A family have been left "traumatised" after their historic family home was destroyed by fire in the heritage town of Adare today.

The second anniversary of the death of Savita Halappanavar was marked by a candlelight vigil in Galway last night.

On March 8, 40,000 people packed into Seattle’s CenturyLink Field to watch the local side take on Sporting Kansas City in the opening game of the 2014 Major League Soccer season.

A bill attacking Russia’s gay community and banning the distribution of information about homosexuality to children has been overwhelmingly approved by the lower house of parliament.

Since the dawn of time, people have been fascinated and frustrated in equal measure by the ephemeral nature of youth. We struggle (in vain) to find new ways of maintaining our fresh appearance and vigour, with all sorts of exotic pills and potions being hailed as the next “elixir of youth”. However, as science unravels the complex mechanisms of the ageing process, it seems the most effective remedy may lie not with these elaborate concoctions, but with some humble foods readily available from the supermarket. We run the rule over a few of the key players in this nutritional war on ageing.

THE party season is in full swing and at this stage presents, food and plans for where you’re spending the 25th are sorted.

GIVEN the drama, close shaves and theatrics of the last two weekends, perhaps it’s no harm that the Heineken Cup enters a brief period of hibernation for a few weeks.

A roadside bomb attack killed nine people travelling on a minibus today, authorities said, in the latest violence to shake Turkey's turbulent south-east, where Kurdish guerrillas have been fighting for autonomy for decades.

Hot on the heels of the criticism by GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell of anti-grants body 'Of One Belief' come the comments of GAA PRO Danny Lynch, who has also hit out at the "grassroots" group.

Hamas gunmen ambushed rival Fatah forces today near a key crossing along the Israeli border, killing eight people in the deadliest battle yet in three days of factional fighting.

THE Munster finals of the Irish Mixed Foursomes get under way at Monkstown on Saturday, with Nenagh facing Newcastle West in the first of the semi-finals at 9am.

A SENIOR GAA official has condemned TV pundit Pat Spillane for recent criticisms of the association.

“A STORM in a teacup,” is how Offaly PRO Pat Teehan, last night described the defection of the three Whelahan brothers from the county panel.

The cabinet is meeting to finalise the text of the Nice Treaty, which voters will examine in the autumn referendum.

Pro and Anti-Agreement Unionists will battle it out for the UUP party’s nomination to fight the South Belfast constituency.