Royal Bank of Scotland has transformed the executive wing of its headquarters near Edinburgh, synonymous with the excesses of former CEO Fred Goodwin, into a hub for start-up businesses, as part of the bailed-out bank’s bid to revive its reputation.

The Virgin Galactic crash in California will lead to a “a major delay” to Richard Branson’s attempt to take tourists into space, an astrophysicist said today.

John Guidetti’s second-half strike gave Celtic a deserved 2-1 Premiership win over St Mirren in Paisley in a match of only sporadic inspiration and excitement.

A 26-year-old Laois man jailed for life as a teenager for hammering a boy to death will be released in less than two years, after his trial judge reviewed his sentence.

The Great British Bake Off rose to the occasion pulling in almost eight million viewers for its first episode since moving to a primetime slot on BBC One.

Whale song, the rush of waves and the buzz of a 1960s pirate radio station define the live-music drama, Dumbstruck, which opens at Cork’s Half Moon Theatre on Tuesday. Produced by Bristol-based Fine Chisel, the show, which combines narrative and live music, won the Fringe First Award at last year’s Edinburgh Festival.

State-backed Royal Bank of Scotland will begin a new chapter today as New Zealander Ross McEwan takes over the helm.

Veteran 'Coronation Street' actor Bill Roache has made his first appearance in court accused of raping a 15-year-old girl.

A woman who suffered first degree burns to 80% of her body during a sunbed session has been awarded €17,500 damages against a Dublin tanning salon.

St Mirren 3 Celtic 2

Celtic 2 St Mirren 0

Eight men were cleared today of murdering three friends who were mowed down by a car during last summer’s riots.

The father of a man who was killed in last summer’s UK riots when he was hit by a car has described hearing the fatal impact as he stood in a nearby street.

Hibernian 0 St Mirren 0

To maintain the integrity of the British royal honours system Freddie Goodwin, the former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, has been relieved of his knighthood by order of Queen Elizabeth II.

Britain took the rare step of stripping former Royal Bank of Scotland chief Fred Goodwin of his knighthood, after intense criticism of his role in RBS’s near-collapse during the 2008 credit crisis, and amid public anger towards wealthy bankers.

Ex-banker Fred Goodwin has had his knighthood removed, it was announced today.

As Ulster Bank sheds 900 staff, question marks hang over the commitment of RBS and its boss Stephen Hester to Ireland, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

Motherwell 1 St Mirren 1

A man went on a neighbourhood shooting rampage, killing seven and leaving victims in three homes before being shot dead in a gunfight with a police officer and a former officer.

A NEW live music trail which will serve up free concerts during the forthcoming Tall Ships Race was launched last night in Waterford.

It is thought that more than 71% of family carers in Ireland are not registered.

The City regulator in the UK today bowed to pressure and said it hoped to reveal details of its inquiry into the collapse of Royal Bank of Scotland by the end of March.

The City regulator today defended its decision to take no action against bosses at part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), but said new rules were needed to punish bankers who take too many risks.

US POLICE arrested a man who scaled the exterior of a 58-storey skyscraper and unfurled an American flag at the top.

A motorist told how he risked his life chasing gunman Derrick Bird during his shooting spree as details emerged of dramatic early efforts to catch the mass killer.

Helen Thomas, the veteran White House correspondent who grilled and often exasperated 10 presidents, has quit abruptly in a storm over “reprehensible” remarks about Israel.

IRELAND U19’s produced a performance of high intensity and immense quality on their way to a comprehensive defeat of Australia Schools in an absorbing international at Cork IT last night.

CUSTOMS officials are flying out to the Philippines in the coming days as part of a massive investigation into the smuggling of 120 million cigarettes into Ireland.

Henry Allingham, the world’s oldest man, died today at the age of 113, his care home said.

Royal Bank of Scotland today said former boss Fred Goodwin had volunteered a “substantial reduction” to his controversial pension.

Former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin is not considering a “voluntary reduction” in his £703,000-a-year pension, sources said today.

The British government’s investment arm is understood to be planning a protest vote against former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin’s controversial pension, it was reported today.

A detailed probe is being drawn up into Fred Goodwin’s 10-year stint in charge of bailed-out Royal Bank of Scotland.

Huge payouts to executives at banks bailed out by the British government were under scrutiny tonight amid legal moves to claw back any unnecessary payments.

Former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin has written to the Treasury indicating he will not voluntarily give up his pension, it was revealed tonight.

British Chancellor Alistair Darling urged failed banking boss Fred Goodwin to give up his £650,000 (€726,831) pension today - threatening legal action if he fails to act voluntarily to end the controversy.

Former bosses at bailed-out UK banks Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and HBOS said they were "profoundly sorry" today and admitted they under-estimated the extent of the financial crisis.

REPUBLIC of Ireland B manager Pat Devlin has paid a glowing tribute to Steve Staunton, describing him as a “fantastic professional” who will learn from his bruising experience as Irish manager and has a “great future” in the game.

Royal Bank of Scotland turned up the heat on rival Barclays after today sweetening the terms of its £48.2 bn (€71bn) offer for Dutch bank ABN Amro.

PINING for the old traditions and snapshots of how Ireland used to be?

Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Fred Goodwin spoke of his ambition to catapult the business “to the top of the premier league” this week if his attempts to land Dutch bank ABN Amro are successful.