IT is hard to know if the suggestion from New York’s mayor Bill de Blasio, that he might remove the statue of Christopher Columbus which has dominated Manhattan’s Columbus Circle since 1892, the 400th anniversary of the Genoese adventurer’s arrival in the Americas, is serious or not.

Forty years ago, Tim Severin sailed across the Atlantic in a leather boat using only a medieval text as his guide. Donal O’Keeffe met the man behind The Brendan Voyage.

Carolyn Moore explores the wonderful treasures this old Spanish city has to offer.

People are surprised to learn that curlews are in trouble; the much-loved birds are seen and heard, particularly along the coast, in winter., writes Richard Collins

Kya deLongchamps investigates the history of ‘insufflating’ and describes the manners and paraphernalia attached to the taking of ground tobacco.

It’s a paradise island where they speak English and offer a variety of vacation ideas like no other. And it doesn’t warrant its reputation as being dangerous, writes Isabel Conway.

The United States has returned to Italy a letter written by Christopher Columbus in 1493 about his discovery of the New World that was stolen from a Florence library and unwittingly acquired by the Library of Congress.

WEDNESDAY evening, home, and it would seem my husband has just discovered the 5:2 diet. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has set off a new controversy by declaring that women are not equal to men and accusing feminists of not understanding the special status that Islam attributes to mothers.

If your sat nav is a bit out of date or Google maps ain’t your thing, a cool €2m to €3.2m could net you the oldest known standalone map of Ireland.

Robin Williams still has four movies left to release.

IN THESE needy times, you can be forgiven for hunting down value when booking a holiday.

Wolfe Tone Square,

Demi Lovato believes aliens and mermaids are real.

Archaeologists in the Caribbean believe they've found the wreck of Christopher Columbus's flagship.

LISBON is a city of quiet contradictions.

The adventurer who crossed the Atlantic in a craft made of hide in a re-enactment of the voyage taken by St Brendan will be reunited with his famous boat today.

A pair of Columbus crabs which hitched a lift on a barrel drifting in the sea have been washed ashore in the northern Dingle Peninsula.

CORK Cine Club’s latest programme runs from Oct 11-Dec 13 at its new venue, St John’s Central College in Cork city. With screenings of art house films and documentaries every Thursday night, the season kicks off with Even The Rain, directed by Iciar Bollain. This socially aware film is about a production team in Bolivia making a controversial film about Christopher Columbus. Meanwhile, a local uprising against water rates takes place.

So officials in Galway have been “warned” by an American politician there will be “ramifications” if Galway City Council erect a statue to Che Guevara.

The Dublin Dance Festival showcases innovative performances in diverse venues. It’s for everyone, says Jo Kerrigan

TO the would-be explorer the senior editor (expeditions) at the National Geographic Magazine is a magnetic figure, but daunting. He looks through those shoals of letters which arrive weekly with pleas of sponsorship for proposed expeditions.

A modern twist to a story involving the Greek Gods fighting among themselves and anybody else who cares to join in … and a lot of biff-bang fun it proves to be.

THE global warming crisis is now being rebranded as a climate change crisis because it seems that instead of getting warmer, we may actually be getting colder.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez praised a decision by a city mayor to take down a statue of Christopher Columbus in Caracas.

Donal Hickey on the resurgence of interest in currachs

Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has launched an extraordinary attack on the Spanish nation and Real Madrid in particular over what he believes are attempts to “naturalise” Cristiano Ronaldo.

Irish troops will take part in the National Spanish Day parade through the streets of Madrid today.

Spanish researchers say they have resolved a century-old mystery surrounding Christopher Columbus’s burial place, which both Spain and the Dominican Republic claim. Their verdict: Spain has the right bones.

THE Chinese discovered gunpowder, paper and the compass, but it may be too early to claim they discovered America.

An ancient map unveiled next week may prove that it was a Chinese eunuch who discovered America and not Christopher Columbus, it was revealed today.

AN ancient map set to be unveiled next week may prove that it was a Chinese eunuch who discovered America and not Christopher Columbus.

An Irish Olympic rower is making his final preparations for an epic journey across 3,000 miles of open seas in a bid to become the fastest man to row across the Atlantic.

A NEW, larger-than-life statue of Kerry’s patron saint has survived its first big test from the elements.

A DIRECT descendant of Christopher Columbus was jailed in Madrid yesterday for embezzlement in a financial and property scandal.

RESEARCHERS have exhumed a chest containing the supposed remains of Christopher Columbus and are planning DNA and other tests to determine whether they are really those of the famed explorer.

WHEN Jack Nicholson’s irascible commanding officer lost the head with Tom Cruise’s persistent lawyer character in A Few Good Men, he roared across an echoing courtroom: “You can’t handle the truth,” and a legendary cinematic one-liner was born.

Panamanian authorities have announced the discovery of a second ship believed to possibly belong to the fleet Christopher Columbus used on his last voyage to America in the 16th century.