Michael Clifford looks back at the year that was.

As they get ready to play in Ireland, Chris Difford of Squeeze tells Richard Fitzpatrick about some of his favourite albums

As they celebrate 20 years of Agnes and her family on the stage, The Late Late Show will honour Brendan O'Carroll and rest of the cast of the show tomorrow night with a performance from Mrs Brown's Boys D'Musical.

Ron Howard was happy to let the spirit of Luciano Pavarotti shine through in his documentary on the great tenor, writes Laura Harding.

My first ever experience of meditation was in the prayer room in my secondary school; a class of 20 girls lying down on the floor, listening to our religion teacher read out a guided meditation. (Most of us using it as an opportunity to take a sneaky nap, let’s be real.)

From movies to music, fashion to food, our writers pick the cultural highlights of summer.

Paul Linehan, from Cork, is the singer and bass player of The Frank & Walters. On Friday, May 10, the band headline the entertainment at the Barry Group Race & Taste Festival which takes place at Cork Racecourse Mallow on May 10 and 11.

Ireland's most awarded cocktail bar, Cask, in Cork's Victorian Quarter is hosting a one-night only takeover by London's American Bar at the Savoy next week.

The band’s memorabilia will hit all the right notes, says Des O’Sullivan.

As presenter and commentator on Newstalk’s Off the Ball, Nathan Murphy has seen the show go from strength to strength and diversify to cater for its growing audience of sports fans.

"My daddy is always told he looks like you. He likes the Beatles too"

Reviewing the White Album is a bit like passing judgement on Michelangelo’s ceiling doodles for the Sistine Chapel or wondering why James Joyce didn’t use shorter sentences in Ulysses.

From Robert Plant to Van Morrison, former agent and author Paul Charles shares his celebrity memories of life on the road with Esther McCarthy.

Simone Collins is an actress from Dublin. She is playing Dorothy in Cork Opera House’s summer production of The Wizard of Oz (July 19 to August 26.

Aileen Lee Aileen Lee chats to Amanda Vencatasamy, co-founder of Hey, Bulldog! Design.

Steven Kelly on the emotions that Liverpool fans are enjoying - and enduring - ahead of kick-off.

Denyse Woods was born in Boston, but has been living in Cork for almost 30 years, and is based in Inniscarra.

Music lovers are being invited to nominate their favourite songs or ballads for the first-ever EU songbook.

A life less ordinary was celebrated in Kilkenny last evening as one of hurling’s greatest players, Eddie Keher, was conferred with the freedom of the city.

A new music festival has been announced in Waterford.

I finally saw the John Lewis ad. This will come as a relief to the John Lewis people as they may have been wondering if all the right “influencers” have seen it. It’s OK, John Lewis People. You can close the door because I’m safely in anyway.

A young boy and his imaginary monster under the bed are the stars of this year's eagerly anticipated John Lewis Christmas campaign.

Welcome to the annual bar lowering championships, earlier than usual, where Liverpool are looking for their umpteenth title in a row. Practice makes perfect, after all.

Since reading Hillary Clinton’s memoir I’ve been giving a lot of thought to ‘difficult women’, writes Louise O’Neill.

What’s in a name? When it comes to the hard sell, pretty much everything.

Anne Rynne knew she’d be referred to as the sister of Barry and Christy Moore, but that didn’t stop her recording her first album at the age of 68, writes Trish Flanagan.

Munster Rugby legend Paul O’Connell has warned against the notion of ‘God-given talent’ or ‘born naturals’ in sport and life.

As the hype grows for Oasis: Supersonic, Declan Burke offers a personal selection of its predecessors in the genre

A strange and varied mix in cinemas this week, including a new Irish comdy classic, a returning horror franchise and comedy show back after long breaks and a new film from the guy behind What We Do in the Shadows.

Scientists at the University of Texas think they know how Lucy, the famous female of prehistoric times, met her death, writes Richard Collins. 

Some of the stranger stories from around the world

 

Rory McIlroy has announced his return to The Open Championship by throwing down the gauntlet to his major rivals by declaring he is ready to spring back to top form.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

She wasn't taking 'no' for an answer.