Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, is prepared to “let Micheál Martin sweat” and did not seek a mandate to continue talks with Fianna Fáil from his party.

Sinn Féin has held a seven-and-a-half hour meeting involving “detailed discussions on policy” with the Green Party and has agreed to meet once more next week.

The nine-member group of independents have met with both Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin today and urged both leaders to “get on with it” in terms of forming a government.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has been told to “come out of hiding” as confusion abounds over how the next Government will be formed.

An established family honey farm plans to offer visitors an immersive beekeeping experience at its business near Cahir in Tipperary.

There’s a reason why everyone around Micheál Martin looks exhausted these days. He walks so fast during his canvassing, they have to run to keep up.

Each of the three party leaders were falling over themselves to present the face of change last night, writes Michael Clifford

A great man for the one-liners is our Micheál. As we prepared to quiz him about their TV encounter and Leo Varadkar’s car crash response to that illegal drug question (some cannabis in college but that was a long time ago) the Fianna Fáil leader was unexpectedly wreathed in smoke from a nearby ventilation system.

The Taoiseach, who was struck down by a stomach bug on the trail forcing him to abandon a planned walkabout at the Santry Omni Park in Dublin.

THEY came, they smiled, they debated — and we all went home none the wiser. Last night, the nation held its breath, paddled away from Love Island, and tuned into the celebrity death match between Leo and Micheál.

Either the people of Wexford town love Micheál Martin or they love the cameras - either way the Fianna Fáil leader got a glowing reception in the Labour stronghold this afternoon.

“It’s a bit weird being the leader of a party at an election for the first time,” Leo Varadkar said.

Fine Gael are telling us what they will do in the future and Fianna Fáil want us to forget what they did in the past.

It would be a little unfair to describe Micheál Martin’s disposition as cocky at Fianna Fáil’s campaign launch event. But he certainly seemed composed. Confident even.

Mary Lou McDonald failed in her first major political test as party leader last May. Now, she has weeks to save her job, writes political editor Daniel McConnell.

Here’s a new year wish: May our politicians remain clothed while there are cameras around.

In 2020, Eamon Ryan will be Tánaiste and the general election result will be so close to 50:50 that the two main political parties will end up with 50 seats each. Those are my predictions for 2020.

One of the most interesting videos which many farmers saw at the National Ploughing Championships featured Agritech Ltd’s StrongBó automated weighing system for beef farms.

A career in broadcasting wasn’t even close to my radar until TG4 asked me to read the weather.

Growing up, the only county games Marty Kavanagh went to were Kilkenny games and he was typically there for one reason, to watch Henry Shefflin.

The legendary GAA commentator won’t let age slow him down.

If St Mullins were looking for some inspiration ahead of tomorrow’s Leinster semi-final, it was provided on Thursday when selector Micheál Ryan was discharged from hospital.

The Clare senior footballers will be without their two All-Star nominees next season as captain Gary Brennan has joined Jamie Malone in opting out of the squad.

Selector Micheál Ryan — father of substitute Oisín — suffered a heart attack.

The mother of an Irishman who was killed in a plane crash in Ethiopia last March has said her son, Micheál Ryan, is coming home as a "UN hero" because of "all the lives he has saved."

Paul Kerrigan uses his fingers to count out the number of Cork senior finals he’s been involved in.

His mother said there is now a road in Bangladesh called to the Ryan road while Micheál has been posthumously appointed Chief Engineer of the UN World Food Programme.

Change…do any of us really like it?

The Galway players will not have a “direct say” in the appointment of Micheál Donoghue’s successor, county board chairman Pat Kearney has made clear.

Despite having only agreed a new two-year extension in April, Micheál Donoghue last night confirmed his departure as Galway senior hurling manager.