Mick Finn, Lord Mayor of Cork city, was born and raised on Friars Walk but has also lived intermittently in Athlone, Dublin and Sydney. He atttended Sullivan’s Quay, Deerpark CBS and UCC

If the annual Marquee party wasn't already started, it certainly is now. Cork’s waterfront venue is still shaking to the disco beats of Nile Rogers and Chic.

As a child, Gregory Porter took solace in the velvet voice of Nat King Cole. He’s now paying tribute to his idol, writes Ed Power

WHO knew Sinn Féin and Fine Gael had so much in common?

Lacking immediate inter-county action to contemplate, I got thinking about tangles subsumed under the heading ‘tactics’. 

Actor Chris Pine delivers a retro homage for the red carpet shutterbugs. Let’s unravel his Rat Pack look.

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Simon Delaney is one of the finalists on MasterChef Ireland tonight on TV3, alongside Niamh Kavanagh and Oisín McConville. Recent acting parts for the 46-year-old father-of-four from Raheny include The Conjuring 2 and Moone Boy.

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”

Right at the height of his global fame, Billy Ocean walked away from the music business, preferring to spend time with his family. He tells Ed Power why he did it

Republicans have a history of recruiting celebrities into the party ranks going back 60 years, but find themselves at a crossroads with Donald Trump — who is using his celebrity power to attack rather than to revive the Grand Old Party, writes Kathryn Cramer Brownell

Our regular arts writers select their highlights of the year. Today, it’s Ed Power’s turn.

Looking for a weekend break with a difference? The Pullman restaurant at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel gives guests the opportunity to dine in original carriages from the Orient Express – and it’s magnificent, says Vickie Maye.

Frank Sinatra would have turned 100 this year, and his former home in Palm Springs is still drawing fans, writes Isabel Conway.          

Tony Christie pays homage to his Mayo roots with a new album, writes Ed Power

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The man behind a pantheon of villains made his name as a ‘rough and muscular’ update of Dracula

Anthony Beevor has written another history of another decisive WWII battle — the last throw of the dice for the Nazis, the Battle of the Bulge. Richard Fitzpatrick enjoyed it.

Former teammates of Jim McCarthy, the Grand Slam-winning Irish rugby international, have paid tribute to their colleague’s dedication to the game, after his death this week at the age of 90.

The great players enjoy more space and more time than the mere mortals and that goal summed up what Villa can expect this year in this league.

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Are they women or men. No matter, says Richard Fitzpatrick, because the Lady Boys of Bangkok are great fun.

Bill Murray’s infamous high-jinks, aversion to corniness and the fact that he never sold his soul help explain why he is one of the truly beloved actors working in Hollywood today, writes Ed Power.

Lauren Bacall, the award-winning actress and Humphrey Bogart’s partner off and on screen, has died at 89.

Family escape from e-cigarette inferno

Lord Of The Rings star Sir Christopher Lee has celebrated his 92nd birthday by releasing a heavy metal version of the Frank Sinatra classic My Way.

At 70, Julio Iglesias has never lost his passion for performing, says Gerry Quinn.

Cliff Robertson, PT 109, 1963.

We'd all gotten over the whole Mia Farrow / Woody Allen / Soon Yi Previn thing.

Frank Sinatra's widow has slammed claims Mia Farrow fathered a child with the singer.

Singer Frank Sinatra was the great love of actress Mia Farrow’s life and could “possibly” be the father of her son Ronan Farrow, the actress said in an interview.

Mia Farrow believes her son was "possibly" fathered by Frank Sinatra.

WOW. It’s a small word with a big impact, and one used unsparingly in Vegas.

As the Cannes Film Festival opens, Irish photographer John Minihan retraces the highlights of a career spent capturing some of Hollywood’s biggest names, and his Oscar party trip this year

Desperate Dan’s glory days are over and even Macca marked his move to the web, says John Daly

As a remarkable 2012 of sport slips away, what of those we may soon say farewell to — as we embrace a new select group of sporting stars from Ireland.

THE modern Christmas song is a curious thing.

He’s been nicknamed the flying piano man.

With a string of gold albums and the signature Moon River, Andy Williams — who has died at the age of 84 — was a voice of the 1960s in America, although not the ’60s people usually hear about now.