The festive season always brings a slew of TV specials. Des O’Driscoll looks back at some of the most memorable.

Shameless is to end next year.

SHAMELESS — sometimes that is the only word to sum up the Dáil.

“THE FUZZ” has taken on a whole new meaning with gardaí who are supporting Movember month.

A Galway man who broke into the home of a mother-of-four and subjected her to a sustained sexual assault while her son slept in the next room has today been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

IF YOU are going to watch the pilot episode of the US version of Shameless (Thursday, RTÉ Two, 9.55pm), you’ll need to put all thoughts of the Manchester version out of your head.

She was more likely to bake cakes than show her buns as dowdy Mrs Doyle in 'Father Ted', but now Pauline McLynn takes on a most unholy role in TV’s 'Shameless'.

FRANK GALLAGHER, author of the book The Indivisible Island (1957), quotes a significant comment made by Lord Craigavon, Northern Ireland’s first prime minister, who was on his way to visit Neville Chamberlain, then the British prime minister.

The cast and producers of Emmerdale were celebrating today after the show was named best soap opera in the UK's Royal Television Society awards.

UNIONS have condemned Government plans to break up CIE and Aer Rianta.