Barry Hearn is the man who had everyone going snooker loopy in the eighties as television coverage of the sport boomed on the back of his stable of star players such as Steve Davis.

Come back John Virgo, all is forgiven.

After all the months hearing about them, reading about them and buying them, finally, over the last few days, we’re guessing you got round to actually reading some sports books.

Joe Elliot’s side project, Down ’n’ Outz, is a sort of tribute to his boyhood heroes, writes Ed Power

For fear we may never see his likes again, should we not seek a sample of Christy Moore’s DNA and put it in a time capsule?

Neil Robertson recovered from a dismal start to beat Mark Selby 10-7 in the williamhill.com UK Championship final and complete snooker’s triple crown.

It’s the free trip to the dentist that could just save your life.

Kieran McSweeny, TV3.

Maths wasn’t exactly a strong suit in the old school days, but one glance around Croke Park last Sunday afternoon seemed to offer fairly definitive evidence that the numbers just didn’t add up for what proved to be two perfectly enjoyable Allianz League Division 1 semi-finals.

THE Abbey Theatre is opening the national stage to emergent Irish writers during the coming months.

The audience swilled beer, oblivious to the guests, and the set was a makeshift ‘pub’. It could only be Nighthawks, writes Noel Baker.

Ronnie O’Sullivan celebrated a fourth Crucible title with his young son in his arms and said: “It was the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

Jimmy White has joined Ronnie O’Sullivan in calling for snooker chiefs to mark the anniversaries of Alex Higgins’ two world title triumphs.

Belfast-born Frank Carson died yesterday after a long battle with cancer.

NORTHERN Ireland’s Mark Allen added his voice to the growing number of frustrated players in snooker echoing Ronnie O’Sullivan’s sentiments last week that most of the PTC events are “pointless” at the moment.

Dancing Shoes enacts George’s skill but doesn’t shirk from his sadness, says Carl Dixon

John Higgins knows the crowd will be on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s side when their Betfred.com World Championship quarter-final resumes today.

John Higgins admits his Crucible clash with Ronnie O'Sullivan has the feeling of a final.

THE Guardian’s elegant columnist Frank Keating had a typically sharp piece in his newspaper last week, a simple concept butexecuted with precision and wit.

Ireland – A History

Friends, family and sports stars are expected to attend a thanksgiving service today for snooker star Alex Higgins.

The funeral of former snooker world champion Alex Higgins is to take place in Belfast on Monday.

Three-time former world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan believes snooker should have done more to look after Alex Higgins after his career finished.

A book of condolence will open today at Belfast City Hall for snooker player Alex Higgins.

ABOUT €12,000 raised to help snooker ace Alex “Hurricane” Higgins receive medical treatment will go towards defraying his funeral expenses.

ANOTHER piece of childhood vanished for a lot of people over the weekend with the death of former world snooker champion Alex Higgins.

Tributes flooded in from the snooker world for Alex "Hurricane" Higgins, the troubled genius of the table who died after a battle with cancer.

Former world snooker champion Alex Higgins has died at the age of 61.

GO TO your local bookstore. Beat the familiar path past the graphic novels, travel guides and cooking manuals to the sports section. Trace your finger along the shelf’s edge until you alight at the Js. There, with a bit of luck, you’ll find BS Johnson’s The Unfortunates.

Snooker star Alex Higgins has been admitted to hospital, it was revealed today.

Mark Allen has called time on his trouble-causing days after admitting he was in danger of falling into the same traps which snared Alex Higgins.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN sent a shiver down the spine of his opponents after winning his third 888.com World Championship final by insisting: “I can get even better”.

The story of a GAA star's battle against his gambling addiction was today announced as a contender for a major book award.

Controversial snooker legend Alex Higgins attacked a referee at an exhibition match against Jimmy White which was arranged to raise cash for young players, it was revealed today.

The snooker world paid its final tributes to Paul Hunter today, 10 days after the 27-year-old Yorkshireman died from cancer.

Jimmy White today revealed he was playing for Paul Hunter’s cancer charity when he learned of the three-time Masters champion’s death.

The Irish Professional Snooker Championships are due to get underway in Dublin today after a 12-year absence from the calendar.

Alex Higgins makes another comeback bid when he competes in the Victor Chandler Irish Professional Championship in Dublin next week.

Defending champion Joe Swail will take on Martin McCrudden in the first round of the Irish Professional Snooker Championship in Dublin next month.

Snooker’s authorities came under fire again today when Joe Swail described the table as an “absolute joke” after losing to Matthew Stevens in the first round of the 888.com World Championship.

World amateur champion Mark Allen took another step towards securing a place in the final stages of the game’s top professional event by recording a 10-3 victory over Justin Astley in Prestatyn.

Snooker legend Steve Davis today cleared the table at the Irish Poker Championships, scooping winnings of €13,500 in one of the tournament’s side competitions.

Cork native Kieran Walsh has fended off opposition from some of the world’s best poker players to win €150,000 at this year’s Boylepoker.com Irish Poker Championship Final in Citywest tonight.

THE chips will be down as nine poker players battle it out for €500,000 in Dublin tomorrow.