Niall Horan's rumoured new girlfriend says he is one of the "nicest men" she has ever met.

At the headiest of times for Irish hockey, the agony and ecstasy of the national sides chasing their Olympic dreams was put harrowingly into perspective this week.

IN HIS address at the Cork Chamber Business Breakfast on December 20, the President of University College, Cork, Dr Michael Murphy stated that “there is extensive anecdotal evidence of many of our brightest students emigrating after completing Leaving Certificate for overseas education, and never returning”.

LIMERICK proved a happy hunting ground for Lurgan College once more as they claimed overall victory on a remarkable final day of the Kate Russell All-Ireland Schoolgirls Championships at Crescent College Comprehensive.

Gonzaga College in Ranelagh in Dublin has been listed as Ireland's top school for progression to university, according to the Sunday Times' Parent Power Survey.

MORE than 80 students celebrated top marks with at least 11 As in their Junior Certificate results.

IRISH people will not be bullied into becoming puppets for Europe, those who voted no to the Lisbon Treaty said.

A CALL will today be made for the upcoming national pay talks to address the inequality in pay and pensions experienced by women in the workforce.

THE first of the supplementary rounds of the TCH All-Ireland Schools Quiz took place last night at the Montrose Hotel, Dublin.

SCHOOLS may have to purchase expensive systems to block websites which allow students to engage in bullying their peers online.

Private fee-paying schools and grind schools are still the main providers of students to the two leading colleges in Ireland, according to reports this morning.