This much I have learned since I became a mother: that my expectations of same would be turned entirely on their head.

It was heart breakingly sad to reflect on someone so vibrant and alive, to die so young, aged only 51, writes Alison O’Connor.

Her family have indicated that the ceremony will be a celebration of her life.

Irish television history was made tonight on RTÉ One, when Brian Dowling and Kai Widdrington, and Lottie Ryan and Emily Barker took to the floor as same-sex professional and celebrity dance partners, in a first for the dance series, both in the Ireland and in the UK.

RTÉ have announced the death of broadcaster Keelin Shanley following an illness.

Trish Dromey explores a lovely Scandinavian-style architect-designed stone and timber home set in woodland near Ballyvaughan, Co Clare.

Johann van Graan has rated fly-half JJ Hanrahan’s chances of facing Racing 92 on Sunday in Paris as 50/50 with the Munster boss preparing to decide between rookie Ben Healy and Rory Scannell as his starting number 10 in the absence of Joey Carbery.

There have been some very naughty elves on the shelves this Christmas, the first-class pupils of Scoil Ursula in Blackrock tell Susan O’Shea, and Santa is going to have a very full sleigh, packed full of gadgets, princesses, and even a pug

‘Tis the season for Christmas jumpers, blue Santa hats, and Leinster at the Aviva.

It’s managed chaos from the moment the alarm goes off as myself.

Featuring a battle of the airlines, X Factor, premature rumours of an international demise, and much more.

Former British intelligence spy inside Sinn Féin, Willie Carlin, talks to Cormac O’Keeffe about Martin McGuinness, the IRA ‘Nutting Squad’ and his fears over possible trials

I want to create a space in the pages of this magazine for radical honesty and self- acceptance, for compassion and empathy.

The coroner apologised to the two families in court about the adjournment.

Eddie Jones believes “Kamikaze kids” Tom Curry and Sam Underhill can smash England straight through any World Cup turgidity.

The actor, who is best known for playing Jesse McGregor on the Australian soap died August 14.

I have very oily skin, it used to be just around my T zone, but now it seems to have spread to my forehead and cheeks. It’s gotten so bad, my makeup slips off. What’s the best cleanser and moisturiser to use? I am 27 years old and otherwise my skin is good and blemish-free.

WITH roles in prolific TV dramas like Taken Down and Charlie, Cork actor Gavin O’Connor is having a successful career. However he also has a passion for writing, and his first novel, Mojo, was a labour of love. “I sat down one day on the good advice of a friend of mine and it just poured out of me. I finished it pretty quickly. It’s about a boy band who reunite 10 years and 10lbs too late only to be double-crossed by their ex-manager and record company. There was so much comedy to mine from that set-up too,” he says.

The perfect spot on the sand goes best with the perfect plot in the hand. Marjorie Brennan selects the best summer fiction to put in your suitcase.

Megan Fletcher may have bowed out at the quarter-finals stage of the European Games judo in Minsk, but the recently-declared Irish judoka is now a candidate to do big things at next year’s Tokyo Olympics.

If Meath’s Michael Newman had swapped jerseys with Niall Scully before the start of yesterday’s Leinster final, then all six starting Dublin forwards would have been on the scoresheet.

Win or lose at Croke Park tomorrow you will probably find a bleary-eyed Ben Brennan clutching a bottle in the wee hours of Monday morning.

RTÉ broadcaster Olivia O’Leary will be at the Amergin Solstice Poetry Gathering in Waterville, Co Kerry, over the next few days. Originally from Borris, Co Carlow, Olivia also presents The Poetry Programme on RTÉ Radio 1 and does a radio column every Tuesday for the Drivetime programme.

A Kerry man died last week after kitesurfing in Portugal, it has merged.

Vanity Fair has released new images from behind the scenes of the latest Star Wars movie, The Rise of Skywalker.

A former club captain back in the 1950s, and with a son (John) involved in a variety of roles from captain to president to chairman, Don’s was a voice entitled to be heard.

Ireland has just lost one of its more unique public figures with the passing of Feargal Quinn at the age of 82.

There was a nail-biting final stage to the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan, as JB Murphy (Team Leinster) powered home to victory in the final dash up the hill in Killorglin in an exciting two-man sprint with his breakaway compatriot Sean Hahessy (Dan Morrissey-MIG-Pactimo).

Ulster and Ireland captain Rory Best has confirmed that he will retire from professional rugby when his contract expires after the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Despite his healthy lifestyle, Ben Gaughran suffered a kidney failure. An organ donor changed everything — and he gives thanks daily, says Margaret Jennings

Two-year-old Zac Higgins incurred serious injuries when he ran onto the road while playing with a ball near Castle Meadows on the Skehard Road in Mahon in Cork city at about 4pm on Monday.

Paul Keane Westmeath defender Boidu Sayeh has revealed he’s been called a ‘black bastard while playing, but didn’t take it personally and he believes the issue of racism in the game is improving.

Frank Warren plans to begin negotiations for a lucrative rematch between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder imminently.

To label this Charleville’s finest hour would be incorrect, would be misleading. Far more accurate is it to catalogue their second-half performance as the most outstanding 33 minutes of hurling ever produced by a Charleville team.

Red Star Belgrade 2 Liverpool 0

Eddie Jones has cautioned against expecting too much from Manu Tuilagi after limiting England’s marauding centre to a bench role against South Africa.

SAY hello to addiction, the gift that keeps on giving. Like an eternal game of Whack-A-Mole, you subdue one and another pops up.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have finalised their divorce after three years of negotiations.

It will take just over an hour by air for the Racing 92 players to fly to Toulouse for Sunday’s important Top 14 game at the Stade Ernest Wallon, writes Ronan O’Gara.

If things had turned out differently, Garry Ringrose and Ben Te’o could have been both in green today, aiming to take down England and celebrate a grand slam together.

When it came to casting for the role of a free-spirited older woman, it isn’t surprising Celia Imrie got the call, writes Esther McCarthy.

England’s quest for an unprecedented hat-trick of Six Nations titles was launched by a 46-15 victory over Italy that produced a late flurry of tries.