The arts festival in Galway has a series of talks and discussions on the subject of ‘home’. Here, three of the participants offer Richard Fitzpatrick their thoughts.

The Sustainable Seafood Garden hooked the top prize at Bloom yesterday.

Galway United 3 Mayo League 1: Padraic Cunningham marked his first start of the season for Galway United with a 13-minute first-half hat-trick as last year’s beaten finalists eased their way into the next round of the EA Sports Cup.

The Valvoline National Forestry Rally Championship reaches its penultimate stage on Sunday with the Mayo Forest Rally. Though there is a 31-point difference between series leader and former champion Michael O’Brien (Ford Focus WRC) and his main rival, Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (Mitsubishi), the latter can land the title should he prevail on Sunday and again on the final round in Antrim early next month.

Cork City 1, Galway 0: Having looked like he had kicked his last ball for the club a few short weeks ago, Billy Dennehy is well and truly back in John Caulfield’s good books as his goal saw an out of sorts Cork City claim a priceless three points against a free-falling Galway United at Turner’s Cross last night.

Galway United 1 Dundalk 4: Dundalk advanced to the quarter finals of the FAI Cup following a convincing win over Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park.

St. Patrick’s Athletic 3 Galway United 1

Further to their maiden WRC win, the Irish duo of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) tackle this weekend’s Vodafone Rally de Portugal, round five of the World Rally Championship, in confident mood. They are also expected to benefit from redefined aerodynamics on the front end and a new bumper and redesigned wings.

Shamrock Rovers 3 Galway United 0: Two goals from Mikey Drennan saw Shamrock Rovers finally find their scoring boots at Tallaght Stadium this season.

Corofin (Galway) v Slaughtneil (Derry)

Galway United 3 Finn Harps 2

Allianz FL Division 3 Round 2: Wexford 1-8 Armagh 2-13: Armagh opened nervously, falling four points adrift inside the opening 15 minutes, but still beat Wexford with eight points to spare in this Division 3 NFL game at Wexford Park.

Dean Raftery is ready to make his mark in the World Rally Championship after being honoured at the Irish Motorsport Awards yesterday.

On the cusp of his maiden Irish Tarmac Championship success, Donegal’s Declan Boyle (Subaru WRC) is taking nothing for granted ahead of the Todds Leap Ulster Rally, the penultimate round of the Clonakilty Black Pudding-supported series in Enniskillen this afternoon.

Irish players are amongst those being left at increased risk of concussion-related injuries due to the failure of the PRO12, Heineken Cup and Six Nations to adopt IRB guidelines, according to a leading player advocate.

Irish students will soon be surfing to California to peer into deep space... without leaving the country.

There was a dramatic finish to the Sean Conlon Memorial Rally, round four of the Valvoline Irish Forest Rally Championship in Mitchelstown as Lisburn’s, Philip Morrow and co-driver, Simon Morrow (Mitsubishi) edged out Cork pair, Owen Murphy/James O’Brien (Mitsubishi) by three seconds.

A 23-month-old girl was beaten to death by the boyfriend of her mother who had just flown out to New York to celebrate her 21st birthday, a court has heard.

Zuni, 26 Patrick Street, Kilkenny; Tel: 056-7723999; zuni.ie

The relentless work of Mary Raftery exposed what went on behind the walls of the Magdalene Laundries, writes Dan Buckley

Galway’s Dean Raftery and Monaghan’s Daniel McKenna and Stephen Wright have been shortlisted for the 2012 Billy Coleman Award with a top prize of €50,000.

A much-loved Gaelic bard ruthlessly decapitated by late night revellers was re-united with his missing head yesterday following an appeal to the public for help in tracing it.

The Irish Heritage Trust has unveiled the results of an almost €11m four-year restoration programme at historic Fota House.

Extensive restoration work on Fota House will be unveiled tomorrow as part of a drive to encourage visitors.

It took Fermanagh two trips to London to fulfil this fixture, but Peter Canvan’s team easily collected the points against the Exiles at Ruislip yesterday.

ABUSE victims, politicians and fellow journalists gathered yesterday at the humanist funeral Mary Raftery had arranged herself before her death on Tuesday.

ARCHBISHOP Diarmuid Martin has led tributes to a groundbreaking journalist who lifted the lid on clerical and institutional abuse in Ireland.

'States of Fear’ documentary-maker and journalist Mary Raftery has died.

As old-style sweet shops enjoy a rebirth, Claire Droney wonders why we’re suddenly so nostalgic for Dip Dabs, Milky Teeth and Fizzy Cola Bottles

HAVING parachuted Martin McAleese into a position as a senator, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has announced that he has appointed President McAleese’s husband to oversee a committee set up to clamp down on any state interaction with the notorious work houses.

BRIAN COWEN said his time as Taoiseach had been “a time of great trial and test” as he bid farewell to the Dáil.

IRELAND’S domestic economy is a bit like Raftery the poet: its back to the wall, playing music to empty pockets.

LEGISLATION should be introduced to allow firefighters to specifically investigate suspicious blazes for any signs of insurance-related arson.

The fire service could be thrown back to the pre-Celtic Tiger days of second-hand vehicles if the Government slashes funding, it was warned today.

THREE years ago, Jim stabbed a guy. He was drinking very heavily, which worsened after his baby was stillborn.

A group of secondary school students bought leg irons and an electric shock baton over the internet to expose the lack of regulation of the arms trade, it emerged tonight.

JUDGE Liam Hamilton once said to me that he was sure he would get no thanks for exposing the malpractices in the beef industry, and all the other stuff that surrounded it.

Australia prop Ben Darwin has been ruled out of the World Cup final but hopes to be well enough to attend next Saturday’s game.

THE financial crisis surrounding one of Ireland's best-known stately homes deepened yesterday, when management announced they had been left with no alternative but to close it to the public on weekdays.

ONE of Ireland’s best known stately homes will be forced to close to the public early next year unless the Government steps in with financial assistance.

Australian lock David Giffin has been cleared to remain with the Wallabies World Cup squad following his horror fall at Telstra Stadium last night.

THE chief executive of fledgling airline Jetmagic has left unexpectedly for "personal reasons".

“ANY fool can grow in the airline industry while losing money and we are surrounded by many fine examples of this in Europe at present.”