Just because someone is non-religious doesn't mean they don't want a sense of occasion to surround the many milestones of their life. Kelly O'Brien talks to two couples who tied the knot in humanist wedding ceremonies.

Those who came to the Mardyke’s Richard Beamish Grounds to celebrate 140 years of Cork County Cricket Club were duly transported back in time, albeit only by 15 years, as former West Indies star and now Ireland coach, Phil Simmons stole the show.

Charging attendees $100,000 for a table at its gala dinners helped one of Ireland’s best known charities increase its revenues from fundraising by 34% last year to $15.1m (€11.3m).

One-time billionaire Anthony O’Reilly has had judgment for €22m entered against him at the Commercial Court.

The multi-million euro West Cork holiday home, Shorecliffe, owned by Sir Anthony O’Reilly, in Glandore, since the 1970s, has had a number of low-key viewings, mostly from overseas parties.

The president and chief executive of the American Ireland Fund, Kieran McLoughlin, last year received total remuneration of $586,856 (€442,241).

It’s 50 years since Kerrygold was first exported — the ultimate success story of an industry once driven by the Cork Butter Market, says Robert Hume

A remarkable performance in the showjumping ring by Cian O’Connor has brought an unexpected boost to the Irish horse sport sector and should raise the profile of Irish breeders, riders and trainers, says Kyran Fitzgerald

THE former chief executive of philanthropic organisation the American Ireland Fund (AIF) Kingsley Aikins is receiving $500,000 (€385,832) over five years as part of his severance deal with the organisation.

EXECUTIVES at Independent News and Media (IN&M) have thrown down the gauntlet to the company’s biggest shareholder — telecoms billionaire Denis O’Brien — to make a bid for the company “if he wants to control it”.

Scenic views, a great design and an ideal location could help this house reach its guide, says Tommy Barker.

LITTLE point in speculating now about what would have been paid five years ago for a Glandore perch like 1, The Terrace – the point now is will this prime-perch property with shore frontage be bid above its market reality €400,000 asking price.

THOUSANDS of small investors have been stung following the appointment of a receiver to a community-run television company which tried to set up a digital service.

FOOTBALLERS born earlier in the year are more likely to be picked to play at an elite level.

GARDAÍ have claimed that they can predict the exact cause of most car crashes even when there are no witnesses, due to the expansion of forensic training within the force.

INDEPENDENT News & Media (INM) believes it will push through a restructuring plan opposed by rebel investor Denis O’Brien even if he succeeds in revoking its directors’ right to allot shares.

AS Independent News & Media (INM) draws closer to a debt-for-equity deal to stabilise its financial woes, the group chief executive Gavin O’Reilly has accused his shareholding nemesis Denis O’Brien of flip-flopping his position with regard to the group’s lifeline.

INDEPENDENT News and Media (INM) chief executive Gavin O’Reilly has been accused of “mad behaviour”, allegedly taping a heated telephone conversation with Denis O’Brien.

INDEPENDENT News and Media (INM) chief executive Gavin O’Reilly has been accused of “mad behaviour”, allegedly taping a heated telephone conversation with Denis O’Brien.

IT’S war – the phoney peace has ended – Denis O’Brien has the O’Reillys in his sights and this time there will be blood on the floor.

Independent News and Media (INM) tonight dismissed calls from major shareholder and billionaire telecoms mogul Denis O’Brien to sell off its London titles.

INDEPENDENT News & Media is tottering on the brink of bankruptcy as its second largest shareholder, Denis O’Brien, wants the company to play hard ball with its debtors and implement major surgery.

Independent News & Media (INM) said today it has put forward a refinancing proposal, involving an attempt to raise capital by way of a "deeply discounted rights offering", in an effort to repay its outstanding €200m bond.

RUSSIAN billionaire and one-time KGB spy, Alexander Lebedev, is understood to be locked in advanced talks to buy London-based The Independent and the Independent on Sunday.

THE owners of the Irish Independent have only a 50-50 chance of agreeing refinancing of up to €200 million in loan bonds, as the company continues its brinkmanship with its debtors.

PROVIDENCE Resources, the Irish oil and natural-gas explorer, said it began to produce natural gas at its Vermillion 60 field off the US state of Louisiana.

Newspaper giant Independent News and Media (INM) warned today of “significant doubt” over whether the entire company can continue as a going concern.

THE man who led the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers football team to an historic sixth Superbowl title has been named US ambassador to Ireland.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese is donating a number of ball gowns to a charity auction. This alerted me to the prospect of life after her presidency when it ends in 2011.

Two members of the Wedgwood family said today they were considering a bid for the ceramics business which bears their famous name.

China and crystal maker Waterford Wedgwood has received a “substantial” rescue bid from a US private equity firm, it was reported today.

WATERFORD Wedgwood majority owners Anthony O’Reilly and Peter John Goulandris are set to lose close to €400 million following the collapse of the firm, with a buyer unlikely to be found.

World-renowned company Waterford Crystal is too important to be allowed to shut down, union leaders warned today.

A 49-year-old father who took possession of ecstasy worth almost €500,000 so that he could pay off his daughter’s so-called "drug debt" has been given a seven-year sentence by Judge Frank O’Donnell.

Ireland’s education system will be discussed by cross-border government ministers and academics at the Parnell Summer School today.

A Dublin man who ran down an Arklow 21-year-old in his car who is the first person in Ireland to be convicted of murder using a motor vehicle as a weapon has been sentenced to eight years for related offences..

A Dublin man who ran down an Arklow 21-year-old in his car is the first person in Ireland to be convicted of murder using a motor vehicle as a weapon.

A jury hearing the murder trial of a Dublin man accused of murdering an Arklow 21-year-old by hitting him with his car has retired to consider their verdicts.

The jury hearing the murder trial of a Dublin man accused of murdering an Arklow 21-year-old by hitting him with his car is expected to retire today to consider their verdicts.

A jury hearing the trial of a Dublin man charged with murder has been told to consider what was in the mind of the accused when his red Honda Civic hit his alleged victim.

A Dublin man accused of murder is estimated to have been driving between 66 and 81km per hour in a 50km zone when he hit his alleged victim, a court has heard.

A jury hearing the trial of a Dublin man accused of murder has begun hearing evidence from a forensic road accident investigator attached to the traffic unit of Garda National Headquarters.

A Dublin man accused of murder told gardaí at Arklow station his alleged victim 'f****d up' by messing with him, a court has heard.