Global and national challenges are set to be explored at the local level at an inaugural autumn school in West Cork.

‘I didn’t look at the legalities... they came to me for practical help’

Children’s rights groups have marked the fifth anniversary of the passing of the children’s referendum by claiming there is still some distance to go before the rights enshrined in the Constitution are fully vindicated.

I hope O’Leary comes through this crisis... But I also hope he learns some humility, writes Fergus Finlay

RYANAIR has a robust culture around customer service. It is a badge of honour for the no-frills carrier that it aggressively discouraged all but the most serious complaints.

Fianna Fáil will not be appointing a deputy leader as Micheál Martin believes there is “no urgent requirement” to do so.

A senior Fianna Fáil TD has controversially claimed former taoiseach Brian Cowen and the late former finance minister Brian Lenihan “put country before party” in the decisions they imposed during the economic crash.

There are signs now though that rural Ireland has lots of fight in it yet, writes Fergus Finlay.

Jose Mourinho is expected to give evidence at an employment tribunal brought by former Chelsea first-team doctor Eva Carneiro after she reportedly turned down an offer of £1.2m to settle.

Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald with Garda Commissioner, Noirín O’Sullivan. Irish femocracy is still only getting into its stride. What is going to happen to us menfolk at all?

“You can just tell, almost as soon as they start talking. They’re posher,” so explains the die-hard Fianna Fáiler on how you can spot a supporter of the oul’ enemy, Fine Gael.

Fianna Fáil is in a “conundrum” over whether party headquarters should issue a directive to select only a female candidate for a Co Dublin constituency, it has been claimed.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has insisted that the European Central Bank had a very strong role in telling Ireland not to burn the bondholders.

THE haughty arrogance of Jean Claude Trichet, who last week snubbed Ireland’s banking inquiry and insisted that Oireachtas members attend upon him at his venue of choice, is trumped only by his gross insensitivity to the memory of the former finance minister, the late Brian Lenihan.

The family of Brian Lenihan say his name has been “sullied” by comments made by former European Central Bank president Jean Claude Trichet about events leading up the infamous bank guarantee.

The recent move by the aunt and brother of the late minister for finance Brian Lenihan to represent his views would make a joke of the banking inquiry, writes Michael Clifford

Over the weekend, the cinemas were packed with the women of Ireland enjoying the sexual exploitation of a young woman by a wealthy, domineering, dysfunctional man in the film, Fifty Shades of Grey.

The daughter of former justice minister Seán Doherty has attacked RTE’s depiction of him in a mini-series centred on Charles Haughey.

Readers here had austerity on their minds last year with Strumpet City the most borrowed book of adult fiction from public libraries, figures show.

The late Brian Lenihan was remembered by family, friends and political colleagues at the launch of a book reflecting on his life and times.

Rose of Tralee organisers were unaware during the judging process that the 56th Rose, Maria Walsh, was gay, it emerged yesterday.

Forget the lavish spreads of Masterchef and The Great Irish Bake-Off — the true test of a great cook is how to make mouth-watering magic from one very humble ingredient, the fiver.

To mark the end of the elections, Dave Kenny picks the top 10 political gaffes of all time

The battle for Longford-Westmeath once again highlights Ireland’s curious tradition as a Republic that often takes comfort in voting for the hereditary principle when choosing elected representatives.

The former minister Mary O’Rourke is likely to find herself back on the campaign trail after her son, Aengus O’Rourke, was chosen by Fianna Fáil to contest a Dáil seat in next month’s by-election in Longford-Westmeath.

In the first of two articles marking the 70th anniversary of the infamous American Note, Ryle Dwyer examines the bogus issues surrounding the controversy

TOM GILMARTIN could well claim to have been responsible for exposing the dodgy finances of two of the leading politicians of his time.

NOTHING to see here, folks, now move along please. So went the tone of the statement issued by the presidents of the High and Circuit Courts on Monday evening regarding the latest controversy to hit the judiciary.

DO you remember the first time you had sex? Did the Earth move and the seas roar?

Pity poor Mary O’Rourke, and her concern for the Haughey family, over a TV drama none of them has seen yet.

When the Taoiseach moved the 32nd Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013 on Friday, Jun 14, he stated that “we are in favour of abolition because the Seanad has not worked and cannot work”.

Former presidents, ministers, and judicial office holders cost the taxpayer €15.6m in pension and severance payments last year, according to figures released yesterday.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore was facing an open revolt by Labour senators over plans to abolish the upper house as he launched the party’s referendum campaign yesterday.

Thirty-five thousand music and arts lovers packed the Stradbally estate in Co Laois for last weekend’s Electric Picnic.

Bill O’Herlihy and Mary O’Rourke were born about 15 years after the slaying of Michael Collins and the ravages of the brutal Civil War, both of which must inevitably influence their perception of the political landscape, ambition and sense of idealism.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil should bury their differences and pool their resources in a grand coalition which would benefit the people of Ireland, veteran broadcaster Bill O’Herlihy has said.