Mick Daly is recounting the tale of how he ended up driving back from Belfast with Rory Gallagher and three grand in cash stuffed under the passenger seat.

Des O’Sullivan previews an Irish and international art auction with an embarrassment of riches.

Des O’Sullivan reports on Irish sales which offer a choice of art and collectibles.

As a footballer, Callum O’Dowda seems to take all the big tests in his graceful stride – whether that be moving from League 2 Oxford United to Bristol City in the Championship, getting his first senior cap on the eve of the Euros against Belarus in Cork or, just last month, making his competitive debut for Ireland when coming off the bench in the 3-1 win in Moldova.

Des O’Sullivan on the work of 19th century artist, James Mahony, who painted the major events of his time.

The dismantled but famed West Clare Railway line is to breathe new life.

DESPITE the dreadful impositions of the zeitgeist, the wretched panini has yet to usurp our national dish — the toasted special sandwich, the mid-day cousin of the breakfast roll — in the hearts of True Gaels.

Des O’Sullivan reports on the important sale of Irish and International art in Dublin on February 23.

IF Percy French’s venerable sparring partners Abdul Abulbul Amir and Ivan Skavinsky Skavar still get together for a Christmas jaw-wag, to talk about old, old times when men were men, “when that son of the desert, in battle aroused, could spit 20 men on his spear”, it’s hard to think that those noble cuirassiers would go anywhere other than a proper, belt-stretching steakhouse.

IRISH literature, myth and legend inspired the Westerness series by the celebrated Northern Irish painter Colin Middleton (1910-1983).

National children’s hospital

Go west young auction-goer, go west. Auction junkies in need of a fix this August Bank Holiday weekend should head to Clifden where viewing is now underway for the two day Connemara art and antiques auction by Dolans next Monday and Tuesday (aug 4-5).

IT WAS one of those pictures that made you laugh, then roll your eyes to heaven. Very definitely not the kind of shot a candidate-to-be would want taking up half a page in a local newspaper. The picture showed a man in a long formal overcoat. A very Fianna Fáil overcoat, no offence to Louis Copeland.

MASTER works by Gerard Dillon and Nano Reid lead Whyte’s sale of Important Irish Art at the RDS on Monday at 6pm.

Art and furniture from the collection of artist Kenneth Webb will come under the hammer at Dolan’s May Bank Holiday Monday auction at Kelly’s Hotel, Rosslare at noon.

The Everyman Sunday Songbook marks its 10th anniversary. Colette Sheridan reports.

COLLECTORS from all corners of Ireland will converge on Limerick this weekend.

Des O’Sullivan previews a number of artistic gems.

SWAYED by feelings of mixed emotions viewing the moving historic symbolism of the queen’s visit to our shores, I was put in mind of lines from the ballad The Mountains of Mourne by Percy French describing his own feelings while watching crowds cheer the then-English monarch in London:

The Penguin Book of Irish Poetry

THE lyrics to folk singer Christy’s big hit Lisdoonvarna will feature in the new Penguin Book of Irish Verse.

A town made famous by a Percy French song was chosen to host the 2009 National Culchie Festival.

“YOU may talk of Columbus’s sailing across the Atlantical sea.

Percy French immortalised the unreliability of the West Clare Railway with his song, Are You Right There Michael? The railway company has long since gone, but the rail line and the unreliability remain.

SO Stephen Ireland lives in England.

I TOTALLY sympathise with Anita O’Driscoll who was disgusted with the state of the toilets at Kent Station in Cork (Irish Examiner letters, March 9).