Born to a drug-addicted mother, a one time gym instructor to the stars told Conor Power how she is bringing her inspiring life story to bear at a groundbreaking new fitness project in Kinsale, Co Cork.

WITH the May weekend fast approaching we thought we should make a bit of a song and dance about the fact today is International Dance Day and tomorrow, International Jazz Day.

With temperatures still a little on the cool side, music lovers could do worse than head to Bray this coming weekend. With musicians from more than 30 international acts on its jazz trail, Bray Jazz Festival looks set to see the mercury rising.

Cork's Guinness Jazz Festival is expected to pump over €20m into the Cork economy over the four days of the October bank holiday weekend (Oct 24- 27).