Since the days when authors like Hemingway and Tennessee Williams set up camp, Key West has always been a potent magnet for people looking to drift away from the real world for a while, writes John Daly.

Thousands are expected in north Wicklow over the next two days for the opening weekend of one of the country’s biggest beach festivals.

Residents began fleeing the Florida Keys and parts of the United States mainland today as Hurricane Wilma headed towards Florida.