Tributes were paid yesterday to one of the country’s best known balladeers Robbie McMahon who helped popularise the Irish immigrant ballad, Spancil Hill.

Mary Stratford’s first crime investigation was a traffic accident.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to unveil a life-size bronze statue of the late Joe Dolan in the singer's home town later today.

Showband singer Joe Dolan died today after falling ill on Christmas Day.

THE Pope was looking after us. That was the unanimous chorus of delight and surprise from privileged Irish pilgrims who found themselves witnessing history close up in St Peter’s Square yesterday.

LORCAN McNAMARA, who will celebrate his sixth birthday next week, has already undergone vital heart surgery twice during his short life.

MÁIRÉAD BROSNAN is one of many young adults living with a serious congenital heart defect. Because of advances in cardiac surgery and medication in the last 20 years children with serious heart problems have reached adulthood.