Des O’Driscoll shares his suggestions for the week ahead

This morning's headlines:

In 1997, Billy and Bridie Miller made the difficult decision to say goodbye to their 15-year-old son Liam, who left Ovens having caught the eye of football scouts across the Irish Sea.

There have been renewed calls for Cork’s stalled €72m events centre project to be scrapped following confirmation that an alternative could be built within weeks for a fraction of the cost.

Belfast’s St Patrick’s Day festival should become a three-day weekend event to rival some of the world’s largest cities, a report from Féile an Phobail said.

Liam Neeson, Stephen Fry and Graham Norton have called for the introduction of same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland ahead of a planned demonstration there.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

Guests at a wedding in County Derry were treated to ‘The A-Team’ of headline acts when Ed Sheeran joined Snow Patrol to perform live for the bride and groom’s first dance.

Talk about brownie points.

Friends star Courteney Cox may have an affection for the Emerald Isle through her Irish fiance, but don’t be surprised if she’s in no rush to come back after what Bear Grylls put her through.

Editors, stronger and as stable as ever, are looking forward to returning to Ireland for their headline slot at Indiependence, writes Ed Power

Cork Midsummer Festival runs this weekend and next. Here are some of the early highlights:

3/5

Coming Up For Air

Courteney Cox's daughter is planning her upcoming wedding.

Ed Sheeran wants Taylor Swift to date Orlando Bloom.

Dingle based band Walking On Cars are happy to progress at their own pace, writes Ed Power.

MUSIC NEWS: What do you get the Bob Dylan fan who has everything?

3/5

Amidst all the publicity around the U2 release, the actual songs were almost ignored. Ed Power has a proper listen

Wait … we know that famous red head?

The band sign to U2's label, Island Records.

JUST imagine — you bump into a Hollywood star, get on like a house on fire, and then get a pinch-me invitation to stay the night.

Snow Patrol are to release a new album next year.

GIG WISE: Is Ed Sheeran the next Garth Brooks? After already selling out three dates at the O2, the Suffolk singer-songwriter has announced yet another concert, on Friday, October 3.

A 10ft set of headphones crafted from age-old whiskey barrels will form the centrepiece at a gig with a difference in the North this summer.

Live music: Travis

Oh, what a party. With mandatory dayglo orange wrist bands sporting the upbeat message “Have A Great Day!” and heavy police presence, the Fine Gael national conference had something of the feel of an illegal 1990’s rave about it — just without the light sticks and artificial stimulants.

Two Door Cinema Club have gone from playing intimate gigs to headlining the 02 venues in Dublin and London. They play Electric Picnic next weekend, says Ed Power

Ricky Gervais is planning a David Brent film.

Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody has confirmed that he is writing songs for One Direction's new album.

Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle and Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody will help kick off celebrations in the North's first City of Culture, it has been confirmed.

Girls Sky Atlantic, Jan 14

In six months, the 19-year-old has risen from cult singer in Nottingham to support act for The Killers and Noel Gallagher, says Ed Power

Rihanna leads the 2012 MTV European Music Awards (EMA) nominations with six nods.

Two Door Cinema Club worry that online piracy will hurt sales of their new album, says Ed Power

Ed Sheeran was joined onstage by Gary Lightbody for a special performance of 'Chasing Cars' at the iTunes festival last night.

The Killers closed V Festival with a greatest hits set last night.

X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos bemoaned the “bloody British weather” as the heavens opened during her V Festival performance.

Revellers basked in the sunshine at the V Festival today as the event revisited the glory days of “Madchester”.

Music promoters MCD are expected to make a formal complaint to the Garda Ombudsman Commission this week over the findings of a Garda inquiry into last month’s Swedish House Mafia concert.