Offaly safely negotiated a potentially tricky first round qualifier tie at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park in Tullamore this afternoon, where they had the brilliance of Bernard Allen to thank for the ten-point winning margin they enjoyed against London.

The annual Listowel Writer's Week, founded by the late John B Keane and Bryan McMahon which takes place each year over the June Bank holiday weekend opened last night for its 49th year.

Meath 1-19

A stage version of Joseph O’Connor’s Star Of The Sea novel focuses on the character of housemaid Mary Duane, writes Colette Sheridan

Music, comedy, drama and the annual Christmas panto will bring the Everyman Theatre’s 120th anniversary celebrations to a close, the venue’s autumn/winter programme launch has revealed.

Lorraine Maye is originally from Galway but has lived in Cork with her Kinsale-born husband for four years. She is the director of Cork Midsummer Festival, which takes place from tomorrow to June 25.

A potent mix of human rights, civil liberties, culture and history strongly dominated President Michael D Higgins’s four-day official visit to Cuba this week.

Kerrie O’Brien, reading at the Winter Warmers event in Cork this weekend, has also put together a book in aid of the homeless, writes Eoghan O’Sullivan

Justice Minister Francis Fitzgerald has warned that we must we must never forget the “hidden body count” of gangland crime.

On hearing the shelling stop, the Long Fellow waved the white flag, writes Ryle Dwyer

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Grey hair is hot as hell and we should embrace it says Suzanne Harrington

The longlist for the International DUBLIN Literary Award has been announced with seven Irish novels among the 160 titles that have been nominated by libraries worldwide.

Billy O’Callaghan looks at two collections of short stories, one uneven and the other a series of enduring, almost timeless classics.

Waterford 1-7 Offaly 1-20: This we expected. Tom McGlinchey’s letter, read out at last Monday night’s County Board meeting, had us forewarned.

Lisa McInerney has rattled the cage with her debut novel, The Glorious Heresies, an authentic portrayal of Cork City’s underclass, says Sue Leonard.

Longford 0-16 Offaly 0-13: In a streaky game where both sides thrived on confidence, ultimately Offaly’s lack of self-belief cost them when they saw the finishing line.

Wexford 2-17 Offaly 0-13

Respected television news anchor Bryan Dobson has been appointed as an honourary lecturer at the University of Limerick.

THE Sound of Things Falling by Colombian author, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, translated from Spanish by Canadian Anne McLean, is the winner of the 2014 International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award and €100,000 — but how do awards affect the winners — and the losers? Do they really matter?

One of Britain’s most famous comedians (or his alter ego, Johnny Vegas, that is) will be in conversation with the comedy actress and writer Pauline McLynn as part of the Dublin Writers Festival next week.

Dermot O'Leary hosts highlights from a celebration of the Irish music tradition and its dialogue with Britain in the presence of the president of Ireland and the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent at the Royal Albert Hall on BBC4 at 8pm.

Martin McGuinness has heaped praise on Britain’s Queen for the way she influences the peace process.

CAVAN

Phil Chevron would have approved.

Hurley-wielding dancers feature in the latest music and dance spectacular by the producers of Riverdance called Heartbeat of Home.

WHEN, in 2011, the RTÉ journalist Kathleen McMahon accepted a €600,000 advance for her debut novel, there was excitement throughout the organisation.

After University Anne Marie worked as a film and TV producer in London.

Mary Murray tells Pádraic Killeen about Fishamble’s latest short form project

BROADCASTER and journalist, Áine Lawlor, has been at the heart of Irish current affairs since 1994, but her story made headlines in 2011, when she took a break from presenting Morning Ireland for ‘medical reasons’.

GIVEN the economic gloom, facing into 2013 will be hard for many.

MUSIC NEWS: Shane MacGowan has told the Quietus website that some of his best songs were written by ghosts.

Ireland’s top writers moved from the page to the stage in style to accept prizes at the 2012 Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards at the RDS.

Some of Ireland’s best chefs are stirring things up for the first time in the Irish Book Awards.

Where Have You Been?

In 2002, after her legendary book deal, she was written off as a one-hit wonder. But a decade later, Cecelia Ahern is one of the country’s most successful writers, says Sue Leonard

JOHN BRENDAN KEANE is ten years dead today.

CONTROVERSIAL singer Sinead O’Connor last night did a U-turn on her decision not to appear on tonight’s Late Late Show, saying a last-minute conversation with its presenter had changed her mind again.

SINÉAD O’CONNOR has launched a blistering attack on RTÉ over its motive for inviting her to be a guest on the Late Late Show this week.