Sommeliers, says Leslie Williams, have become the catering world’s equivalent of rock stars. He meets Ireland’s top wine experts and asks them for their best budget buys – plus, he checks out the most expensive bottles stored in their wine cellars. 

Fiann Ó Nualláin says the Carlow Garden Festival has something for all interests

An image of the famous field marshall during his posting to Cork is up for auction, says Des O’Sullivan.

ENGLAND: A judge has handed nine-month jail sentences to two prisoners who starred in a three-minute rap video recorded behind bars on an illegally held mobile phone.

You might have won a major before but following it up with a green jacket elevates your status to another level.

It did not need George O’Grady to tell us it is Darren Clarke’s time to captain Europe at the Ryder Cup, writes Simon Lewis.

Darren Clarke will lead Europe’s bid for a fourth successive Ryder Cup victory after being named captain today for the 2016 contest with the US at Hazeltine.

Great communication skills and the respect of players made Darren Clarke the only choice for Hazeltine.

Check out our tips on what tonight's TV has to offer.

Darren Clarke seems far from a certainty for the 2016 Ryder Cup captaincy vote after Miguel Angel Jimenez refuted claims in a Spanish newspaper that he was not interested in leading the European team.

The Christmas TV commercials are an integral part of the festive season. Kelly O’Brien and Barbara Scully give their opposing views on their heartstring-tugging sentimentality.

Jamie Donaldson, Sergio Garcia and Marcel Siem will have to achieve something only Rory McIlroy himself has done this season to deny the world number one a second Race to Dubai title in three years.

Why would you ruin it for us?!

And, as always, it's utterly charming.

Meet Monty. Monty the Penguin.

A spoiler-free guide to the tellybox tonight.

Out of bed at seven.

Rory McIlroy is a great example of a golfer working on their strengths just as much as their weaknesses. In short, be true to yourself. 

Rory McIlroy is approaching the same level of dominance that saw Tiger Woods complete the Tiger Slam in 2001 and Colin Montgomerie sees the rest playing for second in this week’s US PGA at Valhalla.

Check out our spoiler-free guide to what to watch on the box tonight.

European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley had a sense US Open champion Martin Kaymer was on the verge of producing something special and believes the “low maintenance” German will make an ideal team member at Gleneagles.

While out on my morning “jog” with my four legged jogging partner Monty, (neighbour’s dog), I recently had a problem with my running shoe.

Shane Lowry paid a heavy price for a bout of anger at the Turkish Airlines Open yesterday.

If you believe the cavemen who scream “Mashed potatoes’, “Get in the hole’, “You the man” or “Baba Boey’ are headed for extinction under a new draconian security policy by golf’s tours, think again.

Former European number one Colin Montgomerie believes the introduction of a shot clock would instantly solve the problem of slow play on the course.

Ireland’s David Higgins has accepted full responsibility for the blunder which cost him the chance of a place in the British Open at Muirfield.

Ireland’s David Higgins has accepted full responsibility for the blunder which cost him the chance of a place in the Open Championship at Muirfield.

Waterville’s David Higgins was left ruing a bizarre mistake in a British Open Local Final qualifier at the North Berwick club after missing out in a play-off as he was carrying 15 clubs.

There will be weeping in butchers' shops today.

Harry Potter actor Richard Griffiths has died of complications following heart surgery, it was announced today. He was 65.

Rory McIlroy insisted he’s still got “plenty of time” to get his game together for the Masters after warming up for his Honda Classic defence by playing speed golf with Tiger Woods.

World number one Rory McIlroy today issued a plea for unity over the controversial rule changes on putting which could split the game.

Colin Montgomerie has warned of the dangers golf faces now that the PGA Tour in America has said it is against the proposed ban on anchored putters.

If there was a dream team in comedy, we think Monty Python and Robin Williams would be dead certs for it.

Double winning Ryder Cup star Peter Hanson believes Europe could be an even stronger force under Paul McGinley than compared to victorious former captains Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal.

Sometimes the right guy does come first.

New Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has hailed the support of Rory McIlroy after he was chosen to lead Europe at Gleneagles in 2014.

Ryder Cup legend Christy O’Connor Junior last night claimed a failure to appoint Paul McGinley as Europe’s 2014 captain would be “an absolute disgrace.”

Rory McIlroy yesterday gave fellow Irishman Paul McGinley his unequivocal backing for the Ryder Cup captaincy ahead of tonight’s crucial vote on who will lead Europe’s 2014 defence at Gleneagles.