Ian Humphreys has avoided the major art centres of the world to join the small band of residents on Heir Island, writes Colette Sheridan

John Donne provided the spark for Isabel Nolan’s exhibition in Bandon, writes Alan O’Riordan

I’VE been doing a good bit of driving this past while, chiefly the Cork-Dublin-Cork-Dublin road. The bit of my elbow between the ‘elbone’ and the funny bone has taken on the shape of the sill of the driver’s door. The floor is covered in Double Decker wrappers.

Having made such a good impression on his return, in a maiden hurdle at Sligo recently, Long Dog should take a world of beating in the opening Topaz Novice Hurdle on day two of the Galway Festival.

Kya deLongchamps loses her head and much of her heart in the accrued history, and charm of Rathcoursey.

Fascinating Rock might be capable of conceding weight to his six rivals in the listed Heritage Stakes on Student Race Day in Leopardstown tonight.

Joanna MacGregor’s Irish dates will feature everything from Bach to Thelonious Monk, says Alan O’Riordan.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson shed their inhibitions in the eagerly-anticipated film version of Fifty Shades of Grey, Alfred Molina and John Lithgow play men struggling to keep their relationship together in Love Is Strange.

French President Francois Hollande has paid tribute to the three police officers killed in the attacks in Paris, placing Legion of Honour medals on their coffins.

It is 1886. A traumatised young man, Albert, is unable to stop walking. He walks from town to town, across the countryside, across borders, sleeping in ditches or barns.

MUSICIAN and psychotherapist Eamon Keane is a Renaissance man. 

Simon Callow is on a nine-week run of one-night stands with his one-man play. He talks to Colette Sheridan

Frankie Dettori believes Saturday’s JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury is the perfect starting point for Olympic Glory.

Aficionados of classical music will be flocking to Cork School of Music this evening where Ukrainian-born pianist, Alexei Grynyuk, will perform Liszt and Schubert pieces, under the auspices of the Cork Orchestral Society.

SINGER, songwriter and composer, Eamon Keane, is returning to Cork for his first concert in ten years at CIT School of Music this Friday, Dec 20.

Kya deLongchamps looks ahead to the shades shining from the colour palettes of the top paint houses for 2014.

St Barrahane’s, Castletownshend

Is it just a question of stamina with favourite Dawn Approach ahead of this afternoon's Epsom Derby? Perhaps not, as the course is also a potential stumbling block to the horse, who often looked like he needed strong handling at the business end.

Frankie Dettori will make his eagerly-anticipated return to the saddle at Epsom today after being cleared to return from his six-month suspension.

Irish 2000 Guineas winner Magician is set to sidestep Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom, according to owners Coolmore Stud.

Jim Bolger, trainer of long-time Derby favourite Dawn Approach, was impressed by the Aidan-O’Brien-trained Magician’s win in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.

Jim Bolger is convinced Dawn Approach will go to the Investec Derby an even better horse than he was when winning the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

In kitchens, they prepare food faster, but pressure cookers by their very nature help make good bombs, amplifying the blast and the carnage.

A full military rehearsal for Baroness Thatcher’s funeral has taken place in the early hours of this morning.

American classical pianist, David Syme, has played to audiences of 10,000 at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre, in New York, and the Kennedy Centre, in Washington DC.

Sir Anthony Hopkins found himself with a share of a Classic Brit Award tonight after one of his compositions featured on the album of the year.

Elton John has told how he believes his son Zachary's childhood is going to be "very difficult" as he battles homophobia and the impact of his father's world fame.

Elton John has told how he believes his son Zachary’s childhood is going to be “very difficult” as he battles homophobia and the impact of his father’s fame.

We hadn’t even lifted our feet off Hungarian soil yesterday and it already felt like we’d finally arrived at Euro 2012.

A British teenager can memorise the most complex piano pieces in a matter of hours.

SHANGHAI to Sherkin, a contrast that would make one’s head spin.

Poland has refused to allow scientists to run DNA tests on the heart of composer Frederic Chopin to explore a mystery surrounding his death.

A FIVE-year-old blind girl is causing a sensation on YouTube after stories emerged of her uncanny ability to listen to a song just once then reproduce it perfectly on the piano.

Traditional Irish bands such as Planxty and De Dannan will be celebrated in stamps issued later this year.

Cards sailed through the air to the rhythm of Chopin, and a rabbit was inevitably pulled out of a hat as contestants from China to the Virgin Islands kicked off the World Championship of Magic in Sweden today.

O ROMEO, Romeo, where fore art th... ouch!

A THEORY that the so-called Piano Man is a French street musician has neither been proven nor discounted, and is one of 300 identities that are being investigated, his social worker said yesterday.

Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos faced a different kind of crowd tonight as he took part in a high-brow discussion on the future of music.

The British government was today launching a high profile drive to encourage British firms to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the European Union’s 10 new member states.