For many decades, Irish families, especially the ambitious bourgeoisie kind, regarded it a badge of honour if a son or a daughter committed to a religious life.

Theatre

The family of former garda commissioner Larry Wren has denied that he would have allowed the Archbishop of Dublin to dictate garda policy.

It is hard to imagine that a remote, windswept part of Co Mayo was the setting for an event 75 years ago that changed the course of history.

Jennifer Rock offers advice and recommendations to a woman diagnosed with rosacea.

Just hours before pledging support for his successor, the Bishop Emeritus of Cork and Ross was visiting the sick in Cork University Hospital, supporting, among others, a man from West Cork who had lost several fingers in a horrific lawnmower accident.

Maeve Ryan is managing director of The Book Centre in Waterford city. The stores sells books, stationery, gifts and more and also has branches in Kilkenny, Wexford and Naas (Barker and Jones).

The two-day antiques fair at the Cork International Airport Hotel today and tomorrow and Aidan Foley’s sale in aid of the RNLI in Kinsale on September 16 are certain to create a lot of interest locally.

Are we all in agreement that New Year’s Eve is the worst night of the year? There’s too much pressure to have a good time, you can’t get a drink at the bar (oh, the humanity!), you have to pretend you know the words to Auld Lang Syne, and to add insult to injury, you are subjected to countless videos on Facebook of the ‘My Year in Ten Million Photos’ variety. No one cares, Aunty Maureen, get off social media.

A Meath dad unexpectedly delivered his new baby in his own sitting room last week, while his four year old was adorably shouting 'Be Brave Mammy' through the door.

So, what is the secret of longevity? writes Clodagh Finn. 

*WARNING: Contains NSFW language*

Did you see any of the winning productions?

Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll all abound in this rambunctious, character-driven story that buzzes through the streets of Cork city. 

Here are the top three films you don’t want to miss this week, writes Declan Burke.

When Kirsten Stewart wanted to step away from the mainstream, Olivier Assayas was happy to be her go-to director, writes Esther McCarthy.

A man who suffered a mental breakdown while under severe financial pressure stabbed his wife to death and critically injured his eldest daughter before taking his own life, an inquest established yesterday.

A young woman has recalled how her father stabbed her mother to death and attacked her in the family home before killing himself.

It'll bring a lump to your throat.

Maureen O’Hara’s legacy as one of the most famous stars of Hollywood’s golden era has been further cemented, after an auction of the late actress’s personal belongings sold for almost €420,000.

The lapidary line of the tubercular John Keats is almost a cliché — “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,” writes Damien Enright.

The 42-year-old was chatting about his former rebellious days before leaving everyone speechless as he told a very NSFW story.

Got an issue? Ask Audrey...

She was the real-life mammy, who her devoted son Brendan O’Carroll credits with providing the inspiration for his most famous comic character.

Independent ministers Shane Ross, Finian McGrath, and John Halligan are to vote against the Government today when they support Independent Maureen O’Sullivan’s bill on banning hare coursing.

Irish author Lisa McInerney has won the Desmond Elliott Prize for her first novel.

Killer Steven Beards will serve at least 33 years in prison in England after luring a student with learning difficulties to his wife's bungalow then drugging, raping and murdering her.

Got an issue? Ask Audrey...

DON Baker does not believe in self-pity, even though he has every reason to feel sorry for himself following the cruel treatment he experienced as a young boy in a reformatory school.

The identities of victims of the twin terror attacks in Brussels have started to trickle through.

Family, friends and politicians bade a final farewell to PJ Mara yesterday as the former government press secretary was laid to rest in Co Galway.

WHEN Rachel Joyce writes a novel or a radio play, she often cuts out minor characters, or minimises their role.

Kya deLongchamps takes a look at the work of the late, great Maureen O’Hara and John Ford’s fictional Inisfree — ‘another name for Heaven’. 

Best known for her role as Mary Kate Danaher in The Quiet Man, the late actress, Maureen O’Hara, was Ireland’s first Hollywood screen legend and was accepted into the Abbey theatre at the age of 14.

An extract from Sean Ó Sé’s new book recalls wartime in West Cork and those first steps towards a life in music.