Mirrors are not just for moments of vanity but for enhancing light and space, writes Carol O’Callaghan

Gay Byrne presents a documentary on the Catholic Church in Ireland, Last Orders With Gay Byrne, at 9.35pm, RTÉ One on Tuesday.

The best of this week’s TV in one place. 

FITZGIBBON’s book is an in-depth and fascinating account of William of Orange’s war against his father-in-law, the deposed James II, a Catholic, on Irish shores.

The French Riviera has long been the playground of the rich and famous. Darragh Murphy experiences the high life – but on a limited budget.

Once home to kings and now one of France’s most visited sites, the Château de Versailles is planning a new venture with a luxury hotel to prop up its finances, according to local media reports.

The best of what’s hitting the cinema this week.

Alan Rickman’s latest role as King Louis is another example of his penchant for playing real people, writes Ed Power.

The rich are different, even more different that we ever imagined, discovers Marjorie Brennan, the only problem is the gap between them and us is widening.

When it comes to a single jewel, without doubt the most famous diamond on earth is what the Court of Louis XIV dubbed Le Bijou de Roi, or ’The King’s Jewel’, which was more blandly expressed by the British in the 1830s, as the Hope Diamond.

I AWOKE with techno music still beating in my head. 

ARRAS, in the Pas-de-Calais, has the rat as its symbol. Grain stored there in medieval times attracted the rodents and, perhaps, ‘un rat’ was a pun on the city’s name.

Milla Jovovich enjoys swordfighting when she is drunk.

Chain Gang

SIR Humphrey Gilbert was the Pol Pot of his generation when it came to amassing Irish skulls, many of which ended up being used as medicine by the English aristocracy.

THE body of a 17th century pope who helped fund Protestant William of Orange’s invasion of Britain and Ireland is to be removed from the Vatican to make way for the remains of Pope John Paul II.

'X Factor' contestants will tackle the songs of Sir Elton John tonight – just three weeks after he blasted TV talent shows.

Oil from the ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico is seeping into Lake Pontchartrain, north of New Orleans, threatening another environmental disaster for the huge body of water which was rescued from pollution in the 1990s.

THAT was an excellent letter from Micheal O’Driscoll (‘Church of one billion is a victim of mob mentality’, May 29), but I do take issue with some points.

WHAT does the Financial Regulator have in common with one of the world’s most famous dress designers, a bishop of France’s Grand Siècle and Scary Spice?

LIBERTAS has been keen to portray itself as a voice for ordinary people, standing up against the European “elites”. Now that it has launched itself as a political party, Declan Ganley has unveiled some of its leading members.

Richard Collins explores the idyllic vineyards of the Languedoc.

FORGET sensible walking shoes, fold-away rain macs and pocket maps — the essential accessory for tourists to Paris this season is “le scowl”.

THANK God for the budget airlines; it’s so easy to travel nowadays and flying no longer breaks the bank.

TO anyone of a rational disposition, the sight of old or middle-aged men in bowler hats and orange sashes marching to commemorate a battle fought over 300 years ago seems absurd.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte tonight pledged not to increase taxes if his party got into Government.

Historic furniture owned by relatives of the man who donated the Elgin Marbles to the British Museum was today going under the hammer.

Belgian firefighters have unearthed a stolen statue of a French king which could be worth nearly £1 million.