Renowned worldwide for their razor-sharp wit and cutting sense of humour, Corkonians are getting their very own comedy festival.

On a recent visit to Iraq, Maeve Higgins realised how important comedy is to people in difficult situations, writes Ellie O’Byrne

After playing Nidge and Padraic Pearse, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor is happy to just be himslef for a chat to Clodagh Finn

1. Ruck On

4/5

The centenary of the Easter Rising has given us an abundance of commemorative

Colin Murphy has been back raking over the coals of the banking crisis, with his latest play, Bailed Out, in effect, the sequel to Guaranteed, the story of how Ireland toppled into insolvency.

Premier IHC: Newcestown 1-17 Blarney 1-13

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen and former ECB president Jeane Claude Trichet will be among the key characters to feature in an upcoming documentary play about Ireland’s bailout.

Blarney 2-13 Kilworth 0-15: Two heavyweights every year in the Cork Premier IHC went head to head in the second of the double headers in the Páirc Uí Rinn yesterday.

A guide to the championship won last year by Ballyhea.

Frank and Patrick’s Day have topped the list for film nominations with nine, while both Love/Hate and Vikings have the highest number of nominations for a television programme with seven.

The IFTA's are back for 2015, rumours of their demise have been greatly exaggerated, and the list of nominees has been revealed.

Six years on Michael Clifford reflects on a momentous political decision that impacted hugely on every Irish citizen.  

Nightcrawler ****

THE night of September 29, 2008, gave Ireland’s its longest-ever hangover. The infamous, ill-informed bank guarantee still casts a shadow over each new charge, each new stealth tax, each new protestation of the need for new ‘funding models’.

A Fine Gael MEP says a decision on when to release an infamous letter from the former head of the European Central Bank just before the Irish bailout four years ago will be made next week.

Blarney 1-16 Tracton 0-15

Northern Ireland’s highest court has dismissed appeals brought by two republicans found liable for injuries and deaths sustained during the Omagh bomb.

There are a couple of distinguishing aspects to Dublin’s largest book festival.

Inniscarra 0-17 Blarney 2-09

The infamous bank guarantee scheme is the basis for a new play, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

Paddy Power have installed Jennifer Maguire as their 5/1 favourite to replace Dermot Whelan as the Republic of Telly’s main presenter.

Investments costs in expanding into new British and European markets resulted in Ireland’s best-known talent agency recording a loss last year.

Monday is Martin Luther King day. In the year of The Gathering, wouldn’t it be amazing to discover he was Irish? He just might have been, says Jonathan deBurca Butler

MUSIC NEWS: Bruce Springsteen has sold out all his summer gigs in Ireland, and will spend some of the next few months helping on a documentary on himself.

The Rubberbandits, Pat Shortt and Edinburgh Festival-winner David O’Doherty are just three of the headline acts set to take to the stage later this month for the sixth Bulmers Comedy Festival in Clonmel.

In its third year, the Kilkenny economics and comedy festival has attracted a host of dissident number-crunchers and academics to tackle the ongoing economic crisis.

From mammies to moving statues, spuds to Tayto sandwiches, two new books reveal what it means to be Irish, says Jonathan deBurca Butler

Blackrock 4-17 Blarney 1-09

TRAINER Colin Murphy has confirmed the Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on February 5 as the next target for Big Zeb, who made it two wins from two runs this season in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on Tuesday.

The Irish and English may have a lot in common, but not when it comes to crisps, writes Dan Buckley

MASS MARKETFICTION

MASS MARKETFICTION

Phill Jupitus’s career in stand-up survived a treacherous support slot atthe Royal Albert Hall, writes Richard Fitzpatrick

Come hail, rain or shine this October Bank Holiday Weekend, there’s an abundance of festivals taking place all over the country.

NOW celebrating its fifth anniversary, the Bulmers Comedy Festival in Clonmel has just announced its biggest line-up to date with more than 20 world-class comedians set to tickle the ribs next month.

THIS was a contest to forget at Donoughmore on Saturday, Blarney and Mallow failing to ignite.

IT TOOK a while, but Blarney eventually wore down Valley Rovers in their Premier IHC clash at Ballygarvan on Saturday evening.

MUSKERRY put themselves in pole position in the Divisional section of the Cork County senior hurling championship following their defeat of Duhallow at Cloughduv last night.