The death has occurred in Cork of Bertie O’Hanlon, the last surviving member of the Irish team that won the Grand Slam and Triple Crown in the 1948 International Championship. 

I struggled to get myself shipshape on Sunday morning before heading off down the road to attend Mass. 

Unlike many other recent political memoirs, this book pulls few punches and is an authentic transcription of the acuity, caustic manners and occasional bias of the man, writes Gerard Howlin

AN illicit love affair is so quintessentially French that revelations of President François Hollande’s clandestine meetings with Julie Gayet have been greeted by the French with a shrug.

One of the richest tournaments on the European Tour schedule, the $5m (€3.7m) Dunhill Links, is on this week over three outstanding links courses on the east coast of Scotland — but just three members of the 2012 European Ryder Cup team are competing.

“When the game was over, Loughnane slumped to the ground in frustration, and as he thumped his hurley off the turf, one could imagine his feelings and those of the many other Clare people in the ground. It was a sad setback for a hopeful team and one that may take some time to get over”

The year which saw two governments fall is best summed up by the phrase coined that August: Grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre, and unprecedented. Ryle Dwyer reports

The ousting of Gavin O’Reilly from INM initially appeared to be quite a coup for board chairman James Osborne, but it now seems the legal battles are only beginning, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

The late former Clare mayor, Sean Hillery, was yesterday described as “a man of great stature”.

THEY stood side by side, Dev and Dev Óg.

Rehn bares all in the sauna

The possible entry of Gay Byrne into the race for the presidency has generated a considerable amount of attention, especially in the light of recent reports that the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has promised Mr Byrne the backing of his party, which has essentially been behind the successful candidacy of all but one of our eight presidents.

Newly crowned Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin tonight said sorry for the party’s past mistakes – but insisted they did not get everything wrong.

Some may argue that Irish people are more broadminded these days. They probably always were, but not enough people stood up to the clerical bullies to find out. For decades a few loudmouths were allowed to set the trends because people were afraid to buck them. Some bishops were among the worst offenders.

A social revolution is rapidly changing the way Irish people work, rest and play, it was claimed today.

STUDENTS at Ennis National School spend their lunch breaks playing around the cars parked by staff in the yard — because of the number of prefabs on the grounds.

AFTER the first volley of shots rang out above the graveside, the momentary silence was broken by the sound of empty shell cases falling back to the ground like a trickle of rain.

Former president Patrick J Hillery was laid to rest yesterday following a state funeral in which the country did him and his family proud.

BY 1990, there was a general consensus that the office of president was worthy but dull, and there was no sign of debate or discussion in the 1980s about the possibilities of expanding the role of the president or a sense that its profile could or should be increased.

THE late president Dr Patrick Hillery was praised from across the political spectrum as the Dáil honoured his memory.

Hundreds of mourners tonight paid their respects to former President Dr Patrick Hillery whose remains were removed to Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral for tomorrow’s state funeral.

The death of former President Dr Patrick Hillery was an end of a political age, the Dáil heard tonight.

ONE would need a sense of humour fully to appreciate Republican Sinn Féin’s critique of the EU Reform Treaty as expressed by its vice-president Des Dalton (Letters, January 22).

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night heaped praise on his predecessor Charles Haughey at celebrations to mark Fianna Fáil’s 80th anniversary.

Fianna Fáil stalwarts and supporters gather in Dublin tomorrow to toast the party’s 80th anniversary.

WITH the fiasco of the privatisation of Eircom behind us and talk of the privaitisation of Aer Lingus ahead, the death of one time property tycoon Patrick Gallagher and the demise of the sugar factory in Mallow are a grim reminder that we have lost the old sense of social responsibility.

President Mary McAleese today pledged to dedicate herself to building stronger communities in Ireland during her second term in office.

FORMER MEP Gerry Collins is entitled to Dáil and ministerial pensions of €80,000 per annum in addition to a contributory pension from the European Parliament.

THE Labour Party likes to spin a tale about how it single-handedly ‘transformed’ the office of the President.

AT this stage the turkey looks rather like the economy — skimpy and pared to the bone. But despite the fact that we are heading into 12 months of stringency and hairshirts, it is comforting to know that some of our former ministers are well able to lead the good life and will continue to do so, courtesy of the taxpayers.