Our coastal islands possess fascinating stories but the almost countless islands on Irish lakes have their fair share of stories too: an abandoned hippy colony on Roeillaun in Lough Corrib Co Galway; a round tower sacked by the Vikings on Devenish Island, Co Fermanagh. 

F EW debutant novelists try their hand at a sprawling, 620-page epic about family, identity, protest and lies so whatever about how well Nathan Hill pulls it off; The Nix cannot be faulted for a lack of ambition.

As if going grey was not worrying enough, now comes the unwelcome news that it is linked to heart disease.

At its heart, the hotly-tipped debut from Nathan Hill is the story of an estranged mother and son. 

The death toll from the avalanche which buried an Italian hotel has risen to nine after emergency crews pulled out three more bodies.

Limerick mother Aine Laffan cooked up a New Year’s Day storm in her kitchen as she delivered her son Odhran on the kitchen floor.

Limerick mother Aine Laffan cooked up a New Year's Day storm in her kitchen as she delivered her son Odhran on the kitchen floor.

A Meath family have been left “happier than any lottery winners” after being reunited with their beloved pet dog who went missing from their home six months ago.

Ex-army commando Neil Sinclair’s books on parenting hark back to a simpler time of climbing trees, skimming stones, and building forts, writes Áilín Quinlan.

And it's going viral.

Samuel David Hains, a "web developer, mystery blogger and jazz kitten", was recently featured in the Sydney Morning Herald’s street style section.

Though his mum had beaten him to the forms, Noel Baker still learned a lot from the census forms filled out by his ancestors in 1901 and 1911

The Witch 5/5

Two brothers hauled back to court for mocking a judge on Facebook after she decided not to send them to prison for drug dealing have now been jailed for two years.

Irish show jumpers are making their mark at the $9m, 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, with Richie Moloney third in Saturday’s grand prix and Darragh Kenny racing to victory in a speed class.

Actor Timothy West says he has spoken openly about his wife’s Alzheimer’s because “not to do it would be dishonest”.

John Gosden’s Gretchen lived up to her stout breeding with a game-staying performance in the DFS Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster.

The recovery of the remains of three Protestant victims of the IRA has moved a step closer, almost a century after their deaths that marked the beginning of a vicious killing spree in West Cork.

Ireland U17 manager Tom Mohan, who has led the squad to next month’s European finals in Bulgaria, has defended the FAI’s pursuit of English-born players eligible for the Republic.

Our guide to the best TV to watch tonight.

The family of an Irish sporting legend said they are deeply moved after a walkway near his childhood home was named in his honour.

After suffering three miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy, Mary Hughes had to have one ovary and a fallopian tube removed.

Samuel Eto’o has completed his move from Everton to Sampdoria.

Lionel Messi insists he is staying at Barcelona and has hit out at “lies” linking him with a move to the Barclays Premier League.

"And it's not going anywhere" …. Huh?

Ben Affleck enjoyed ditching his strict diet for Gone Girl.

Ben Affleck is reportedly in talks to star in 'The Accountant'.

Roberto Martinez believes Samuel Eto’o is ready to make the transition from super sub to starting striker after being convinced of the 33-year-old’s quality in his short time at Goodison Park.

Jennifer Garner admits she loves Ben Affleck's new muscles.

The actor who plays the caped crusader in the upcoming Batman v Superman Dawn Of Justice film has surprised and delighted a group of children by dropping in on their superhero party.

Scientists working on a universal antidote for snakebite have moved one step closer to their goal as a result of promising research carried out in the USA and in Dublin.

19th century artist Samuel Palmer’s entire prints form a new show, Visible Poetry, says Orlagh Ní Arrachtáin.

Samuel Eto’o has described Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as a "fool" for questioning his age and vowed to play on at the highest level for some time to come.

Ben Affleck has reportedly been banned from playing blackjack at a Las Vegas casino.

A relative of Protestant victims of a notorious War of Independence-era triple execution linked to a bloody massacre has issued an emotional appeal for help tracing the bodies of the victims.

Dozens of budding young artists are in the running to have their doodles seen by millions of internet users.

Nine people have been killed in a house fire in western Kentucky, state police said.

Ben Affleck has hit out at paparazzi who try to take photos of his children.

He’s renowned for his downhill prowess, but a celebrity US skier is facing an uphill struggle to wrest custody of his son from the child’s mother.

British prime minister David Cameron has distanced himself from a proposal by the North’s attorney general to end prosecutions in Troubles-related murders.