Ireland's birth rate is the third highest in the European Union, after France and Sweden.

Badly Drawn Boy may never escape from his Bewilderbeast album, but he’ll also be playing new music on his Irish tour, writes Ed Power.

The US government’s national security adviser, John Bolton, has never in his career in politics been slow in coming forward to criticise the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Iran feels under attack. Its efforts to reach out to the US are slapped down, the time between reach and slap a measure only of the degree of duplicity, says Peter Van Buren.

A new study by Eurostat has found that the Irish figure is slightly above the EU average.

The European Commission is in talks with the Government here on providing facilities to address issues such as forest fires and hurricanes like 'Storm Ophelia'.

The new leader of Ukip has said he may need to sell his house in order to remain in the unpaid post

Ukip's new leader Henry Bolton has said the party has avoided becoming the "UK Nazi Party" with his election at the expense of a candidate who described Islam as "evil".

Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk (12A) is an epic tale of the greatest mass rescue of World War II, when 400,000 men of the British Expeditionary Force were left stranded and undefended on Dunkirk beach as the German army closed in for the kill.

Galway 0-14 Kildare 0-13

While much of the focus on links between Mayo and Kildare revolve around Cian O’Neill - the Lilywhite manager who served as coach with the westerners when they reached the All-Ireland final in 2012 - there are other connections between the counties.

A talented musician who had surgery for cancer at St James’ Hospital, Dublin, but later had a heart attack and slipped into a coma, has settled his High Court action for €550,000.

Sligo 2-15 Kildare 2-14: Sligo boss Niall Carew came back to haunt his home county as his side ended Kildare’s perfect run in this Division 3 campaign at St Conleth’s Park yesterday.

Kildare 3-18 Laois 1-11: Not even their own supporters held much hope of Kildare beating Laois given their injuries and a horrible league campaign but manager Jason Ryan insists he and his coaching staff retained faith in their methods despite some of the vitriol being aimed in their direction.

Kildare blitzed Laois in stunning fashion after half time to canter into a Leinster semi-final against Dublin.

GAA Championship: Peter McNamara analyses the live televised action on Saturday.

Amir Khan met with old sparring partner Manny Pacquiao in London on Friday to discuss a potential fight.

Amir Khan is confident he will show the world how much he has improved in his year out of the ring when he goes toe-to-toe with tricky southpaw Luis Collazo in Las Vegas on May 3.

Tipperary 2-22 Clare 0-09

An excellent second-half performance from Cork gave them a second Allianz Football League Division 1 win as Kildare were beaten at Páirc Uí Rinn today.

'X Factor' winner Sam Bailey said she has still not met show supremo Simon Cowell weeks after she triumphed in the final of the TV talent show.

Scientists have captured footage of what it is like to fly with a large seabird.

George Soros, the 83-year-old billionaire investor, philanthropist and active supporter of liberal political causes, married health care and education consultant Tamiko Bolton at the weekend.

Cork 0-13 Kildare 1-07

Kildare 0-19 Offaly 1-12

Cork manager Conor Counihan has stuck with the team he originally named to face Dublin for tomorrow night's Allianz League encounter with Kildare at Páirc Uí Rinn (throw-in 7pm).

Kildare 1-13 Carlow IT 0-7

ANYONE can reach a crisis point — reports suggest media mogul Simon Cowell did this summer.

Kildare 0-13 Sligo 0-4

Kildare 0-19 Limerick 0-12 (after extra time)

Kildare 3-20 Cavan 1-9

Amir Khan admits he only has himself to blame after suffering a crushing fourth-round stoppage defeat to massive underdog Danny Garcia in Las Vegas last night.

SATURDAY

Love won’t necessarily tear you apart, but it will certainly inflict some serious bruising.

Tottenham are on their way to Wembley, where they will play Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final after battling past Bolton on an emotional night at White Hart Lane.

Having watched their hurling counterparts win by 44 points, Kildare footballers ran riot on Westmeath to register an equally impressive 17-point victory.

Kildare’s push for promotion got a further boost at Drogheda yesterday, this four-point win over struggling Louth putting them in prime position for the second of the qualifying spots.

Amir Khan believes unfancied challenger Lamont Peterson poses a bigger threat to him on Saturday than two-weight world champion Zab Judah did in their recent light-welterweight unification scrap.

Qantas Airways has grounded all aircraft over an industrial dispute which has disrupted the travel plans of the Ireland International Rules squad.

INITIAL reports about Emmet Bolton’s serious injury picked in yesterday’s International Rules game are positive.

Kildare defender Emmet Bolton suffered concussion during the third quarter of Ireland's International Rules Test win against Australia earlier today.

PORTLAOISE won a historic fifth Laois SFC title in a row yesterday with a clinical second-half display against Graiguecullen.