Pat Kenny is now being followed by an audience of 78,000, a fraction of what his listenership figures were on his RTÉ morning show, and far less than the 334,000 now enjoyed by his replacement, Sean O’Rourke.

A 48 year-old Waterford man tried to kill his mentally ill wife by hitting her with a hammer because she would not stop talking, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

ONE of Ireland’s last surviving butlers said yesterday that Royal servant, Paul Burrell has brought discredit on the profession.

TWO-time winner Kate Thompson is among the short-listed authors in the 15th Bisto Book of the Year Awards.

WINGS Over Delft, the story of a young girl in 17th century Holland who agrees to have her portrait painted and develops a relationship with the painter, won the 2004 Bisto Book of the Year Award yesterday.