I have mighty good news for all of you this week.

Trainer Mick Winters took the honours on Cork’s Easter Monday card, completing a double with Littlestickarubarb and Osca Loca.

John Daly experiences the newly refurbished Dromoland Castle, fresh from its €20m revamp.

A number of emaciated sika deer on Inisfallen, the monastic island in the heart of the Killarney National Park, have been culled after some deer were found to have starved to death.

There is something magical about embarking on a boat trip into the past where for part of your journey there is almost nothing modern in the scene before you apart from the bow of the boat, writes Dan MacCarthy.

Brigitte Nielsen and Brodir v George Berkeley and the Pixies. Michael Moynihan takes us through the alternative Ireland-Denmark confrontations

Des O’Driscoll shares his highlights for the week ahead

Ireland’s biggest ever Euromillions winner, Dolores McNamara is “heading down to the pub” today in her quest for justice over a road traffic accident.

The last time Kilkenny retained the All Ireland, Enda Kenny was Taoiseach. The last time Cork retained the All Ireland, Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach. The last time Galway retained the All Ireland, CJ Haughey was Taoiseach. The last time Tipperary retained the All- Ireland, Brian Boru was Taoiseach.

A disagreement has emerged between Dromoland Castle and Lord Inchiquin, the direct descendant of Brian Boru, over plans to construct a new water source to serve the 180-year-old castle.

Anthony Foley would be impressed.

As Game of Thrones returns to our screens, Vicki Notaro goes on a cinematic tour of Ireland, taking in everything from Harry Potter to Star Wars.

As Game of Thrones returns to our screens, Vicki Notaro goes on a cinematic tour of Ireland, taking in everything from Harry Potter to Star Wars.

A special edition of The Stinging Fly journal may look back to 1916, but it really reflects the rude health of modern Irish literature, writes Marjorie Brennan

Cork Chamber has welcomed news that one of the country’s leading insurance companies will look at reinsuring flood victims after its representatives came to view flood defences in Co Cork.

All roads led to Conna yesterday for the annual Tallow point-to-point meeting and Mulcahys Hill lit up the meeting by posting a scintillating frontrunning performance for the in-form Martin Hassett stable to claim victory in the four-year-old maiden.

 

NO! by David McPhail (Frances Lincoln, €10.05; endorsed by Amnesty International UK). Set during wartime a small boy sets out to post a letter.

Clare County Council yesterday announced a comprehensive plan relating to the tourism development and visitor management of the “Jewel of The Lough Derg” in Co Clare, Holy Island.

Andrew Lynch was in sparkling form in Tramore last evening, completing a superb treble on Punch Bag, Master Appeal and Miss Peacetime.

Yesterday the world celebrated Ireland's patron saint with parades across the county and around the globe.

Suzanne Harrington asks whose genius idea was it to cut children’s books while still funding animal suffering?

"Women and children first". No, Liam O’Neill wasn’t on a Titanic lifeboat but as he bids adieu to the presidency his efforts for the often-overlooked denominations of the GAA may be the defining aspects of his three years, not just the reviews of football and hurling and the arrival of Sky Sports, says John Fogarty.

Santa will be leaving lots of presents under the tree next week but there will also be gifts from parents and other family members, often some books, puzzles or a new board game to play together over the holidays. 

Jamie Spencer’s announcement that he is to shelve plans to retire from the saddle and instead ride as a freelance next season has been widely welcomed by the racing world.

Check out our spoiler -free guide to what to watch on TV tonight.

Andrew Balding is in bullish mood as Elm Park bids to provide the trainer with a first domestic Group One victory in over a decade in this afternoon’s Racing Post Trophy (3.50 Doncaster).

Check out our spoiler-free guide to what to watch on TV tonight.

Jamie Spencer (pictured) will retire from riding at the end of the current season to take up a new role with Qatar Racing Ltd.

Broadcaster and sports pundit George Hook has said Ireland is a country that is unfair and impoverished ahead of his address at the annual Michael Collins commemoration this weekend.

HAVE you ever wondered what it might have been like when banquets were held in fairytale castles, and the mead flowed freely for ladies and lords of the manor? 

Harpists from the USA, Canada, and Italy will travel to Co Limerick for next week’s Harp Festival to commemorate the Brian Boru Millennium.

Harpists from across Europe and America will perform in Limerick later this month at a week-long festival celebrating the legacy of Brian Boru and our national emblem.

Bruce Springsteen turned up at the RDS yesterday, but the Boss didn’t sing a word as the focus of the crowds remained on horses at the opening of the five-day Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show.

MORE than 650 Palestinians and 31 Israelis have died, so far, as a result of ‘Operation Protective Edge.’ For two weeks, each day’s news has brought fresh horrors: yesterday, 12-year-old Palestinian, Rabee Qasim, was killed by an Israeli shell as he led a donkey and cart through a Bedouin village.