It’s been an iffy year for movies, but the year has been bookended by some true diamonds in the rough:

Following on from the success of Martin McDonagh's The Cripple of Inishmaan earlier this year, the Gaitey Theatre will present McDonagh's The Lieuenant of Inishmore from January onwards.

Ellie O’Byrne went on set in Cork with The Young Offenders in advance of their return to our TV screens next week

RTÉ and BBC 3 have confirmed that the Young Offenders Christmas special will air on both channels in December.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) have picked Cork’s Chris Walley in the Bafta Breakthrough Brit awards, marking him out as one of the most promising actors this year.

Irish divers Oliver Dingley and Jack Ffrench get their European Championships underway in Glasgow today.

Pass the tissues …

The endorsement of a children’s charity by the homegrown heroes of The Young Offenders is entirely in keeping with their character: hard chaws with soft cores.

They’ve broken in and wreaked havoc by racing stolen bikes through its bustling aisles, right under the nose of Conor’s long-suffering fishmonger mother.

From the proud moment of replacing the famous photograph of the Queen in Cork's English Market to what the lads have planned next.

The makers of The Young Offenders have confirmed they’re keen on shooting another series and that we could soon see Conor and Jock back causing mayhem on the streets of Cork.

The show follows Cork teenagers Conor and Jock and follows on from the hit movie on which the series is based.

Any fears that the Cork element of The Young Offenders might have been diluted by the BBC’s involvement in the upcoming TV adaptation have been allayed by a viewing of the first episode.

Our regular contributors select their highlights of the year.

Weekend review

You can have the backing of the BBC and the goodwill of a city behind you — but it doesn’t mean the Irish weather will be on your side.

The Young Offenders is an hilarious new Irish comedy which just arrived in cinemas last Friday, and it seems audiences turned out in droves to see it.

A strange and varied mix in cinemas this week, including a new Irish comdy classic, a returning horror franchise and comedy show back after long breaks and a new film from the guy behind What We Do in the Shadows.

New comedy The Young Offenders gets its premiere this week, and those involved hope to do their home city proud, writes Esther McCarthy

Best known for making the ‘Horse Outside’ video for the The Rubberbandits, Cork director Peter Foott looks set for another step towards the big time with his debut feature film.

The 2015 Fina World Championships begins in the Russian republic of Tatarstan today and Chris Bryan will be the first of the Irish in action when he competes in the men’s 10K open water swim on Monday.

At least six Irish citizens known to be in Nepal during the earthquake remain unaccounted for.

A Wexford man has told how his mother narrowly escaped when a temple collapsed in an aftershock in Nepal at the weekend.

Dallas Buyers Club *****

Reviews and trailers of the new movies in Irish cinemas this weekend in one handy place.

Gary Oldman said Ben Affleck doesn't need any advice to play Batman.

Gary Oldman joked that money was the real reason he signed up to star in ‘RoboCop’.

The 'RoboCop' remake has been pushed back until 2014.

Hugh Laurie is being lined up to star in 'RoboCop'.

Samuel L. Jackson is set to star in 'Robocop'.

Kerry-raised actor Michael Fassbender is director Jose Padilha's first choice to play 'RoboCop' in his upcoming remake.