The cheer that raised the rafters of Triskel Christchurch at 2.26pm yesterday was spontaneous and effortless, unlike the painstaking effort it took to get there in the first place.

She ran her heart out, just like always, but as has increasingly been the case for Fionnuala McCormack at the European Cross Country, it just wasn’t enough.

The Cabinet had one very special summer meeting to attend away from Leinster House as Health Minister Simon Harris tied the knot.

Without doubt he damaged the party further by staying on too long in an act of self indulgence, writes Alison O’Connor

As Enda Kenny announces his retirement he says he is 'honoured and privileged' to have served as leader since 2002. Now, Ministers Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar are set to declare candidacy for the now vacant position of Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach.

Pragmatism over principle has been the hallmark of Enda Kenny's time as leader, suggests Political Editor Daniel McConnell.

Figures provided by the Department of an Taoiseach show that the cost to the taxpayer of flying Enda Kenny, his wife Fionnuala, and his staff to the US for St Patrick Day events totalled €33,555.

Daniel McConnell takes a look at the potential contenders for Fine Gael leadership and who else is looking to give Enda Kenny the heave ho.

If Caitlyn Jenner can pick her new name as an adult, why not us ordinary mortals too, asks Nuala Woulfe

Got an issue? Ask Audrey...

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will not oversee another budget and will have to be gone by next summer, senior Fine Gael ministers have said.

Enda Kenny’s meeting with Pope Francis in the Vatican had the hallmarks of a formal state visit, but it felt like an intimate family gathering where strained relations were finally addressed, writes Juno McEnroe

Thomas Barr came out strongly in support of Irish teammate Fionnuala McCormack at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam last night, calling on athletics authorities to heed the advice of the Wicklow runner.

“The Bidens aren’t going home” — this was the joke from the folksy US Vice president at his last event of his six-day voyage of discovery in Ireland yesterday.

Fionnuala McCormack cruised to a facile win at the Spar Great Ireland Run in Dublin yesterday, the 31-year-old taking her first victory in the 10km race in 33:30 ahead of Deirdre Byrne and Maria McCambridge.

After running into Gerry Adams in Sligo and having the unveiling of his supports for older people overshadowed by a group of people intent of doing away with old age altogether — namely Dublin criminals —Enda Kenny was in need of a nice, easy campaign stop.

There are just so many emotions in this video - abject terror, confusion, excitement, relief.

There is only one kind of cabinet that Taoiseach Enda Kenny is familiar with — and it’s not in the kitchen.

Athletics Ireland has unexpectedly announced that national endurance coach Chris Jones will be leaving the organisation.

A young couple are being hailed as heroes after saving the life of a student who was swept off a cliff face by a giant wave.

Fionnuala Britton produced the best road race of her career to finish second at today’s Spar Great Ireland run.

Oh no. Uncle Joe dropped the ball.

Catalpa tells the incredible true tale of the vessel that sailed to Australia in 1875 to break six Fenians out of jail, writes Richard Fitzpatrick.

Seán Cavanagh admits he cried for hours after their All-Ireland defeat by rivals Armagh in July.

Fionnuala Britton will earn her 31st international cap at next month’s European cross country championships in Bulgaria.

You wouldn’t get it in a Christmas panto...

The shock announcement on Sunday that Fionnuala Britton will run in the marathon at the European Championships on August 16 is a high-risk strategy which has raised eyebrows in the athletics community.

The Taoiseach has expressed "sadness" about the suffering of thousands of seriously ill and disabled people that arose out of the loss of discretionary medical cards, saying a review "got out of hand" and blamed "the computer".

I DON’T know what the broadband speed is like in Islandeady, Co Mayo, but I hope it is sufficiently fast to allow for a little internet surfing on exotic holiday destinations.

Students from Co Clare who worked to raise awareness among teenagers on how to stay safe online were yesterday named the Young Social Innovators of the Year 2014.

Theatre: The Matchmaker

Fionnuala Britton talks films, fears and the Spar Great Ireland Run

While Fionnuala Britton heads to tomorrow’s 20th European-Cross Country Championships in Belgrade in search of a hat-trick of titles with customary quiet steely resolve, her bigger ambition is to ultimately join the likes of Sonia O’Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan as Ireland’s greatest distance runners.

Fionnuala Britton’s decision to abandon the track this summer will not hinder her bid for a third consecutive European cross-country gold, believes Catherina McKiernan.

Robert Heffernan crowned a fairytale season when he was named Athlete of the Year at the National Athletics Awards at the Crowne Plaza in Dublin yesterday.

Two weeks volunteering abroad is the norm, but the Mac Aonghusas stayed 10 months in Gambia, says Rita de Brun

Fionnuala Britton’s decision to skip the remainder of the outdoor season was taken with a longer-term view, admitted coach Chris Jones.

Ireland’s double European Cross-Country Champion Fionnuala Britton will miss next month’s World Athletics Championships in Moscow after announcing she is to take an “extended break” from the sport.