There was huge excitement yesterday as Ireland’s authors gathered at the Bord Gáis Theatre for the announcement of the shortlist for the Irish Book Awards 2015.

The €20m sale of Limerick city’s four-star Strand Hotel has gone through to US billionaire John Malone: he adds it to his other Irish hotel investments, such as Dublin’s Hilton Hotel, the Westin and the Trinity City Hotel.

A two-year boy has suffered head injuries after falling from a balcony at a hotel.

IRISH hotel operating group Choice Hotels have taken over management of the Blarney Golf Resort, which was snapped up this year by Northern Ireland-based investor Tommy O’Gorman for c€2.5m, after seeing a c€40 investment in its initial resort and hotel development.

The hotel market saw a huge increase in activity in the first half of this year, with almost three times as much spent on property sales.

Quinn Insurance and subsidiaries last year returned to profit, recording pre-tax profits of €99.8m in spite of revenues more than halving to €223m.

Carnival Destiny has a history of being historic, and following her huge, $155 million transformation, she'll continue the tradition as the even-more-fun CARNIVAL SUNSHINE.

The Quinns of Cavan/Fermanagh may not like the comparisons drawn between themselves and the fictional Ewings of Dallas.

Whitney Houston's ex-boyfriend has returned to the hotel where she died for the first time since her death.

Paris Hilton wants to open her own hotel chain.

TAKING the elevator up to the dome crowning Victoria Square Shopping Centre, peering out over Belfast’s twinkling skyline, I try to take in the changes that have washed over this city.

Pockets of fans are gathering as close as they can get to the New Jersey church where Whitney Houston’s funeral will be held later today.

Bobbi Kristina Brown has been released from hospital.

Israel has today issued an “urgent” warning to its citizens to leave Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula immediately.

President Hugo Chavez’s government has begun taking over management of a Hilton-run hotel on Venezuela’s Margarita Island.

ANOTHER big hotel group has withdrawn from Limerick with the decision of the Marriott Hotel group to discontinue its brand name at a city centre property.

LIMERICK is to lose one of the world’s most famous hotel brands.

WORLD champions South Africa want to play Ireland in a one-off Test in the United Arab Emirates later this year.

No complaint has yet been made against four England rugby players at the centre of a “serious allegation” over an incident at a New Zealand hotel, police said today.

Auckland police are investigating an allegation that has been made against four England players following an alleged incident in the team hotel.

PLANS are expected to be lodged with Limerick City Council shortly for the demolition of a historic sports club building where Richard Harris is reputed to have consumed his first pint of Guinness.

Paris Hilton may spend far less than the 45 days she has been sentenced to serve in jail for violating probation, authorities said.

PARIS HILTON has been given some friendly advice by an ex-convict: lose the attitude.

A California judge has today sentenced Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail for violating her probation.

Heiress Paris Hilton should be jailed for 45 days for violating terms of her probation for an alcohol-related reckless driving conviction, city prosecutors say.

ISLAND Cruises has launched early booking offers available for this summer; Mediterranean cruises can be purchased from under €750.

CEMENT, insurance and glass entrepreneur Sean Quinn has reportedly bought almost 50% of the Hilton Hotel in Sofia through his investment firm Quinn Group.

THE management and the board of the National Concert Hall in Dublin need a wake-up call.

A rusty, unexploded grenade was found near the Hilton Hotel in Jakarta, police and hotel officials said, days after foreign governments warned that terrorists were planning attacks on Western targets ahead of Christmas.

Indonesia ordered a nationwide security crackdown today after several foreign governments warned terrorists were preparing to launch attacks against Western targets ahead of Christmas.

A strong explosion shook the Hilton hotel in Egypt’s Taba resort, only yards from the Israeli border, tonight, witnesses said.

A huge earthquake rocked southern New Zealand early today, authorities said. It rattled houses and hotels but caused no injuries or major damage in the mountainous and sparsely populated region.

The Serbia and Montenegro football team were forced out of bed early this morning after a fire at their Leicester hotel.