The removal service for the former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds has taken place in Dublin.

You could, if you wish, remember Albert Reynolds as the man who wrecked two governments. Or you could remember him as the man who built the peace process.

In 2008 Cork City fathers conferred the Freedom of the City on the late Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.

There has been no surprise at the announcement that Cardinal Seán Brady has offered his resignation to Pope Francis. This was obligatory once he reached his 75th birthday yesterday. There are unlikely to be many regrets, because he should have resigned some years ago.

Tributes have been paid following the death of former minister and ceann comhairle Dr John O’Connell.

Tributes have been paid following the death of former minister and Ceann Comhairle Dr John O’Connell.

Ireland has always punched above its weight in diplomatic terms.

THE head of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called on two State bodies to act after another malicious fire caused extensive damage to part of one of Cork’s most iconic buildings.

DEAR Taoiseach-in-waiting, not long to go now. At 2.30pm tomorrow, the house will be called to order and nominations will be put in place for the office of taoiseach. There may be some wrangling about the procedures, which would be normal enough.

BUSINESSMAN Tom Gilmartin yesterday denied inventing his evidence to the Mahon Planning Tribunal because he was jealous of the success of rival Cork-based property developer, Owen O’Callaghan.

McDowell talked emotively about his love of country, which he had demonstrated by his involvement in politics at considerable cost to himself.

After it was disclosed that Ben Dunne had paid for renovations to Michael Lowry’s house, Bertie said the “first duty of any minister is to the public whom he has been appointed to serve.

Garda Fallon’s family and the public have been denied access to the files on his murder.

IN all fairness, Bertie Ahern should organise a whip-around for his old buddy Joe Burke, who obliged when the Taoiseach hit a spot of bother himself a few years back.

SEAN DOHERTY’s wife had a major role in his decision to drop the bombshell that Charles Haughey was fully aware that journalists’ telephones were tapped in the early 1980s, former government minister Máire Geoghegan Quinn has disclosed.

FORMER Taoiseach Albert Reynolds along with Health Minister Mary Harney, JP McManus, John Magnier and members of the Chieftains are expected to be among 250 guests attending tomorrow’s wedding of Michael Flatley to Niamh O’Brien.

BERTIE AHERN has spent the last two days wearing the riled face of a man who has been wronged. He has fumed that somebody has it in for him and has planted the political equivalent of an incendiary device just before the Dáil returns.