Maps based on painstaking analysis of medieval papal taxes have helped create a clearer picture of population and wealth in Ireland 700 years ago.

Unlucky for some?

With the success of the Harry Potter series and David Walliams’s books, you might think writing for kids is easy. Think again, says Áilín Quinlan.

Characters such as Tracy Beaker might find themselves in difficult family situations, but that sense of reality is part of the appeal for Jacqueline Wilson’s millions of young readers as she gets set to publish her new novel, Wave Me Goodbye, writes Esther McCarthy.

A role in the new Star Wars instalment is the latest step up the acting ladder for Felicity Jones, writes Gemma Dunn

Lives of the Great Gardeners by Stephen Anderton, Thames& Hudson, €30 approx.

Enda Kenny’s meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican had the hallmarks of a formal state visit, but it felt like an intimate family gathering where strained relations were finally addressed, writes Juno McEnroe

* Inferno 3/5

Tom Hanks is back as Professor Robert Langdon in Inferno, the third film to be adapted from Dan Brown's highly successful book series.

Robert Langdon battles clandestine forces and his own memory to save the human race.

In case you thought those Dan Brown adaptations had gone away, Tom Hanks is back with another one this week. There's also the very indie American Honey and some animated fun with the Storks.

After The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons you might have thought we were done with Tom Hanks' rather placid take on Dan Brown's Robert Langdon. Nope.

Remember when everyone in the whole world and their mother was reading The DaVinci code? Well that was way back in 2003 when the book first launched, followed by a movie starring Tom Hanks in 2006.

Movie adaptations of famous books have long been big business in the film industry. 

A novel exploring the violent world of Latin American drug cartels was a hit among Irish readers at the country’s 336 public libraries, figures show.

Today marks another Friday the 13th on our calendars, writes Breda Graham.

What started out as a nerdy technology conference took on more of a rock concert status yesterday as Disney and Pixar’s president Ed Catmull and multimillion-selling author Dan Brown took to the Web Summit stage.

The billion-dollar US firm, Stripe, founded by Limerick brothers John and Patrick Collison, is building towards a massive expansion.

Dublin Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave was yesterday unable to guarantee that the wi-fi issues that dogged last year’s event will not be replicated this November, or indeed that the summit would be held in Dublin from next year onwards.

With their flat caps, half tans, and muddy shoes, farmers might be an unlikely choice of pin-up, yet every year thousands scramble to get their hands on the Irish Farmer Calendar, ogling the prime Irish beef within.

Check out our guie to the best of tonight's TV.

Like the idea of being well read but can’t face actually reading the book?

YouTube blogger Zoella has become the fastest selling debut novelist since records began — outselling the likes of JK Rowling and Dan Brown.

Zoella has become the fastest selling debut novelist on record.

Ajax Penumbra 1969

A meteorite which was only destined to pass "close" to the Earth may have left its impact on the planet’s surface.

A meteorite which was only destined to pass “close” to the Earth may have left its impact on the planet’s surface.

Inversion therapy is back in fashion, with devotees of the upside-down craze claiming health benefits including relief from back pain, better skin and improved concentration. Peta Bee puts it to the test.

The Fifty Shades blockbuster trilogy, which sold 100m copies, contributed to the Irish arm of WH Smith almost tripling pre-tax profits last year to €1.542m.

Tom Hanks is back for the next Dan Brown movie 'Inferno'.

Random House and Penguin Group have completed a planned merger which creates the world’s largest publisher of consumer books.

Inferno

Booksellers are expecting major sales as Dan Brown unleashes his code breaker Robert Langdon back into the literary world today.

Author Dan Brown has been confirmed for the Dublin Writers Festival from May 20-26.

CATHY Kelly, 46, is a top-selling Irish fiction writer who at one point out sold Dan Brown and JK Rowling.