It comes as a joy - and even a little bit of a relief - when Pauline McLynn sits down for our interview and orders a proper pot of Irish breakfast tea.

Reggae royalty, Ireland’s most famous comedy actress and Cork’s first ever Proms concerts are just a few of the attractions at this year’s Cork Midsummer Festival.

GIG WISE: Some extra tickets went on sale this morning for the Spice Girls at Croke Park in May.

Some 220 Magdalene laundry survivors from as far away as Australia and the US are set to attend a historic two-day event next month to enable them to meet and talk to each other.

If the yes campaign was bruised by a drop in the polls last week, it certainly wasn’t showing at the launch on Thursday of Hear Me Out, an initiative encouraging people to talk to undecided voters ahead of Friday’s referendum.

The degree was an opportunity for Cowen to make a speech. A lengthy speech. Fifty minutes, writes Terry Prone

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Cork Midsummer Festival launches today for 10 days of theatre, art and family fun. Des O’Driscoll selects a few of the upcoming highlights.

Pauline McLynn might never escape the associations with Craggy Island, but her role with Corcadorca on Spike will be one of the highlights of Cork Midsummer Festival, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

Des O’Driscoll with the latest entertainment news and events

Esther N McCarthy goes for graffiti artists, gold lamps and glorious coffee this weekend.

A leading Irish talent agency which counts Pierce Brosnan and Laura Whitmore among its clients returned to profit last year.

She may have driven Fr Ted to distraction more often than not, but Mrs Doyle and her inevitable cup of tea are about to drive home a very different message over the weekend.

Actress Pauline McLynn is hopping mad at the plight of millions of caged rabbits slaughtered for their meat across Europe.

ONLY 49% of parents read to their children most nights and almost 10% never do. 

The death earlier this year of Cork Opera House panto stalwart Bryan Flynn has made for an emotional show for the cast and crew of Sleeping Beauty, writes Colette Sheridan

My lovely hen.

Pauline McLynn, better known as Mrs Doyle from Father Ted, has joined a campaign to knit jumpers for featherless hens that have been rescued from battery farms.

Albert Square bad boy Nick Cotton is returning to EastEnders once again – just a matter of months since viewers saw his funeral.

Rachel Pilkington makes plea to Irish Government.

Over 271 of the biggest names in Irish film, television and music have called on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to ban fur farming in Ireland.

A number of Irish celebrities including Imelda May and actors Simon Delaney and Saoirse Ronan are among those who have put their names to a campaign to end fur farming in Ireland.

One of Britain’s most famous comedians (or his alter ego, Johnny Vegas, that is) will be in conversation with the comedy actress and writer Pauline McLynn as part of the Dublin Writers Festival next week.

Pauline McLynn joined 'EastEnders' to work with June Brown.

Father Ted star Pauline McLynn is joining EastEnders to play Charlie Cotton’s mother.

Cork’s best-known fishmonger, Pat O’Connell, was thinking of his mother as he once again shared a few words with the Queen of England — but this time he was at her pad, namely Buckingham Palace.

From pantos to festive markets, Ed Power has the best Christmas events for kids and grown ups.

There are a couple of distinguishing aspects to Dublin’s largest book festival.

Writing and producing six plays in a day is the focus of 24 Hour Plays at the Abbey, says Pádraic Killeen

Pauline McLynn has told of her plunge into depression after quitting the hit television series Shameless two years ago in controversial circumstances.

Actress Pauline McLynn, who played housekeeper Mrs Doyle on 'Father Ted', has begun designing, knitting and selling tea cosies.

In a recession, it’s easy to lose perspective. Worry about money and anxiety for the future, can bring us all down. So it’s important to cherish the good things.

ABOUT 3,000 book enthusiasts are set to descend on Ennis today for the fifth annual Ennis Book Club Festival.

A COMPANY that operates an agency representing some of Ireland’s best known film and stage actors, writers and comedians went into the red last year.

WHEN one of our most famous sportsmen married actress and author Amy Huberman it was never going to be a quiet registry office wedding, but until the day itself the couple remained secretive about the details of the much-anticipated nuptials, until now.

DESPITE a few early showers the weather played its part beautifully for the celebrity wedding of the year.

She was more likely to bake cakes than show her buns as dowdy Mrs Doyle in 'Father Ted', but now Pauline McLynn takes on a most unholy role in TV’s 'Shameless'.

THE late writer, Hugh Leonard, received the traditional applause of the theatre world at his funeral mass in Dalkey yesterday at what mourners were told was his “final curtain call”.

The extinction of playwright and columnist Hugh Leonard’s dazzling energy has left Ireland a poorer place, his funeral heard today.

Wannabe novelists can avail of some advice on how to write a bestseller today.

Channel 4 will stage a live television advert involving an ambitious skydiving jump today.

HOLLYWOOD stars mingled with mourners yesterday as actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers bid an emotional farewell to his beloved mother.