Near gridlock in the US Congress has delayed the appointment of the country’s ambassador to Ireland, certainly for weeks, potentially for months.

Kevin O’Malley has been named as the new Ambassador to Ireland from the United States.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has raised the issue of Undocumented Irish in the US during a speech in San Francisco.

President Barack Obama could take care of the appointment of a new US Ambassador to Ireland, if he played just one less round of golf, a former holder of the post said in an interview.

President Obama has told the Taoiseach Enda Kenny he is planning to appoint a new ambassador for Ireland, but he is not sure how long the process will take.

Ireland will be without a US ambassador for a second St Patrick’s Day in a row, despite earlier expectations that the position would be announced during Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s visit there later this week.

The NFL in Dublin: it’s the tease that just won’t end.

Ben Roethlisberger has never heard of Brian O’Driscoll. Or Jonathan Sexton, Ronan O’Gara or Robbie Keane for that matter.

The concept of a regular season NFL game coming to Ireland has been given the thumbs up by three Minnesota Vikings stars who attended a Sky Roadshow event at Croke Park this week.

Four years ago he was on the dole but yesterday his work was seen around the world, presented by the Taoiseach to President Obama as part of the St Patrick’s festivities.

The president and chief executive of the American Ireland Fund, Kieran McLoughlin, last year received total remuneration of $586,856 (€442,241).

The UK's players’ chief Gordon Taylor has announced a six-point action plan to deal with racism in football after criticism from some members.

Croke Park will not host an American Football game in 2013 but both Croke Park and the US ambassador to Ireland are confident the venue will host a regular season game soon.

Former US president Bill Clinton has hailed the political significance of next week’s meeting between the Queen of England and Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness.

Ireland remains an attractive business location for overseas companies but the country’s ongoing competitiveness hinges on a range of issues from an improved education system to a more diverse workforce, a conference heard yesterday.

The Taoiseach is in negotiations about whether American football could play a role in "the gathering", a major tourism promotion planned for next year.

The US ambassador to Ireland believes that if Barack Obama wins a second term in office, he will make a return trip to Ireland.

SEVENTY years ago Billy Conn, weighing 174 pounds and fighting out of East Liberty, Pittsburgh, took on the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis, for the heavyweight title.

GUINNESS and Etihad Airways have signed up to remain as associate sponsors of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship for 2012.

THE former chief executive of philanthropic organisation the American Ireland Fund (AIF) Kingsley Aikins is receiving $500,000 (€385,832) over five years as part of his severance deal with the organisation.

DIRECTOR David Fincher always knew that Rooney Mara, the star of the eagerly-anticipated English-language version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was a special talent.

ROONEY MARA will become a big screen star on both sides of the Atlantic this weekend, having accepted the poisoned chalice that is Lisbeth Salander, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

The prospect of a top-flight American Football game being staged in Ireland has moved a step closer after an NFL delegation inspected Croke Park.

HIGH ranking NFL officials will visit Croke Park on Friday to assess the stadium’s suitability to host their games.

AMERICAN Football’s NFL representatives have confirmed Dublin could host a regular season game within the next few years.

President Michael D. Higgins attended his first official ceremony as Uachtaráin na hÉireann this afternoon.

TRANSPORT Minister Leo Varadkar has admitted the hype that accompanied the introduction of pre-clearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports has not delivered additional business.

IRELAND marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a simple yet moving ceremony hosted by the US embassy in Dublin.

TEN years after a morning of devastation set in motion a decade of war and recrimination, America stopped to remember almost 3,000 people who perished in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

BARACK OBAMA told the people of Moneygall he’d be back.

US President Barack Obama has touched down at Dublin Airport for an official visit to Ireland.

Less than an hour remains before the US President Barack Obama touches down in Ireland.

President Mary McAleese will join mourners at today’s funeral for former taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald.

Members of the public queued today to pay their final respects to former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald as he lay in state ahead of his funeral tomorrow.

EVEN if you’re an All-Ireland-winning senior hurling captain, an invitation to Washington to meet the President of the United States of America in his seat of office, the White House, can still throw you a little.

Croke Park director Peter McKenna has dismissed a report suggesting Superbowl finalists the Pittsburgh Steelers could play a regular NFL season game at Croke Park later this year — but confirmed the GAA have asked for the Government’s assistance in attracting such a fixture to headquarters.

CROKE Park director Peter McKenna has dismissed a report suggesting Superbowl finalists the Pittsburgh Steelers could play a regular NFL season game at Croke Park later this year — but confirmed the GAA have asked for the Government’s assistance in attracting such a fixture to headquarters.

PITTSBURGH native Mike McCarthy will come face-to-face with the city of his birth in the Super Bowl on Sunday week after the showdown so long desired by the purists became a reality on Sunday night.

FOLLOWERS of English football will be alarmed to discover that American Football leans heavily on something called the ‘Rooney Rule’.

The US company behind a controversial planned incinerator for Dublin has asked for face-to-face talks with the Taoiseach, it emerged today.

THE Government has moved to clear up confusion caused by Environment Minister John Gormley’s definition of the controversial dog breeding amendments.

The American Embassy insisted today there is "nothing confirmed" about a visit by US President Barack Obama to Ireland.

Ireland's US ambassador is expected to speak with US President Barack Obama within weeks about a possible visit to his ancestral home in Co Offaly, it emerged tonight.