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Michael Phelps was adamant there would be no retirement U-turn this time as he was beaten to gold by a Singaporean who used to idolise him.

Having not competed at the top level since last year, Greg Broderick and MHS Going Global laid down a late marker for Olympic selection yesterday, producing a double clear to help Ireland win the Furusiyya Series nations cup in a rain-soaked St Gallen, Switzerland.

The Christian owners of a bakery who refused to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage message were not being forced to do anything against their beliefs, an Equality Commission lawyer has said.

Christian bakers who refused to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan could not sin by going against their consciences, their lawyer has told an appeal hearing.

Christian bakers found guilty of discrimination for refusing to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan have insisted their appeal has implications for freedom of expression across the UK.

Christian bakers who refused to make a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan are expected to return to court in Belfast today for an appeal.

Back-in-the-game sports retailers Elverys are continuing to hit the ground running, with a second Cork store off the busy ring road just acquired, hot on the heels of its just-opened city centre presence on Oliver Plunkett Street.

The same-sex marriage referendum sparked an influx of calls to a support service for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as it recorded its busiest year.

A bakery in the North found to have discriminated against a gay man has been vandalised and critical letters sent to its owner.

I’m a Girl! By Yasmeen Ismail (Bloomsbury; €8.80)

Lottie Lipton lives very happily in the British Museum with her father who works there, and her elderly eccentric Great Uncle, Professor Bertram West.

A printing company which refused to print civil partnership invitations for a gay couple has said that a complaint has been made about the decision to the Equality Tribunal.

The Christian owners of a bakery discriminated against a gay man when they refused to make a cake carrying a slogan promoting same-sex marriage.

The Christian owners of a bakery taken to court for refusing to make a cake bearing a pro-gay marriage slogan have said faith is sustaining them ahead of the judgment.

The Christian owners of a bakery taken to court for refusing to make a cake bearing a pro-gay marriage slogan have said faith is sustaining them ahead of the judgment.

By the 1970s, Irish women made up 12% of Britain’s nurses. One of them was Mary Hazard, and her autobiography recounts her 60 happy years with the NHS, says Sharon Ni Chonchúir.

Bertram Allen’s philosophy heading into this weekend’s World Cup finals in Las Vegas is fairly straightforward: Do your best and see where it takes you, writes John Tynan.

Britain’s Got Talent judge David Walliams has split from his wife, Lara Stone.

'EastEnders' is set to be rocked by a huge fire that tears through the Slater family's home later this year.

DID you know that Bert and Ernie were a couple? It’s amazing what can be learnt on a fair to middling July week in the throes of the silly season.

A Christian bakery owner who refused to make a cake with a slogan supporting gay marriage, insists he should be allowed to run his business according to his religious beliefs.

The Christian bakery owner who refused to make a cake with a slogan supporting gay marriage has said he should be allowed to run his business according to his religious beliefs.

A bakery that refused to make a cake featuring the slogan “support gay marriage” alongside a picture of Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie could end up in court, it has been reported.

WHAT’S the Irish for ‘D’oh!’, or ‘hey, Bert,’ or ‘You bastards. You killed Kenny’?

Retirement from football has allowed Michael Owen more time to concentrate on racing interests and his beloved Brown Panther offered up his greatest success as an owner to date in the Artemis Goodwood Cup yesterday.

When Michael Phelps walked into the press room at the Aquatics Centre on Saturday August 4, 2012, he left no-one in any doubt that his decision to retire was final.

Regular Rose of Tralee viewers are used to unusual sights, with banana songs, breakfast rolls, and a contestant who decapitated Sesame Street’s Bert of Bert and Ernie fame (seriously) all taking the spotlight in recent years.

Major sporting moments tend to result in historic commentary that echoes through the ages. Even when we don’t really want it to.

Tom Cruise is "really sad" about his split from wife Katie Holmes.

THOUGH he is not really a Muppet in the pejorative sense of the word, Enda Kenny would make a good Sesame Street character.

It was a clear case of bye-bye Bertie, hello Troy Boy.

WORLD-CLASS show jumper Denis Lynch was yesterday described as “an angel in disguise” by the Irish Society for the Protection of Animals for his work in alleviating the suffering of horses.

THE ISPCA has appealed for help following a barbaric attack in which a pony was set alight.

“WE DON’T do presents” said Maurice Ahern, as he strolled into his brother’s controversial birthday party last night.

PUPPET decapitations, Irish-dancing electro music, hurling royalty and a bizarre but unnervingly catchy “banana song”.

The makers of Sesame Street have responded to a campaign calling for two of the show's famous puppets to get married.

Russell Brand turned up at the European premiere of his new film, 'Despicable Me' - only to duck out before the film even started.

EVEN though his father was the national goalkeeper the son was not worth a curse as a player.

As widely expected, Michael Owen is to team up with trainer Tom Dascombe at the Manchester United star’s Manor House Stables in Cheshire.