IRISH shoppers are continuing to flock to New York despite the downturn with figures indicating numbers are up on last year.

As the Dáil resumes after its 11-week summer break today, one TD called for a national conversation to plot a roadmap for the parliament in the 21st Century.

CHURCH authorities in Tuam have hired students to fill more than 3,000 Easter holy water bottles with bottled spring water.

Johnny Dooley, a former All-Ireland winner with Offaly, will act as coach to the Westmeath senior hurlers for next season.

OLLIE BAKER will return to the inter-county hurling scene in 2006, as a selector with Westmeath.

A SEVERELY paralysed man has become the first person to be fitted with a brain implant that allows him to control everyday objects by thought alone.

PEOPLE who abuse commonplace painkillers like Panadol or Solpadeine can be just as addicted as those who take hard drugs, according to an expert in addiction control.