“Don’t be afraid” were the last the poet ever used, sending them in a text message to his wife Marie from his hospital bed, just minutes before his death on Friday.

The royal baby, which will be born third in line to the throne, is destined to rule as monarch.

Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband says she is a "diva".

David Murphy is bidding to reach his sixth consecutive final and join Bill Daly at the top of the Hurley’s of Midleton King of the Roads roll of honour this weekend at Ballincurrig.

Ireland’s heroic U21 squad were yesterday swapping the euphoria of toppling Italy with a plan to break into the senior squad.

A town in north-eastern Spain has declared the king of Spain an unwelcome person, dealing another blow to the 74-year-old monarch who has faced scalding criticism for going on an elephant hunting trip during a deep financial crisis.

Michael Hoey put his rivals to the sword, including fellow Irishman Damien McGrane, in being presented with a ceremonial dagger as his prize for winning the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco.

Whitney Houston's estate contains a pair of Ginger Rogers' dancing shoes personally signed by the screen icon.

A LUXURY hotel is offering five-star kennel service, the juiciest bones, and long walks on a lead to new guests.

The company that is organising a global Michael Jackson tribute in London is being dissolved and will not be able to put on a star-studded show in honour of the King of Pop.

Peter Andre will mark the first anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death with a “very special tribute show”.

Robbie Williams and Whitney Houston are set to take over Michael Jackson’s London shows, it has emerged.

American Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim was taken aback in the pro-am for the Maybank Malaysian Open today when he discovered one of his partners was the King of Malaysia.

RTÉ is to screen a programme on “growing your own” in Cork which will be presented by celebrity chef Richard Corrigan.

Michael Jackson and an Arab sheikh suing him at the High Court in London for €7m (€5.5m) million parted “amicably” today after agreeing a settlement to their dispute.

AN ENCOURAGING draw for Aidan O’Brien’s Duke of Marmalade saw the five-time Group One winner shortened in the market for Saturday night’s $5 million (€3.82m) Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Darren Clarke believes the “incredible” form of world number one Tiger Woods is a spur to each and every professional golfer.

WITH Seville bouncing back to the top by beating Barcelona, La Liga seems more and more like an exhilarating flamenco, the dancers gyrating faster and faster, the steps more dazzling at each turn, with no one sure who will come to the front next time, let alone when the dance comes to an end.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche recently launched a study of important battle sites and vowed to amend the National Monuments Act to protect them, saying: “Battlefields … can increase our knowledge and understanding of momentous events in Irish history.”

Rabatash benefited from a confident Wayne Lordan ride to run out a most convincing winner of the Go and Go Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh.

FORMER Health Minister John O’Connell surprisedly found a top-of-the-range BMW car delivered to his door, a gift for helping friends of billionaire Saudi Arabian diplomat Mahmoud Fustok get Irish passports, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

Michael Jackson has bought property in the Gulf state of Bahrain, it was claimed today.

Michael Jackson’s new album sold just 8,000 copies in its first week in the United States.

DOLLARS ROCK, carrying the colours of the nine-member W G Hill Syndicate from Watergrasshill, Co Cork, streaked away with the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap at Limerick last night.

WHEN you ask people if they like spinach, you rarely get a wishy-washy answer: it’s usually either a spontaneous, “I adore spinach”, or an equally passionate, “Yuk, I loathe spinach”, followed by graphic and harrowing tales of being forced to eat it, as a child, by a well-meaning mother, or nanny.

Fiji's military-backed interim Government says it remains in control of the country and denies reports it had resigned.