The battle for Longford-Westmeath once again highlights Ireland’s curious tradition as a Republic that often takes comfort in voting for the hereditary principle when choosing elected representatives.

The former minister Mary O’Rourke is likely to find herself back on the campaign trail after her son, Aengus O’Rourke, was chosen by Fianna Fáil to contest a Dáil seat in next month’s by-election in Longford-Westmeath.

Prior to the last general election Taoiseach Enda Kenny made a commitment to the Irish people that if Fine Gael was returned to power they would dispense with parish-pump politics, sleaze, cronyism and political nepotism, so long associated with the body politic in this state.

A psychiatric nurse has gone on trial accused of stabbing and assaulting six people after an 18th birthday party.

Girl group Miss Dynamix have been booted out of the ‘X Factor’.

The family of a young boy buried in a sand dune for over 10 minutes are arranging to meet the four men who saved the 10-year-old’s life.

The Monkey with the Bright Blue Bottom by Steve Smallman (Little Tiger Press; €9.50).

A 24-year-old Limerick man is today beginning a life sentence in prison after he was found guilty of the murder of father-of-three Gareth Brosnan-Grant.

The partner of a Limerick man who was shot dead outside his home has denied that she incorrectly identified the man who is now on trial for the murder.

A blue sign facing the narrow country road outside Derrinacahara National School stands below a plaque marking its foundation in 1888.

Naomi Campbell thinks it is important to "remember her roots".

A COUPLE who conceived through IVF treatment after being repeatedly told they could not adopt because of their age have been ordered to give up their child because they cannot look after her.

FIVE former taoisigh were among the mourners who attended Garret FitzGerald’s funeral — three Fianna Fáil office-holders, Brian Cowen, Bertie Ahern and Albert Reynolds, along with John Bruton and Liam Cosgrave of Fine Gael.

A FATHER who drove his two “defenceless” young children into a freezing river, killing his five-year-old daughter, was last night beginning a life sentence in jail.

A five-year-old girl who was rescued from a car that plunged into a UK river died today, police said.

A father was remanded in custody today charged with the attempted murder of his children, who were rescued after a car plunged into the River Avon, a prosecutor said.

A six-year-old boy who was admitted to hospital with a girl aged five after they plunged into a river in a car has been “sitting up in bed and talking”, police said today.

A Slovakian father-of-two has been sentenced to seven years in prison for killing his Polish flatmate after an argument about a light being left on.

The early life and hard times of orphan Gabrielle - who became the great fashion Queen, Coco Chanel.

Jesse Metcalfe is returning to ‘Desperate Housewives’.

SOMETIMES the smallest of voices can reveal the deepest of sorrows.

A brave teenager tonight celebrated the best night of his life by rubbing shoulders with outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

THE name of Limerick mother of four Gabrielle Ní Riain may enter the Guinness Book of Records for her unique travel experience.

John Hogan "must have been out of his mind" to jump from the Greek hotel balcony with his children, family members said today.

Wisteria hysteria continues with Desperate Housewives Season 3 (BVHE, €69.99), a kind of Twin Peaks with humour, as the exploits of Susan (Teri Hatcher), Gabrielle (Eva Longoria), Bree (Marcia Cross), Lynette (Felicity Huffman) and Edie (Nicollette Sheridan) reach yet more highs and lows.

GARDAÍ revealed yesterday they are satisfied as to the identity of the gunman that killed Gary Grant in Limerick last week.

GRIEF-STRICKEN communities yesterday buried two men in their 40s, who were killed in a head-on crash in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, last Monday.

Jamelia has blasted pop star Gabrielle after she called for the Music of Black Origin (Mobo) awards to be scrapped

Tropical Storm Gabrielle strengthened slightly today as the storm headed toward North Carolina’s Outer Banks, but its rain and winds were not expected to inflict much punishment as it slogged across the state’s famous chain of barrier islands.

More hysteria in Wisteria as Desperate Housewives: Season 2 (BVHE, €44.99) continues its navel gazing and high jinks.

Mick Jagger and his girlfriend L'Wren Scott are house-hunting in west London, after years of living in the British capital's prestigious Claridge's hotel.

Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross is urging the show's scriptwriters to integrate the characters' storylines more, because she misses spending time with her co-stars.

Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria has returned to work despite being struck on the head by a falling pole while filming a key scene in the second series of the hit TV show.

Jim Morahan

Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher was thrilled when producers offered her the part of Susan Mayer because she was worried her sexy image would typecast her as ex-model Gabrielle Solis.

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes quit GMTV with a farewell message from British Prime Minister Tony Blair today – on the same day it emerged he is getting divorced.

Pop star Gabrielle has revealed how her career was nearly destroyed by obsessive compulsive disorder.

DANIEL SMYTH is still a little bit annoyed as he prepares to leave for Poland on a four-year stint at a medical school.

Green-fingered Alan Titchmarsh beat ‘‘golden balls’’ David Beckham as the ideal picnic guest, a UK survey found today.

Enrique Iglesias is to perform at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr George Carey will preach at a special church service to mark the first anniversary of the death of Damilola Taylor.