Love/Hate actor John Connors features in I Am Traveller on RTÉ2 on Thursday.

The decline in rural Ireland today could have been foretold 50 years ago, writes Michael Clifford. 

Balanced regional development – the Late, Late Show of regional planning with something for everyone in the audience – will ultimately fail Rural Ireland, argue Dr Brian Hughes and Dr Lorcan Sirr.

Dara O’Briain and Ed Byrne begin a new travel show, Dara And Ed’s Great Big Adventure, on RTÉ One on Thursday.

White men dominate the Oscar nominations, despite the success of 12 Years A Slave last year and Selma this year. Why are black people being ignored? asks Louise O’Neill.

CHINA:

WILDLIFE cameraman Gordon Buchanan, who was once nearly eaten alive by a white polar bear while filming from a Perspex box in Norway, has learnt from mistakes about how to navigate the ferocious animals he films. 

Cormac Costello pointed from a late free to snatch victory for Dublin in this dogged Cadbury’s All-Ireland U21FC semi-final at O’Moore Park.

The Smithwick Tribunal’s inability to name the mole in Dundalk Garda Station in March 1989 casts a shadow over every member of the force who served there, says Michael Clifford.

The conclusion of the Smithwick Tribunal that Garda officers colluded in the murder of Superintendents Breen and Buchanan is deeply disturbing, and if it is true that one or more members of An Garda Síochána colluded with the IRA in the murders of superintendents Breen and Buchanan, then not only are they guilty of murder, but they let down an entire police force.

The State could face civil lawsuits from the families of the two murdered RUC officers following the damning Smithwick Report which found gardaí colluded with the IRA in their brutal killings.

The Garda commissioner said he is horrified that a collusion inquiry has found a terrorist mole in the ranks of the force gave the IRA a tip-off that led to the ambush and murder of two RUC officers.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was left isolated tonight after he claimed two of the most senior RUC officers killed by the IRA had only themselves to blame.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has claimed two RUC officers murdered in an IRA ambush following a tip-off from a terrorist mole in An Garda Síochána "disregarded their own safety".

Disgraced former garda sergeant Finbarr Hickey spent a year behind bars when convicted of signing counterfeit passports that helped IRA figures go on the run.

Evidence shows Owen Corrigan passed information to the IRA — but it cannot be proved he colluded in the murders of Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan, the tribunal found.

Judge Peter Smithwick has unleashed a blistering attack on the gardaí — accusing them of prizing loyalty over honesty.

Government ministers have apologised to the families of two senior RUC officers killed by the IRA with the help of at least one or more gardaí.

Two of the most senior RUC officers murdered by the IRA in the Troubles were ambushed following a leak from a Garda station, a damning report has found.

The long-awaited report into allegations of Garda collusion in the IRA murder of two senior RUC men has been handed over to the Dáil.

A long-awaited report into allegations of Garda collusion in the IRA murder of two senior RUC men will be handed over to the Government today.

Clermont Auvergne 23 Harlequins 13

British security services tried to frame a Garda sergeant over the murder of two senior police officers from the North to distract attention from their own collusion, an inquiry has heard.

St Mary’s, Macroom won their first All-Ireland Post Primary Schools SBFC title with victory over St Joseph’s Mercy, Navan at Freshford (0-15 to 2-7).

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has hit out at republicans who have refused to give evidence at the Smithwick tribunal into IRA-Garda collusion.

A former Sunday school teacher’s bid to overturn her conviction for murdering the wife of her ex-lover has failed.

Double killer Hazel Stewart’s bid to overturn her conviction for murdering her husband and ex-lover’s wife will be heard later today.

Biarritz 9 Harlequins 16

Sligo Rovers 0 Shamrock Rovers 2

Drogheda United 2 Sligo Rovers 1

The deadline for an inquiry into alleged Garda and IRA collusion in the murder of two senior RUC officers during the Troubles has been extended.

LOSING ground to Republican Mitt Romney on a host of issues, US President Barack Obama faces a serious challenge to put his re-election bid back on track when the two men face off tonight.

Harlequins 40 Biarritz 13

The former head of the Irish Republic’s forensic state laboratory has said he is surprised no-one was ever prosecuted for the IRA killing of 18 British soldiers.

Sligo Rovers 4 Derry City 1

Sligo Rovers are still six points clear at the top of the Airtricity league after a 3-0 win at the Showgrounds last night.

Sligo Rovers 3 Bohemians 1

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Sligo Rovers 0

Goals by Mark Quigley and Pascal Millien late in the first half and a cracking third by Romauld Boco in the 76th minute powered Sligo Rovers to a convincing win at the Showgrounds last night.

Sligo Rovers took another giant step towards the Airtricity League Premier Division title with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Shelbourne at Tolka Park last night.

A former Garda officer alleged to have been suspicious that three of his colleagues colluded with the IRA has claimed he cannot recall rumours that they were linked to subversives.

Police on both sides of the Irish border must launch fresh investigations into the murder of two top RUC officers following intelligence reports of Garda collusion in the killings, the family of one of the men has said.

Paul Buchanan released four albums in 30 years with his band. Now he has finally put out Mid Air, his first solo effort, says Ed Power