For a time it looked like some visitors might have to resort to transport of the four-legged variety to get to the Dublin Horse Show, which opens in Ballsbridge today.

The PGA Championship at Wentworth usually signals the arrival of the big guns back to European soil. This week it is Ireland’s turn.

MUSIC NEWS: Irish twin sister duo Heathers are probably best known for their ‘Remember When’ tune from the Discover Ireland ads.

Lidl Ireland are among the winners at the 2012 Irish Social Media Awards

The scenery of Kerry is still the big draw for tourists and more than a third of all visitors are now partaking in hiking and cross-country walks.

HIS lack of sporting credentials were viewed with dismay when he took office but Irish sports officials are hoping that may work in their favour this week as they meet with Sports Minister Leo Varadkar, for the first time.

WITH a sense of timing that was absolutely perfect, little Charlie O’Meara arrived into the world just hours after his proud dad stepped out of the limelight at the Irish Open Golf Championship.

WHATEVER about major winners, the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland stayed true to form in Killarney as it produced another English winner after Simon Dyson edged home in a dramatic finale.

IT promises to be an exciting moving day today at the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland as Marcel Siem takes a one-stroke lead into the third round with 24 players within five shots of him.

THEY will not be reduced to a supporting role by any means in today’s third round, but Rory McIlory and Graeme McDowell will start their day trailing the four leading Irishmen in this Irish Open, presented by Discover Ireland, field.

THERE may be green, white and gold at the top of the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland leaderboard heading into today’s second round but it belongs to an Indian, not any one of the four Irish Major champions who drew in the big crowds in Killarney yesterday.

THE European Tour moved last night to quash rumours that the Irish Open, presented by Discover Ireland, was a complete sell-out.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON has set his sights on winning more Majors in the wake of his compatriots’ recent successes at Pebble Beach, Congressional and Sandwich.

DAVID HIGGINS tees it up at the Irish Open, presented by Discover Ireland, tomorrow confident he can parlay his Irish PGA Order of Merit lead into a strong European Tour showing.

THE bumper crowds expected for this week’s Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland will be spoiled for choice after the draw for the first two rounds was made yesterday.

DARREN CLARKE roared into Killarney Golf & Fishing Club in his sleek Ferrari sports car yesterday intent on helping the Irish Open, presented by Discover Ireland, “back up where it should be”.

IT really doesn’t get much better than this.

SWEDEN’S Alexander Noren cruised to his third European Tour title despite a closing round of 77 in Stockholm yesterday.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON signalled his intention not to slide into Rory McIlroy’s shadow as he confirmed his participation in his “fifth major”, next month’s Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland.

THE Irish Open may be going ahead without a title sponsor next month but European Tour chiefs will use the event in Killarney to woo a major long-term backer for one of its biggest tournaments.

TRIPS to Ireland have increased by more than 8% in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

IRISH residents are being encouraged to holiday at home this summer with the lure of major discounts for weekend rail travel and a €1 million Discover Ireland promotional campaign.

THE queen has taken no offence at being inadvertently demoted in radio ads flagging her official visit to Ireland, Buckingham Palace has said.

Staff at Fáilte Ireland have been left red-faced after adverts demoted the English Queen to the rank of Princess.

THEY are known as the One-o-clock Nudes – bare-arsed aficionados of nude bathing who descend on Irish beaches during the summer to let it all hang out.

IT is holidays at home for more Irish people than ever this year – and they can expect value for their money.

OUT goes the Blarney Stone, plastic leprechauns and Temple Bar.

TOURISM Ireland’s international websites had a record number of hits in quarter one of this year, despite the fall-off in real visitors to our shores.

THE tourism industry has joined other sectors in sending out distress signals calling on the government to implement a plan drawn up last January.

Tourism chiefs and political leaders today rounded on pranksters behind a bogus advertisement ridiculing Limerick as a polluted, lawless and trigger-happy backwater.

Tommy Barker casts an admiring eye over an idyllic West Cork retreat.

THE Government will have to offer the tourist industry major financial breaks if the sector is to survive the fallout from an Iraqi war, according to Fine Gael.