The royal carpet to be rolled out for Michael D Higgins will be an even richer red than usual as Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has taken a special interest in how the President is treated during the state visit.

GIG WISE: You may have missed the news released just before Christmas that Longitude will return to Marlay Park in Dublin on Jul 18-20, with confirmed acts including Disclosure and Ben Howard.

Sixteen people were in police custody after hundreds of demonstrators gathered at a London landmark to protest against Margaret Thatcher’s legacy and mark her death with a party.

The Classic Beatles perform their tribute to the world’s greatest group at the Everyman, writes Colette Sheridan

British actress Helen Mirren, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in The Queen, has been given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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FILM star Helen Mirren has been named Best Celebrity Body at the ripe old age of 66 in a new poll which suggests older celebrities are rivalling their more youthful counterparts in the public’s eyes.

REBELS were few and far between in Cork as thousands turned out in glorious sunshine to greet the woman of the week, Queen Elizabeth II.

Staff at Fáilte Ireland have been left red-faced after adverts demoted the English Queen to the rank of Princess.

QUEEN Elizabeth II is expected to visit Cork on the last day of her official state visit to Ireland next month.

GERMAN and French leaders stood side by side at the World War I remembrance ceremony in Paris for the first time yesterday as events were held around the globe to honour the millions of dead.

THE decision of the European Court of Human Rights to ban the crucifix from Italian classrooms is either anti-christian or just simply a very ignorant and dangerous precedent.

The Queen was given a rousing welcome at a school in Derry today as she began a visit to the North.

I AM completing a book about the relationship between Ireland and the British monarchy, and I would be very grateful to hear from anyone with clear memories of how the abdication of Edward VIII in December 1936 and the coronation of George VI in 1937 were regarded in Ireland.

IRISH actor Peter O’Toole picked up his eighth Oscar nomination yesterday at age 74.

The crowd-pleasing musical Dreamgirls led Academy Awards contenders today with eight nominations, but surprisingly was shut out in the best picture category after being considered a potential front-runner.

HOLLYWOOD celebrities Penelope Cruz and Kate Winslet head the nominations for the glitzy Irish Film and Television Awards.