Carthy and called for improvements in training recommended by the Barr Tribunal report to be acted on immediately.

A mystery illness to Mr Justice Robert Barr, a heavy workload and printing problems caused unforeseen delays in publishing the Barr Tribunal’s report, it was claimed today.

The Chief Inspector of the new Garda Inspectorate, Kathleen O’Toole, will immediately review Garda procedures and practices following the publication of the Barr report, the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell revealed today.

The Barr Report into the fatal shooting of John Carthy in Abbeylara six years ago has found that the 27-year-old did not intend to be shot by gardaí when he left his house.

A long-awaited report into the fatal shooting of John Carthy after an armed siege with gardaí over six years ago is to be made public today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, has told the Dáil that Justice Robert Barr's report into the Abbeylara siege six years ago is expected to be published next month.

Gardaí involved in the shooting of John Carthy in Abbeylara four years ago are due to reveal today whether they are prepared to continue co-operating with the inquiry into the killing.

A legal representative for the gardaí involved in the shooting of John Carthy in Abbeylara four years ago has requested a further day to consider an ultimatum issued to his clients yesterday by the chairman of the Barr Tribunal.

The gardaí involved in the shooting of John Carthy in Abbeylara four years ago are due to reveal today whether they are prepared to continue co-operating with the inquiry into the killing.

The President of the Barr Tribunal, into the Abbeylara siege, says proceedings will continue at the inquiry tomorrow morning whether the gardaí like it or not.

Marie Carthy has resumed her evidence to the tribunal set up to investigate the killing of her 27-year-old brother by armed gardaí in April 2001.

The Chairman of the Barr Tribunal says the Gardai could have given John Carthy the cigarettes he requested if they wanted to, during the siege at Abbeylara that saw Carthy lose his life.

Today the Barr Tribunal set up to investigate the circumstances of John Carthy's death, heard from Sergeant Daniel Monaghan who was in charge of Carthy's local station at the time of his death.

A psychiatrist has criticised the gardai for using cigarettes as a negotiating tool during the armed siege that led to the killing of 27-year-old John Carthy in Abbeylara, Co Longford, in April 2000.

The inquiry into the killing of John Carthy by armed gardai in April 2000 has continued hearing evidence from a psychiatrist who treated the 27-year-old.

The inquiry into the killing of John Carthy by armed gardai in April 2000 has begun hearing evidence from a psychiatrist who treated the 27-year-old.

John Carthy's psychiatrist is due to give evidence when the Barr tribunal continues its public sittings today.

John Carthy's sister, Marie, is questioning why the Garda Emergency Response Unit didn't use non-lethal equipment in their possession to resolve the armed siege, which ended in the shooting dead of her brother in April 2000.

The High court will rule at noon today on what parties have been granted legal representations for the forthcoming Abbeylara inquiry.

The terms of reference of the Abbeylara tribunal have been agreed by the government.

Ernie Els signalled his intention of winning back-to-back titles in the £1m Dubai Desert Classic today.

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson has taken the lead on day one of the Dubai Desert Classic after carding a five-under-par opening-round 67 this morning.

The judicial review into the Abbeylara shooting inquiry has been told that TDs and Senators are not qualified to ask questions in such a forum because they are biased.

The High Court has set July 17 as the date for the judicial review into the powers of the Abbeylara Dail sub-committee as it continues its inquiry into the death of John Carthy at Abbeylara last year.

Amnesty International is reiterating its call for an independent public inquiry into the John Carthy shooting.

The Taoiseach has said if a High Court action against the Dáil's Abbeylara Inquiry is successful, Oireachtas committees will no longer be able to investigate anything.

The High Court challenge by 36 Gardai into the Oireachtas Sub-Committee investigation on the Abbeylara incident is now likely to begin some time in July.

The High Court challenge to the Dail inquiry into the fatal shooting of John Carthy in Abbeylara last year opens this morning.