IT’S the GAA matches in the car they’ll miss. Or Joe Duffy while out for a walk. Or the Angelus. Or the company of Irish voices from a portable radio propped up on a bedside locker when sleep won’t come.

ON MY cycle home, I passed two of Samuel Beckett’s namesakes: the beautiful bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava and, just east of that, along Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, the LE Samuel Beckett, the Naval Service’s new patrol vessel.

Colin Farrell admits his passion for acting was "toxic" for seven years.

It’s a festive story to thaw even the coldest heart. Pensioner James Gray, who advertised in a newspaper for company for Christmas Day, broke his decade-long streak of lonely Yuletides and celebrated the 25th in style.

YOU WERE reminded of that infamous, early ’80s Oscar ceremony where Chariots of Fire screenwriter Colin Welland warned Hollywood “the British are coming”.

London’s footballers have called on the GAA to amend its new inter-county transfer rule.

A potential crisis for the London senior footballers has been averted by the rescheduling of the start of the London Senior Football Championship.

Former Antrim player Sean McVeigh will lead an unchanged London team when they take on Waterford in tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier.

THE author of England’s Greatest Spy: Eamon de Valera was interviewed by John Green on Radio Kerry during the week. The 470-page book, by John J Turi, will not be published until the last day of November so it is not possible to comment on it.

THE centre of London was virtually brought to a standstill yesterday as thousands of Irish people took part in a St Patrick’s Day parade through the city which culminated in Trafalgar Square.

Leading Irish media group Thomas Crosbie Holdings today appointed David O'Sullivan as chief executive officer (CEO) of The Irish Post newspaper.

THOMAS CROSBIE HOLDINGS LIMITED (TCH), owner of the Irish Examiner, has appointed Willie Cremen MBA as group marketing manager, following the decision of Patrick Kierans to leave and set up his own marketing company.

IRISH EXAMINER parent company Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd yesterday completed the acquisition of The Irish Post from Jefferson Smurfit Group in a deal worth €2.42m.

Thomas Crosbie Holdings Ltd, Ireland's fastest growing media group, has today completed its acquisition of The Irish Post from Jefferson Smurfit Group in a deal worth €2.42m.

Thomas Crosbie Holdings (TCH) has bought The Irish Post from Jefferson Smurfit for €2.4m in its first move into the UK market.

By Conor Keane, Business Correspondent