It’s attention to detail that makes Ireland a bit special, writes Kieran Shannon.

The new owner of 14 regional newspapers has assured staff that all jobs are safe.

The Johnston Press media group has sold its fourteen regional newspaper titles to Iconic Newspapers Limited, a company run by British advertising executive Malcolm Denmark.

Sports writer Paul Kimmage has revealed Brian O’Driscoll’s decision to give an interview to one paper ahead of another was behind the journalist’s decision to pull out of ghost-writing the rugby legend’s autobiography.

Paul Kimmage has resigned as ghost writer for Brian O'Driscoll's autobiography.

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has reached a settlement with The Sunday Times which he sued for a £1 million (€1.2m) over an article suggesting he was using performance-enhancing drugs before his confession.

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has reached a settlement with The Sunday Times who he sued for £1m (€1.2m) over an article suggesting he was using performance enhancing drugs before his confession.

SHOCKING front page headline on this week's Limerick Chronicle - is nothing sacred?

ONLY in Ireland could a situation arise in which gardaí face unprecedented public opprobrium for doing their jobs.

THEY’VE been getting a little bit hot and bothered over a book up in Donegal, if you haven’t heard.

HIGH-PROFILE Limerick criminal Wayne Dundon has said he is not sorry for what the family of murdered businessman Roy Collins are going through.

A GREEN Party query played a role in the Limerick Leader releasing an audio copy of the devastating tape which helped topple Willie O’Dea from the cabinet, it emerged yesterday.

THE Limerick Leader is declining to give out copies of the taped interview between Defence Minister Willie O’Dea and one of its senior reporters, the contents of which has led to the vote of no confidence being table in Willie O’Dea in the Dáil.

The explosive autobiography of GAA star Donal Og Cusack and a detailed account of how Ireland clinched Grand Slam glory are among the shortlisted titles for a prestigious book award.

THERE’S a section in Donal Óg Cusack’s excellent autobiography where he details how the Cloyne senior hurling squad and its management held “truth meetings”.

OLD wounds could be reopened in Irish rugby this week as some of the game’s central figures lift the lid on the highs and lows of the past couple of seasons.

MORE than 22,500 people have visited the website set up by the Limerick Leader newspaper to allow the public to express their feelings on the brutal murder of rugby captain, Shane Geoghegan.

LIMERICK will feature on New Zealand prime time television next month as part of the build-up to the November 18 Munster v All Blacks game in Thomond Park.

IF you want proof of how much Ireland has progressed as a country over the last 20 years you’ll find it in the achievements of the Celtic Tiger’s generation of sports stars.

A COMMUNITY whose homes have been bulldozed to make way for the new Thomond Park, gathered yesterday for the first time since moving out for another sad farewell.

They say 80% of all books are sold at Christmas, and God knows they’re a good fall-back for a present. With that in mind we asked Michael Moynihan to combine the sports-and-Santa hats when it comes to the pick of this year’s sports books.

MUNSTER’s Heineken Cup victory looms large in the longlist of entries for the 2006 Boylesports Irish Sports Book of the Year Award.

At half-time in the Heineken Cup final against Biarritz last May, Munster were 17-10 up. In this extract from Munster Our Road To Glory by Alan English, the men in red give a blow by blow account of the second half.

FIRST there was the rugby match, then the play, and now the book.