PRANDIAL PATRIARCHS

Just a few weeks to go to the Kerrygold Ballymaloe Litfest of Food and Wine (to give it the full title) on May 20–22.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Film Festival signals return of Lasse Hallstrom’s Chocolat

It’s just dawned on Michelle Murphy that online job hunting and man hunting are much of a muchness; it’s the X Factor on a smaller scale

Check out our guide to the best entertainment on TV tonight.

Singing star Susan Boyle has spoken of her desire to adopt a child, saying: “I want to give a youngster what I didn’t have.”

HE burst out onto Edinburgh’s Royal Mile from a side street after the results swung against separation, and channelling the words of that little-known unionist Amy Winehouse, loudly sang: "They tried to make me leave the UK, I said: No! No! No!"

The Menu loves chips and The Menu also loves Limerick.

Susan Boyle applied for a job in a local betting shop.

There's a little more urgency to the latest instalment of 'The Hobbit' series, but has director Peter Jackson gone far enough?

Singing star Susan Boyle has revealed she has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, after years of believing she had suffered slight brain damage at birth.

Singing star Susan Boyle has revealed she has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, after years of believing she had suffered slight brain damage at birth.

Heartthrobs One Direction scored the fastest-selling album of the year with Midnight Memories as they claimed the number one spot.

The 54-year-old music mogul hinted he is ready to tie the knot with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman - who is pregnant with his first child - by suggesting he would have stars from his record label and talent shows 'The X Factor' and 'Britain's Got Talent' take to the stage at his nuptials.

Rugby is often portrayed as a brutal sport performed in a white hot environment. But behind the scenes there is a gentler side.

Susan Boyle felt the spirit of Elvis Presley when she recorded a duet with him.

The Menu’s grievously overworked gob is always either eating or yapping from morning til nightfall, so the notion of a spot of yapping about eating at Foodcamp (Oct 26) as part of Savour Kilkenny Food Festival sounds most promising.

X Factor judge Louis Walsh has admitted that the show “needs to change” and become “more honest”.

Redheads have set their sights on smashing a biscuit-baking world record to prove they’re ginger nuts.

Cap’n Menu eyes Kenmare Food Carnival

Ireland’s love of whiskey and stout is well established. What is less known, perhaps, is that the country has a long association with the grape, too, longer than the arrival of Blue Nun on our shelves a few decades ago.

There’s no shortage of big names participating but Kinsale itself is the heart and soul of this summer’s arts festival, new director Marie McPartlin tells Jo Kerrigan.

Chart stars One Direction are to launch Simon Cowell’s latest worldwide talent hunt with a live online interview.

Simon Cowell has been named the richest reality TV star.

Julie Walters would love to play Susan Boyle in a movie.

Channel 4 is facing a backlash after broadcasting a show featuring a lewd joke about the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Hollywood hasn’t diminished the magic of Les Miserables, says Marjorie Brennan

MUSIC NEWS: Shane MacGowan has told the Quietus website that some of his best songs were written by ghosts.

Susan Boyle is "ecstatic" about performing with Donny Osmond.

UK singer Emeli Sande has married boyfriend Adam Gouragine.

Susan Boyle is to be given an honourary doctorate for her contribution to the creative industries.

Susan Boyle has apologised after an emotional outburst at a motorway services area.

I DOZED off in front of the telly on Saturday night, but woke up in time to switch channels and catch the RTÉ nine o’clock news.

'Britain's Got Talent' winner Jai McDowall has been dropped by his record label.

Young classical instrumentalists and singers have been performing at the Feis Ceoil since 1896, and 5,000 more do so this week, says Carl Dixon

The Voice is a big hit here, but will the British version outstrip the X Factor in the ratings wars? Ed Power on another John de Mol creation.

Susan Boyle didn't think she "deserved" her success.

Comic Ronnie Corbett has revealed he was sent to the Priory clinic to see a psychiatrist because of fears over his health.

'Britain's Got Talent' bosses have banned the audience from booing during auditions.

Alesha Dixon added some leggy red carpet glamour as she joined the 'Britain’s Got Talent' panel today – and admitted she was going to be “gobby”.

Simon Cowell has revealed plans to offer the winner of this year’s 'Britain’s Got Talent' the chance to perform in space.