When Kilkenny and Galway finished all square in their initial All-Ireland hurling final meeting four weeks ago, there were more than a few writers who leaned instinctively on that brilliant old quote about how a draw was like kissing your sister.

Dozens of Ireland’s World War II veterans turned out to greet Princess Anne tonight on her last official engagement in the country.

President Mary McAleese laid a wreath today to commemorate Irish soldiers who served and died in foreign wars and UN peacekeeping missions.