When Dublin guitarist and producer Gavin Ralston lost his five-year battle against bowel cancer last September, he left behind not only bereaved family and friends but also numerous musical projects from his prolific career, writes Ellie O'Byrne

“This means so much, this mare is so special.”

The recent death of Caroline Flack has once again brought the issue of internet trolls and cancel culture back into public discourse.

NEWCASTLE in New South Wales is a coastal, coal city a few hours north of Sydney.

James McClean has emerged as a major injury doubt for Ireland’s Euro play-off against Slovakia next month after sustaining a medial knee ligament injury.

There's something under the tree for all kinds of podcast listeners, young and old, this Christmas.

Outgoing FAI general manager Noel Mooney has forecasted a protracted tenancy for Stephen Kenny as Ireland manager but admits the new boss won’t be forced to keep Robbie Keane along the journey.

Robbie Moore was declared missing yesterday.

Much as he was satisfied with the ample positives of Ireland’s 3-1 win against New Zealand, arguably the biggest lesson Mick McCarthy will take from that sideshow game into Monday’s crunch encounter with Denmark is that some of the blemishes of Thursday’s performance could, if not eliminated, prove fatal against Christian Eriksen and company.

Well, yes, and here we go again… But before we get into ‘Dane-ja vu’ or even ‘Oh, Dane-ger here’ territory, a word of two about the headlines that got away on account of Troy Parrott being so inconsiderate towards us hacks as to refrain from crowning his senior debut, at the ridiculously tender age of 17, with the goal or two or even three which we were all demanding.

Former Cork City striker Sean Maguire was delighted to score his first senior international goal in the Republic of Ireland’s victory over New Zealand.

It’s actually not all about the boy tonight but the build-up to Troy Parrott’s senior debut against New Zealand can certainly make it seem that way.

Spurs teenager Troy Parrott and Celtic's Lee O'Connor both make the move up from Stephen Kenny's U21 squad

Donegal-town-based Garda Joanne Doherty said she would never forget the night she and Robbie McCallion were investigating a car theft when he was run down by a driver attempting to escape the scene.

Joe Schmidt will ask his team of All Blacks slayers to do it all over again this Saturday as Ireland attempt to win a World Cup quarter-final for the first time in their history.

Cian Healy has praised Bundee Aki’s resilience in the face of a tournament-ending suspension after the centre gave his all in Ireland’s first training session for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.

It didn’t take long at Mick McCarthy’s pre-match press conference for the visitors present to learn that Aaron Connolly’s fever had already reached Tbilisi.

Wow, this Aaron Connolly kid looks pretty good, are we sure he’s not English? Like, really sure?

Garry Ringrose could be pressed into a third successive World Cup start this Thursday after Ireland’s midfield stocks were reduced by a concussion for Chris Farrell.

Seeing Joe Schmidt is happy to do so, let’s start with Jack Carty. Even as recently as a week ago, if an Irish team to face the World Cup hosts had been named with Jack at 10, the general reaction might be best characterised by raised eyebrows.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup is finally underway and before too long, it will be Ireland’s turn to get their campaign up and running. It will hardly be the gentlest of introductions to this global gathering of the sport’s greatest exponents, though, and the fact that Joe Schmidt’s men have to face Six Nations rivals Scotland first up tomorrow has shaped everything that has gone before this summer.

Henshaw, who played only 80 minutes during pre-season, in the final warm-up game against Wales in Dublin on September 7, was set to go for a scan this morning.

Gary Neville, the former Manchester United and England defender, believes Roy Keane is a significantly smaller managerial “risk” for clubs now than at any stage of his coaching career.

Unlike John Egan and Enda Stevens, who both made it to Croker on Sunday, Darren Randolph watched proceedings on television and, as one goalkeeper observing another, was much taken with the performance of the Dublin netminder Stephen Cluxton.

Joe Schmidt gave an upbeat assessment on Joey Carbery’s injured ankle following the Ireland fly-half’s worrying withdrawal from the victory over Italy on a medical cart.

Fair City fans hailed the "heartbreaking" final scene for Karl Shiels, who passed away last month.

Richard Dunne reckons that, for his old team-mate Robbie Keane, the benefits of double-jobbing with Ireland and Middlesbrough outweigh the risks.

Former Mayo selector Tony McEntee insists tomorrow’s Super 8 decider is not personal for Stephen Rochford - but claims Donegal are in difficulty going to Castlebar.

Fifty years after Sharon Tate’s murder, four movies are set for release about her life – and death, writes Suzanne Harrington.

Portsmouth’s new signing Marcus Harness has confirmed that he intends to declare for the Republic of Ireland.

Richard Dunne reckons the time is right to fast-track Troy Parrott into the senior international set-up after the 17-year-old striker took another major step forward by setting up a goal on his debut for Spurs, as they beat Juventus 3-2 in a friendly on Sunday.

A 30-year-old County Clare man was dead within little over two hours of taking a cocktail of ‘liquid heroin’ and methadone, an inquest has heard.

Deep into this summer like no other for in-demand Luca Connell, the green of Ireland rather than Celtic constitutes his main attraction.

With Robbie Keane weighing up an offer to come in as Jonathan Woodgate’s assistant at Middlesbrough — a move which, of crucial importance, he stresses, would allow him to continue in his role as a coach on Mick McCarthy’s Ireland staff — the 38-year-old Dubliner is on the brink of taking another step along the road he has long intended to follow, from playing to coaching and, ultimately, to management.

International football doesn’t ravage the energy reserves as relentlessly as the domestic English game in which Mick McCarthy was so long immersed but the Republic of Ireland manager is clearly looking forward to the summer recess.

Just days after US president Donald Trump left west Clare on Friday, the sound of helicopter blades were once again in the air as legendary rock band Metallica paid an unexpected visit to the tiny village of Liscannor.