Matt Bomer was happy to team up with an Irish director for his tale of friendship in Los Angeles, writes Esther McCarthy.

In the second part of our exclusive behind the scenes look at the Jockey Pathway Programme.

In light of the violent gun attack in the Greektown neighbourhood of their city the Toronto Film Festival’s CEO Piers Handling and artistic director Cameron Bailey announced this year’s first films today with little fanfare.

With maximum points from the Prestone British Rally championship category of the Renties Ypres Rally in view, there was final stage agony for the Cork-Kerry duo of Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin (Hyundai i20 R5) — a puncture that relegated them to third of the BRC contenders.

James O’Donovan beat Aidan Murphy in the feature score of the Mid-Cork festival at Ballinacurra on Sunday.

Cork racer Matt Griffin and team mate Duncan Cameron took their Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 GTE to third place in the Silverstone 500, round six of the British GT Championship. 

Historians are celebrating the donation to Ireland of a vast “lost archive” of hugely significant material linked to one of the great 13th century Gaelic families of Ireland.

Declan Burke takes a look at the latest films to hit the big screen

Handsome Devil has been getting warm praise for its lighthearted tale of friendship in a rugby-mad boarding school, writes Esther McCarthy

The Audi Dublin International Film Festival was one of the best of recent years, writes Esther McCarthy

Vanessa Redgrave, Nathalie Baye, Kerry Fox, Ross Noble, Anna Friel, and Ben Wheatley are among the stars joining Irish talents Jack Reynor, Moe Dunford, Cillian Murphy, John Butler, and Aiden Gillen on the red carpet.

Cavan’s Jonathan Pringle (Ford Escort) and co-driver James Fulton took a controlled victory on the Midleton-based Imokilly Rally, round four of the PlasticBags.ie Southern 4 Rally Championship.

BlackBerry sales fall short of estimates

Youghal’s Mary Linehan-Foley could claim a big scalp with a hard campaign on the ground, reports Sean O’Riordan

The wait is nearly over and as Ireland’s World Cup campaign begins this afternoon, the green hordes spread from Bristol and across the Severn River will gather in Cardiff hoping for a win against Canada. For some, it’s been a journey more than a year in the making.

The campaign, which aims to try to prevent future tragedies, may be dashed as a government-appointed expert group advise against a change in the law in relation to family involvement and the doctor-patient relationship, writes Eoin English

Mental health experts have recommended against changing the law to allow for greater family involvement in the care of a person with mental illness.

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a Viking for a day then look no further — Vikings actor Moe Dunford is searching high and low for someone to join him on set as part of a charity drive to tackle homelessness.

The HSE’s apology to the parents of Alex Butler was not sincere, writes Catherine Shanahan

From Nidge to Peaky Blinders, Ireland’s top casting directors discuss the secrets of their trade with Richard Fitzpatrick

TO A TOURIST, the subdued mood in the seaport town of Cobh probably seemed no more than a dose of the post-Christmas blues, but for locals the picture was far darker.

Ballyhale Shamrocks secured their place in an eighth Kilkenny senior hurling decider in 10 years (against reigning champions Clara) with a routine 1-19 to 0-14 victory over St Martin’s at a sunblessed Nowlan Park yesterday.

Kid Cassidy (11st 10lb), second in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in 2013 and the only horse to have lowered the colours of Sire De Grugy last season, heads the weights for next week’s thetote.com Galway Plate.

Mossey Joe will run in the Crabbie’s Fox Hunters’ Chase at Aintree rather than in the Grand National.

Jockey Pat Cosgrave has been given a six-month ban for improper riding by the Emirates Racing Authority.

The Grand Budapest Hotel ****

Iarnród Éireann is moving to ban alcohol on some trains. It’s all down to the nuisance caused by unwanted stag and hen parties, says Paul D’Alton

Stand Guard joined La Estrella on a mark just one short of the British all-weather-winning record when the pair’s much anticipated clash at Southwell was called off at the 11th hour.

It must have been a case of déjà vu for bookmakers as four horses with a link to legendary Irish gambler and former trainer Barney Curley won in exceptional circumstances netting punters more than €2.5m.

A mother whose two daughters were killed by their father is campaigning to have spouses involved in the treatment of mentally ill people in the hope of preventing a repeat of the horror which befell her family.

THERE are many unfortunate children who make headlines for all the wrong reasons, the best bits of childhood stolen through some tragic mishap at birth.

Lifting his eight-year-old daughter doesn’t knock a feather out of John Butler, but why would it when she weighs just two-and-a-half stone.

Alex Butler is tetraplegic. Her physical disability means her body can be like jelly and her limbs are stiff. She gets around in a wheelchair.

The mother of two girls killed by their father says she believes her daughters would still be alive if medical professionals had involved her in his treatment.