Some of our Christmas traditions are rooted in this country, others were imported from further afield. But many have evolved over the years, says Áilín Quinlan.

Bank of Ireland’s UK lending activities and mortgage business could help shelter it from the adverse effects of any potential worsening in the domestic market, according to a leading stockbroking firm.

The Post Office has reported an increased profit of £107m despite a decline in its revenue.

The National Lottery has confirmed that last night's winning Lotto ticket was sold in Co. Clare.

WE have parked opposite the old Post Office, marked on the OS map. Before setting off, we should certainly retrace our steps to the Blackwater Bridge — we will be re-crossing it on our return, but viewing it before we start will make us aware, when we see the Blackwater River upstream, of how romantic and wild it is in this gorge.

UK taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland is closing 44 branches across the UK - including 14 classed as “last banks in town”.

“Any psycho can keep on cutting costs,” according to Bank of Ireland CEO Richie Boucher who said the bank was trying to balance cuts with investment to sustain the recovering Irish economy.

Bank of Ireland has joined forces with one of the UK’s most trusted institutions, the Post Office, to launch a new current account.

The Sam Maguire was last night walked across the border from Fermanagh into its new home for the next 12 months in Donegal.

A 47-YEAR-OLD mother has been sentenced to 24 years in prison with the final 16 years suspended for the cruelty and neglect of eight of her children over a seven-year period.

There has been a hold-up of a cash-in-transit van within the past hour in Finglas, Dublin.

BANK of Ireland has plans to established a separate banking operation in Britain that would be regulated by the British Financial Services Authority and have its own independent board.

BANK of Ireland plans to sell off such assets as ICS Building Society and New Ireland Assurance in a move the Unite union said will put 1,000 jobs in jeopardy.

THE British Post Office, with partner Bank of Ireland, took a further step along the road to becoming a neighbourhood bank this week with the announcement of a “major expansion” in the financial products it offers.

BANK of Ireland, cross-border shoppers and the IDA were the winners in yesterday’s pre-election British budget.

AN Post has shelled out €9 million for a majority stake in the Gift Voucher Shop (GVS).

BANK of Ireland has reported an underlying pre-tax loss of €979 million for the first half of its financial year; but saw its share price recover strongly yesterday on the back of saying its loan losses shouldn’t deteriorate from its previous guidance, over the next three years.

Gardaí today arrested two men after foiling an armed robbery on a post office.

ROYAL MAIL, Britain’s state-run postal service, plans to offer current accounts at post offices for the first time, the Financial Times has reported.

THE number of people in Britain opening savings accounts with Irish banks has soared three-fold this week as consumers look for a safe haven for their cash, figures showed today.

The jury at the inquest into the deaths of two raiders during an attempted post office robbery in north Dublin two years ago has retired this afternoon to consider its verdict.

A couple and their 16-month-old grandchild have been taken hostage by armed robbers trying to extort money from them.

The Financial Services Regulator has today approved the award of a banking licence to Postbank, the joint venture retail banking service between the international financial services provider Fortis and An Post.

A 87-year-old woman is in hospital with shock after a “tiger robbery” at her home in Derry.

A drug addict stabbed a now retired garda who confronted him with a chair when he robbed a post-office but was then stopped and held with the aid of two members of the public, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

The British postal service Royal Mail increased its profits by 17% last year, triggering payments of more than £400 (€590) to 180,000 postal workers, the company announced today.

BANK OF IRELAND is to provide 1,000 fee-free cash machines to the British Post Office network, despite having no plans to introduce free banking here.

BANK OF IRELAND has sold its struggling Bristol & West branch network in Britain for €218 million (stg£150m).

PROFITS in Britain were flat last year and shareholders face a longer-than-expected wait for a return from the joint venture with the post office there, Bank of Ireland said yesterday.

MARVIN LEE, who will top the bill at the Garda v NYPD dinner-show in Cork on St. Patrick’s night, will not know the identity of his opponent until after the Golden Gloves tournament New York.

British postal workers’ leaders warned today that the future of the UK's universal delivery system was under threat “as never before” as it raised fresh fears the service could be privatised.

An early morning raid at a Dublin post office was a well-planned operation mounted by a professional criminal gang, gardaí said tonight.

The price of stamps in the UK will have to increase over the next few years as Britain's Post Office makes itself more efficient in the face of increased competition, the head of the Royal Mail warned today.

Armed robbers held a terrified family hostage until a Post Office boss handed over tens of thousands of pounds in ransom money, it was revealed tonight.

“THANKS a million Dad,” said toddler David O’Keeffe after a butcher brought home the bacon in style yesterday.

The British Post Office today launched a £10m (€14.3m) campaign to increase revenue by developing new financial services, expanding its banking arm and revamping branches.

WITH its huge cedar tree, the Old Post Office at Church Cross is a landmark on the road from Skibbereen to Ballydehob.

THE full benefits of Bank of Ireland’s joint venture with the Post Office in Britain will not be seen for 18 months, the bank said yesterday.

THE outlook for the Irish banking sector remains stable, though there is a risk that a serious fall in house prices could hit its profitability, a leading credit ratings agency said yesterday.

Post Office Ltd and Bank of Ireland Group said they have agreed the terms of a financial services joint venture offering products including personal loans, savings accounts, credit cards, personal insurance and mortgages.

A garda told a murder trial jury today that he found a "long bar" in grass during a search of a field following the discovery of the body of Portuguese man nearby.

British postal group Consignia was today facing the threat of a national strike over jobs as it was preparing to unveil record losses of more than £1bn STG (1.5bn).