TODAY 

We believe that we have a lot of friends around the world and we like to think that we are a valued and popular member of the European family. But when you look at what happened in Scotland and within Ireland during the economic crash, does it not make you think a little deeper about what makes a friend?

This detached house near Blarney will need work, says Rose Martin but is a walk to Blarney.

Forget the small town boy schtick and dismiss that Forrest Gump’s younger brother act.

AS the Irish rugby team runs down the tunnel at Twickenham tomorrow afternoon, to take on England in the Six Nations Championship, their bagman, Patrick O’Reilly, will be standing in the wings, holding his breath and praying for a famous victory.

“We believe that in recent years an over-powerful executive has turned the Dáil into an observer of the political process rather than a central player and that this must be changed” — Programme for Government, 2011.

A master poet and family man, a Nobel laureate and friend, a guest of royalty and farmer’s son, Seamus Heaney had a life which was a smooth blend of the ordinary and extraordinary.

ALL-IRELAND SFC RD4 QUALIFIER:

Work-life balance is a box most fathers will never tick, says Pól Ó Conghaile. What’s important is that we keep trying — and have as much fun as possible in the process.

Lotto multi-millionaire Kevin Geoghegan promised former colleagues he would try not to change as he left his job of 27 years yesterday.

THE ding-dong between the media and politics has been going on for nearly three weeks now, since Pat Rabbitte asked the question on Newstalk, “Where is this constant denigration of politics leading to?”

Men — yes, even Irishmen — are being influenced by metrosexuals like David Beckham.

CORNCRAKES, barn owls, and their likes, are the ‘sick men’ among Irish birds.

Kerry County Council paid up to €800,000 to acquire an acre of land on a Listowel floodplain for social housing as recently as 2008.

HIGH-PROFILE Limerick criminal Wayne Dundon has said he is not sorry for what the family of murdered businessman Roy Collins are going through.

A massive gamble on Deutschland, in the Arthur Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit yesterday, went astray when he proved no match for the Pat Flynn-trained 20-1 shot Bahrain Storm.

Whatever Next put up a fine front-running performance to come out on top in the Perfect Pint Beginners Chase on day four of the Galway Festival today.

IF COBH is a town that was built around the majesty of Cork harbour, this town itself pivots around the majesty of its 19th century cathedral.

The whole country seems to be in denial.

RUGBY star Frankie Sheahan last night urged Kerry’s Aidan O’Mahony to “be on the front foot from day one” in the legal bid to clear his name following revelations of a ‘failed’ drugs test.

IN your report (‘Judges fork out €80k on wigs and gowns’, February 20), you detailed some of the expenses paid last year to members of the judiciary at all levels, some of which seem generous in the extreme.

All-Ireland titles for both club and county have made 32-year-old Oisin McConville one of the most decorated footballers in the game, yet the veteran Crossmaglen Rangers player who picked up his fourth AIB Provincial Ulster Club footballer of the Year award today in Dublin is still keen for more action on the GAA pitches of the country.

A CORONER for the county with the country’s worst record on road deaths has said a lower legal alcohol limit will not significantly reduce the carnage.

IT’S A tough life when the ministerial Merc is removed.

THE Taoiseach showed his loss of touch with ordinary citizens in his outburst against BUPA last Friday. His venomous rantings and ridicule of a respected company with a huge customer base here contrasts with his joy at rubbing shoulders with fat-cat developers in the FF tent at the Galway races, some of them known tax defaulters.

AN angry Dundalk football fan spent last night in garda custody after he allowed his passion for the club run too high and threatened to set fire to the headquarters of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

Opposition politicians tonight launched a blistering attack on the Taoseach Bertie Ahern after he apologised for taking £8,000 (€11,800) at a dinner in Manchester in 1994.

FG leader, Enda Kenny, launched a fierce attack on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern during the debate on the cash donations Mr Ahern received in Manchester while Finance Minister in the early 1990s.

DEFIANT Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night delivered a partial apology to the Irish people as he admitted taking money from businessmen and friends while Finance Minister was an “error of judgment”.

A LEADING Irish sports psychologist yesterday rejected Cathal Lombard’s claim that he took the performance-enhancing drug EPO merely to compete on a level playing field and not to boost his medal chances.

A young chef, who caused almost €4m damage when he burned Grainger’s public house and ‘B&B’ in Baldoyle to the ground, has been given a chance to escape jail.

MICHAEL FLATLEY has been invited to talks with a county manager about his €30 million refurbishment of a stately home, amid fears he could drop the project after having some of the work turned down.

FROM today, Bus Eireann’s beloved red setter will be running back to retrieve your e-ticket.

HE’S high-octane, headline-making on the field of play, but when it comes to family life, it’s hands off.