The last tower of the famous Riviera Hotel and Casino has been reduced to a pile of rubble on the Las Vegas Strip.

FIRSTLY, we had Navan man now it’s Cavan man. Kevin McGahern is pulling on the comedy jersey for his county, but he’s not about to go all nostalgic about the home turf.

Republicans have a history of recruiting celebrities into the party ranks going back 60 years, but find themselves at a crossroads with Donald Trump — who is using his celebrity power to attack rather than to revive the Grand Old Party, writes Kathryn Cramer Brownell

Frank Sinatra would have turned 100 this year, and his former home in Palm Springs is still drawing fans, writes Isabel Conway.          

I SPENT the last few days trading holiday stories with a friend of mine.

If the pen is mightier than the sword, then satire is the scimitar of political pomposity, argues Rita de Brún.

What are you currently driving?

Happy Thanksgiving y’all — it’s a little taste of Stateside on the banks of the Lee.

West Ham fans have been ranked top of the league when it comes to witty terrace chants.

Cliff Robertson, PT 109, 1963.

Conor McKeon and his 24-piece band are to play the National Concert Hall on November 19 in aid of Turning The Tide of Suicide (3Ts), it has been announced.

Ahem. I have a new book out. My relentless quest for publicity is in full swing — check out @gaaconomics on Twitter — and I am afraid you are going to have to listen to me here.

A Limerickman was found not guilty of two charges of sexually assaulting a grandmother after entering her home as a burglar.

A jury heard a 999 call from a Limerick grandmother, who was calling for Garda assistance at her home and saying a man she knew tried to rape her.

In her recent films, Oscar-winning Danish director Susanne Bier has meditated on the ability of the human spirit to endure all-consuming grief.

A grandmother thought she would be raped when watching Vincent Browne on TV as an intruder pounced with his pants down, a court has heard.

A Glee-style California-based music troupe has left some good vibrations buzzing in the heart of West Cork.

'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues, featuring Kirsty MacColl, has topped a Christmas poll of UK drivers.

An 84-year-old Malaysian state sultan has been sworn in as the country’s new king.

ONE OF my favourite history stories from primary school days is that of Pompeii.

Michael Jackson kept lots of animals because it brought him closer to God.

Hugh Jackman is planning to sing at a series of concerts in London later this year – and he wants Robbie Williams to join him.

Alex Reid “still loves” estranged wife Katie Price.

THIS is about a dead cat. No more. No less. In the great scheme of things, it couldn’t be less important. Just a dead cat.

WHEN the little old lady barred my way in the confectionery aisle of SuperValu, I thought she wanted to know where the chocolate malted milk biccies were or to get me to read aloud the ingredients in the tiny print on the back of a package.

A second auction of the marble mausoleum crypt above Marilyn Monroe failed to attract any bids.

IAN PAISLEY’S transformation from hate-baiter-in-chief to fluffy cuddle-monger continues to astound.

SO Joey Bishop, the last surviving member of Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, has passed on, aged 89.

It’s the centenary of John Wayne’s birth, and among the many titles launched to mark the occasion is Rio Bravo Special Edition (Warner, 24.99) a classic Howard Hawks western, with Wayne playing Sheriff Chance, who is determined to hold a prisoner against a gang of desperadoes.

Tom Jones has made a staggering $4m (€5.9m) profit, by selling a California mansion he bought as a holiday home for his parents.

Nicolas Cage has put his Bel Air home on the market for a staggering $35m (€27.9m).

MUSIC legend Bob Dylan started a new job as a radio DJ yesterday and proved to be surprisingly chatty.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN put a lack of self-belief behind him to take command of his 888.com World Championship semi-final with Graeme Dott at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield last night.

Ronnie O’Sullivan put a lack of self-belief behind him to take command of his 888.com World Championship semi-final with Graeme Dott at the Crucible Theatre.

Ronnie O’Sullivan put his lack of self belief to one side in sharing the opening four frames of his 888.com World Championship semi-final with Graeme Dott at the Crucible Theatre.

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner wants to be buried next to screen goddess Marilyn Monroe.

When Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers was asked to play Elvis Presley, his first instinct was to reject the role.

Former James Bond girl Honor Blackman has worked with some desirable leading men throughout her epic career, but insists nobody rivalled Sean Connery's sex appeal.

The Rat Pack will be better represented in Sin City after a road was named after Dean Martin.

Late crooner Dean Martin was involved with the mafia and often performed for America's most notorious mob bosses, according to a new biography which exposes files collated by the FBI.

Novelist Arthur Hailey, the best-selling author who plucked characters from ordinary life and threw them into extraordinary ordeals, died in his home in the Bahamas, his wife said today. He was 84.