Connacht 47 Leinster 10: On a day when Connacht bade farewell to their talisman from Portumna, along comes another farmer’s son from a few miles away on the other side of the River Shannon to lay down a marker and offer hope for the future with hooker Shane Delahunt producing a remarkable display on a day of celebration in Galway.

Their PRO14 form is dodgy to say the least, but Connacht’s pedigree in the European Challenge Cup is obvious and on Saturday night they took a big step not only towards securing a quarter-final spot, but ensuring that they will enjoy home advantage in the last eight.

Zebre 24 Connacht 10: Michael Bradley knows all about building from the bottom in professional rugby — his seven years at the Sportsground took Connacht through the most difficult period in their history — and he is happy with the progress he is making in his first few months with Zebre. 

Connacht's five-match winning run came to an end as Cardiff Blues triumphed 36-30 at Arms Park.

Jarrod Evans nailed the match-winning conversion in windy conditions as Cardiff Blues edged out Connacht 17-15 for their first win at the Sportsground since May 2014.

Zebre 7 Connacht 52: Two rounds played in the Champions Cup and only three teams in Europe have chalked up two wins. No surprise that Saracens and Clermont Auvergne have begun in such stellar fashion, but Pat Lam’s men are beginning to show that their historic PRO12 win might not be a one-hit wonder.

A 13-year-old boy who was served detergent with chips instead of vinegar at a New Year’s Eve family dinner in a Co Dublin hotel has been awarded a €4,000 settlement in the Circuit Civil Court.

Connacht 3 Ulster 10: Ulster’s European winning form continued in the Guinness Pro12 when they took the spoils in a tight festive derby at the Galway Sportsgound on St Stephen’s night.

Sarsfields 0-17 Athy 1-12: Two behind entering injury time, 14-man Sarsfields scored four points without reply to seal the Kildare senior title for the second time in four years.

Bereaved parents have accused the HSE of covering up warning signs in relation to baby deaths at Portlaoise Hospital.

Newport Gwent Dragons 25 Connacht 30: Connacht maintain sixth place in the Pro12 after seeing off 14-man Dragons at Rodney Parade yesterday.

The death of baby Mary Kate Kelly has officially been recorded as being that of a result of "medical misadventure".

A verdict of medical misadventure has been returned into the death of a stillborn baby who died in the womb a day after her concerned mother was sent home from the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, having been told everything was all right.

The parents of a stillborn baby girl have pleaded: “Let our little girl be the last to die like this.”

The jury in the inquest into the death of a baby who died a day after her mother was sent home from the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise has returned a verdict of medical misadventure.

A midwife with concerns over a pregnant woman’s scan told a junior doctor to liaise with his consultant and told him she could not stand by his decision to discharge her, an inquest has heard.

A pregnant woman found out her baby was dead the day after a doctor told her the baby was fine and she could leave hospital.

An inquest is underway in Limerick into the death of a baby at the centre of an investigation at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

Treviso 6 Connacht 9

Pat Lam has made five changes to the Connacht side that

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Glasgow Warriors 39 Connacht 21

The lives of pregnant women and unborn babies are being gambled with due to a “geographic lottery” when it comes to standards in the country’s maternity services.

Wexford author Andrew Hughes’ debut novel is set in 19th century Dublin but has themes in common with today’s society, finds Declan Burke

An out-of-work dance teacher, who made unfounded allegations that he was sexually assaulted by X-Factor judge Louis Walsh, was jailed today for six months.

The appeal brought by a former dance teacher against his six-month jail sentence for making false allegations that he was sexually assaulted by 'X Factor' judge Louis Walsh, has been adjourned.

A man described as a “Walter Mitty” has launched an appeal against his jail sentence for concocting allegations that he was sexually assaulted by X Factor judge Louis Walsh.

A man described as a “Walter Mitty” type has launched an appeal against his jail sentence for concocting allegations that he was sexually assaulted by 'X Factor' judge Louis Walsh.

A 58-year-old Dublin man who was jailed for 10 years for possessing cannabis and ecstasy valued at over €200,000 has had his sentence reduced by four years on appeal.

ATHY may be young, but they certainly know how to play.

ATHY were nowhere near their best but they still had too much firepower for an Edenderry team that showed plenty of grit but not enough attacking intent.

A man who was one of a group of three that slashed 128 tyres because of “some sort of complaint they had about capitalism” has been given a suspended sentence.

Two men caught transporting €3.3m worth of heroin have succeeded in having their 10-year sentences reduced by two years on appeal.

A Tallaght man who “snapped” when he found his mother having sex with a man and stabbed him has been given a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Two young married men who beat up a staff nurse at Beaumont Hospital during a dispute with one of their relatives have each received 18 months in jail with the last six months suspended.

A “well known drug dealer” who was jailed for 20 years last year for possessing over one million euro of heroin has been sentenced for an earlier drugs offence.

A former prison officer jailed for smuggling heroin, alcohol and other contraband in to inmates of Mountjoy prison has failed in an appeal against his four-year sentence.

A Dublin man who was arrested after he reported a garda search of his former home as a burglary has been given a seven year suspended sentence.

A Dublin man has received 12 years in prison sentences after being caught transporting almost €2m worth of heroin last year.

A Dublin plumber has been given a four-year sentence after being caught money laundering for a criminal gang.

The State has succeeded in increasing the sentence handed down to a former garda sergeant who incited a prostitute to find him children to have sex with.