Venture Capital, which created a big impression on his debut Fairyhouse a year ago before flopping in the Grade 1 bumper at the Punchestown Festival, made a winning start to his hurdling career in the opening Mount Leinster Maiden Hurdle at Wexford yesterday.

Dermot Bannon returns in a new series of Room to Improve tomorrow on RTÉ One.

The daughter of controversial radio DJ Gerry Ryan, Lottie, collected a lifetime achievement award on her father’s behalf amid a glittering cast of Irish media stars last night.

BACK when he was still coaching both Kerry and Dr Crokes, Pat O’Shea recommended a book on Michael Jordan to his Kerry players.

LOOK out for Feirm Factor. The third series begins at 8.45pm next Sunday on TG4, with a repeat on Wednesday night at 10.30pm.

Legendary GAA commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh was last night honoured in a special two-and-a-half hour live programme broadcast by RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta in front of an invited audience of over 200 people, which included GAA officials, former players, media colleagues, family and friends.

FIRST there was Micheál Ó Hehir, then there was Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, the two legends of Irish sports broadcasting.

ROSS HICKEY and Eamon O’Kane both took bronze medals from the European championships in Liverpool last night as Ireland repeated the haul from the Europeans in Madrid in 1971 when flyweight, Neil McLaughlin, bantamweight Mick Dowling and featherweight Brendan McCarthy all took medals.

Veteran Irish language broadcaster, Sean Ban Breathnach, has decided not to quit his position as Cultural and Irish Officer of the Galway County Board.

Goods confiscated from travellers at Dublin Airport are to be auctioned off for charity today.

This coming Sunday the TG4 Underdogs side, managed by former Offaly boss Pat Fleury, will take on the might of Kilkenny's senior hurlers on the hallowed turf of Nowlan Park (throw-in 1.45pm).

THERE was great hype over the starting of this year’s series of RTÉ’s Late Late Show on Friday September 5 and the introduction of a rival show by Eamon Dunphy on TV3.