England 54 Fiji 12

The State “kowtowed” to churches for decades when it came to the care of children and the Government’s proposed constitutional amendment is needed to put things right, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said.

For the second year in-a-row, Leinster opened the defence of their crown against a side making their Heineken Cup debut.

South Africa 14 England 14

England 32 Barbarians 38

ON January 21 last we celebrated the 90th anniversary of the first sitting of Dáil Éireann.

A celebration is taking place today to mark the 90th anniversary of the first sitting of Dáil Éireann in the Mansion house in 1919.

IT IS expected that Eamon Gilmore will be confirmed as the 10th leader of the Irish Labour Party at noon today, continuing the process that began with the appointment of Tom Johnson in 1922.

Of course, the events of either of those earlier decades have little to do with the present, but it worth remembering that the only other head of government to enter 10 years of continuous service is Bertie Ahern. By contrast, his 10 years as Taoiseach have been spectacularly staid.

THE success of the recent Easter Rising commemoration is not in doubt.

American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman was all set for his 13th Masters today after frightening incident when his car was allegedly shot at.

A television documentary claiming Lyndon B Johnson helped plot the Kennedy assassination was condemned as an absurd smear by Johnson’s family and former staff members.