He’s just an interested spectator these days, and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín plans to keep it that way, but from his viewpoint Cork are set up for a positive summer.

The Shortest History of Germany by James Hawes Old Street Publishing Review: Des Breen

 

I AM outraged. Horrified and disgusted. Appalled and let down by the direction in which things are heading, writes Suzanne Harrington. 

The Roman Empire is a somewhat neglected part of history, but Peter H Wilson’s tome sets the record straight and reveals new secrets, writes Michael Duggan.    

Cutting-edge technology in Trinity College Dublin has helped to shed light on a ‘gladiator’ burial mystery that has baffled archaeologists for more than a decade.

Islamic State militants have destroyed a nearly 2,000-year-old arch in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syrian activists said.

Shane Curran has warned the inequalities that beset Gaelic football at present could see the sport in ruins in 20 years’ time.

Islamic State fighters tightened their grip on the historic city of Palmyra in Syria, days after capturing a provincial capital in neighbouring Iraq, hinting at the momentum of the group, which a monitor says holds half of Syrian territory.

BALANCING its outward perspective with an interrogatory approach to the secrets hidden in the human heart and mind, the 15 stories of Aiden O’Reilly’s very fine debut offer the reader a series of candid dispatches from a changing Europe.

How good is your knowledge of Ancient Rome? 

Italy gave us the Roman empire and the Renaissance two of the most influential forces in European history. Has this legacy coloured Italians’ perception of themselves and their place in the world, wonders Marjorie Brennan.

The invention of printing meant we needed glasses and they led to changes we can hardly comprehend. Richard Fitzpatrick on history’s game changers.

TWO THINGS I pleasurably waste a lot of time on are property supplements and travel websites.

Archaeologists at a Roman fort more used to finding coins, weapons and tools have found a 2,000-year-old perfectly preserved wooden toilet seat.

Religion must be scandalising non-believers and believers alike, when they see the atrocities being committed by religious groups that claim the blessings of God.

Game of Thrones could do for tourism in Northern Ireland what Lord Of The Rings has achieved for New Zealand.

The relics of St Valentine form a shrine to romance in Whitefriar St church in Dublin. The visitors’ book is filled every six weeks with people’s hopes and requests for love, says Barbara Scully

STAND-UP comedian Neil Delamere has endured unusual heckles. A silent one stands out.

Last days of Roman Empire update: Ireland exits troika package and is now back in the markets.

It is hard to imagine that Ireland was once the university of Europe, an island of learning and classical scholarship that outshone anything the continent had to offer.

Abolition is about a politics fearful of other ideas. Abolition would stymie the challenge to the dominance every Irish government has had over a directly elected Dáil and an indirectly-elected Seanad

GPA chairman Donal Óg Cusack has revealed that the Association has “never been busier” in dealing with issues ranging from depression to gambling amongst GAA players.

Gerard Howlin on a book that looks at the synergy of history, politics and the ideas that has brought the European Union to life and sustained it through succeeding crises.

A third of the electorate vote at the children’s rights referendum — and only 60% of those in favour — and our Taoiseach and his buddies behave as if all our troubles are over.

AT THE height of the Roman Empire, herds of wild cattle roamed Europe.

MEMO to Roisín Shortall: What’s the point in having half a spine?

We should really take a moment to acknowledge the fact that a US federal judge has cleared the Vatican of being “employers” of a certain notorious paedophile priest (Letters, Aug 22).

With the release this week of the first batch of reports on Census 2011, the CSO has shone a light on post-boom Ireland. Despite cutbacks and the threat of the internet, the office still provides an essential service, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

A HUGE shipyard larger than a football pitch that built or maintained ships for the Roman empire has been found by archaeologists.

SATURDAY

THE Book of Lismore might not have been envisioned as an e-book or a handy little iPad app, yet the rare 15th century manuscript has much in common with 21st century communications, according to UCC president Michael Murphy.

FATHER Brendan Hoban, parish priest, theologian, writer and one of the founders of the Association of Catholic Priests, is prepared to go to jail rather than break the traditional seal of confession.

SHAKY, very shaky.

IRELAND has to “jump” to meet the expectations of the international markets even though they are “greatly exaggerating” the country’s economic problems, Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan has said.

IRISH scientists started to argue about how and when various species of animals and plants got to our island back when Queen Victoria was on the throne.