EACH year at this time, I see it as my duty to tell you what’s going to happen next year.

IRISH culture being recognised as one of our most important national assets and a major plus when promoting Ireland and its economy.

THE creation of 200 jobs on a new gas pipeline between Kerry and Limerick has been welcomed in an area where the construction jobs have dropped by 55%.

THE majority of the country’s sporting fraternity was breathing a sigh of relief last night after escaping the worst of the budget’s cuts.

SEVENTY Irish sporting bodies — including the GAA, FAI and IRFU — have come together to demand that the government does not impose any further cuts on the Irish Sports Council.

IRELAND’S top golfers have overwhelmingly come out in favour of the ‘3’ Irish Open moving next year to Killarney.

He was renowned for politicised grant-giving as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. There is little evidence of personal humility throughout his political career. His penchant for luxury was exceptional and unsustainable. He doesn’t deserve sympathy or victim status because he milked the system

IF YOU came down this direction to get refuge from the John O’Donoghue furore towards the front of the paper, don’t take flight because you see his name printed here.

More details about expenses incurred by John O'Donoghue have been disclosed this morning as the Ceann Comhairle faces mounting pressure over his continuation in the job.

Green Party leader John Gormley says the time has come for a complete review of how Oireachtas members spend public money overseas.

ALL art is certainly political now with Irish luminaries coming out to highlight the value of the arts to Ireland’s economic and social recovery.

NEW research shows that Irish culture is a big money spinner for the economy, generating €11.8 billion in revenues last year and accounting for 7.6% of total GNP.

The Fine Gael leader says he will ask his party to raise new revelations about John O'Donoghue's expenses with the Oireachtas Commission.

DUBLIN’S Temple Bar generates €676 million a year but businesses say they are struggling despite many firms cutting prices.

CEANN Comhairle John O’Donoghue has intensified my feeling of disgust with politicians in this country.

THE Oireachtas Commission is unable to provide a complete record of TD and Senator expenses over the last decade because of a 32-month gap in official archives.

A STATE car was used to transport a pet dog belonging to Attorney General Paul Gallagher from Dublin to Kerry, a Government source confirmed yesterday.

KATIE TAYLOR was last night being celebrated as an Olympic champion despite the fact that she has not yet participated in the Olympic Games.

A MINISTER admitted staying in a €1,500 a night Paris hotel, in defence of “humble” Dáil Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue as new revelations over the lavishness of his taxpayer-funded trips abroad emerged.

CEANN Comhairle John O’Donoghue remained silent yesterday as further embarrassing details emerged of his excessive spending of taxpayers’ money on foreign trips including the Cannes Film Festival and Rugby’s Heineken Cup.

Tourism Ireland today announced the appointment of Niall Gibbons as its new Chief Executive.

The GAA has today expressed its concern at yesterday's comments by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen on the expenses scheme for GAA inter-county players.

I WISH to refer to recent speculation regarding a possible cut in the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund which would have devastating consequences for greyhound racing throughout Ireland.

A DUP assembly member has told Senator Cecilia Keaveney to drop any plans for an interpretive centre at a British Army base in his constituency.

Shamrock Rovers are to finally get a home after the Government today pledged €2.75m towards its Tallaght stadium.

FORMER group chief executive of Waterford Wedgwood, Redmond O’Donoghue, has been appointed chairperson of Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen.

THE COUNTRY’s sporting leaders joined last night to express their sadness that Seamus Brennan’s time as Sports Minister was all too short.

The Irish team for the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing was officially announced by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen in Dublin today.

EMPLOYERS have been asked not to cut back on apprentice recruitment because of economic difficulties.

A Samuel Beckett play is to go on the biggest tour ever seen in Ireland.

TRIBUTES poured in over the weekend to the writer and broadcaster Nuala Ó Faoláin, who died on Saturday morning three months after being diagnosed with cancer.

Outgoing Agriculture Minister Mary Couglan landed a major promotion tonight by being appointed Tánaiste and Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister in Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s new-look Cabinet.

I WANT you to imagine the publication of a tribunal report. It’s a report into the way a particular business has been supported and its publication has been long awaited.

Ireland's latest Oscar winner Glen Hansard has said today that he felt a little bit out of place at last night's lavish ceremony.

I HAD a dream the other night that quickly turned into a nightmare. A prominent Dublin barrister, Michael McDowell, formerly Minister for Justice, had somehow been returned to the Dáil and was appointed Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism.

Dylan Thomas added to his already sizeable collection of accolades by scooping the Irish Horse Racing Awards’ Horse Of The Year.

John Sisk & Son has won the contract to build the new Lansdowne Road Stadium.

Sisk, Ireland’s largest construction company, has been appointed main contractor on the New Stadium at Lansdowne Road.

The 30th Dáil has selected a Ceann Comhairle and reinstated Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach for an historic third term.

HUNDREDS of visitors are expected at Foynes port this afternoon to witness a flying boat splash land after a flight from Newfoundland, Canada.

Almost 1.5 million trips were made to Ireland in the first three months of the year, new figures revealed today.

IRISH rowing received a multi-million euro boost yesterday when the National Rowing Centre was officially opened at Farran Wood in Inniscarra, Co Cork.

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue met seperatley with the GPA and GAA today to reiterate his position on the joint GAA-GPA submission on player welfare support.

The Ryder Cup pumped a record €143m directly into the Irish economy, it was revealed today.