SCOTLAND: Comic Darren Walsh has scooped a prize after showing off the pundamentals of his craft at the Edinburgh Fringe.

REUNION tells the story of Hans Schwarz, a lonely Jewish boy, and the friendship he forms with an equally lonely new arrival at their exclusive Stuttgart high school, Konradin von Hohenfels.

THE National Organic Centre in Co Leitrim is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

After a 97-year hiatus, Elsa is again one of the 500 most popular baby names in the United States.

There we were all ready to put up Dermot Weld’s Zawraq as the most likely winner of this afternoon’s Investec Derby at Epsom and the horse goes and suffers a setback.

The invention of printing meant we needed glasses and they led to changes we can hardly comprehend. Richard Fitzpatrick on history’s game changers.

IT WAS a €40 conference table in white, but something in the elegance of the executive grey trim, said quality.

OUR youngest sister is celebrating her 40th birthday tonight in Sligo. Months ago, she warned us of her plans: “We’re taking over the hostel on Lough Arrow for the night,” she said. 

THE next time you see a dandelion pushing its unwelcome head through the soil in your well-tended herbaceous border, consider this: dandelions are more nutritious than most of the vegetables in your garden.

Chez Hans,

After Kevin Barry’s win last year, could Dónal Ryan land the IMPAC prize for Ireland again? Orlagh Ní Arrachtáin looks at the contenders.

He’s one of the most popular figures in darts but Raymond Van Barneveld has been battling his demons on the oche in recent years. From hypnotism to Buddhism, the Dutchman is searching for alternatives to find his best form again

Non-Stop ****

Seven Psychopaths ****

A Hollywood screenwriter with crippling creative block finds inspiration in the most unlikely places in Martin McDonagh’s twisted black comedy that builds on the promise of ‘In Bruges’.

A leading industrialist, whose companies continue to increase employment despite the recession, was honoured in Killarney, Co Kerry, last night.

Eoin O’Sullivan takes to his skis to test out the slopes of Westendorf.

For more than two months, Hans Kristian Rausing, a son of a billionaire, acted as if everything was fine, even though the corpse of his wife Eva was decomposing in their luxury home in central London.

Investigators were conducting further tests in a bid to shed light on the death of Eva Rausing, one of Britain’s richest women, who may have lay dead in her west London home for up to a week.

Hugh O’Donnell may be the only presiding electoral officer to have music played to him during voting in this referendum.

IF the sight of FAI chief executive John Delaney grinning after his team were drawn to face Estonia in the Euro 2012 qualifying play-off matches next month told its own story, the feeling was definitely mutual for his Estonian counterpart.

James Cameron's sci-fi epic 'Avatar' is among 10 movies nominated in the Best Picture category for the 2010 Academy Awards, it was announced today.

IN THE end it took less than his famous “45 minutes” for Tony Blair to crack and confess to the Iraq Inquiry that he had got it wrong.

China sentenced four more people to death for involvement in ethnic rioting last year in the restive far-western region of Xinjiang, a state news agency said.

Notts County have confirmed that manager Hans Backe has resigned just seven weeks after signing a three-year contract at Meadow Lane.

Notts County have confirmed the appointment of Hans Backe as their new manager.

Hundreds of Chinese protested against deteriorating public safety today after a series of mysterious syringe attacks further unnerved residents in the western Chinese city of Urumqi where ethnic rioting in July killed nearly 200 people.

IN-DEMAND Valencia striker David Villa has stated that he has already made a decision on where his future lies.

Real Madrid winger Arjen Robben will not be joining Tottenham Hotspur, according to the player’s father.

A jury at the inquest into the death of Swiss teenager Manuela Riedo has recommended that no student should ever walk the line between Ceannt Station and Renmore in Galway city alone.

CELEBRITY endorsement doesn’t come much better than this.

HE reckons the recession won’t damage his wedding planner business — but then the brides who seek Peter Kelly’s services aren’t just high-heeled, they’re well-heeled.

Horses have the same ability to count as human infants, a study has shown.

The staff exodus at Tottenham following Martin Jol’s sacking last night has continued today with goalkeeping coach Hans Segers leaving the club with immediate effect.

“WE WILL look up to the sky and remember her and somehow, by doing that, it will continue the way it was.”

PREPARATIONS are being made for the return of the remains of murdered Swiss language student Manuela Riedo to her home country.

THE Einstein of the bird world has died. Alex, an African grey parrot who lived in Waltham Massachusetts, was found dead on September 6th. A postmortem examination failed to establish the cause of death but Alex didn’t die of old age.

The long-running saga over Real Madrid’s desire to sign Chelsea’s Dutch winger Arjen Robben took another twist today when president Ramon Calderon claimed the deal now hinged on the London club’s willingness to do business.

Manchester City have confirmed the appointment of Hans Backe as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s assistant.

Arjen Robben’s future as a Chelsea player could be decided within days if the Barclays Premier League club continue to pursue Lyon winger Florent Malouda.

Actress Pamela Anderson has hinted she is romantically involved with Las Vegas illusionist Hans Klok.

Arjen Robben's Chelsea future was shrouded in doubt today after it was reported in Spain that Real Madrid had opened transfer negotiations with the London club.

A COMPETITOR in the Volvo Ocean Race died in the early hours of yesterday after being swept overboard.