The Kilkenny festival is something to savour.

NEDE Restaurant, Dublin, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar, Dublin; tel: 01-6705372; nede.ie

Yannick + Louise, Urbun Cafe, Cabinteely Co Dublin; 01 284-8872; urbun.ie

Declan Kidney today declared Ireland are revved up for a potentially thrilling RBS 6 Nations debut at Aviva Stadium.

FRANCE are taking inspiration from Wales’ attacking model as they attempt to settle on their own style for the RBS 6 Nations Championship, according to Les Bleus winger Cedric Heymans.

CRISTIANO RONALDO has admitted that he is pleased to see Chelsea top of the Premier League because it reflects well on his former international coach, Luiz Felipe Scolari.

THE two surprises in the French team for tonight’s game see David Marty preferred to Yannick Jauzion in the centre and Sebastian Chabal’s selection in the second-row.

FRANCE coach Bernard Laporte named his side yesterday to face Ireland in tomorrow’s crunch Rugby World Cup clash in the Stade de France, and there were a number of surprises.

THE intimidating atmosphere of Turner’s Cross can help Ireland’s Under-21 side to victory over Portugal in their European Championship qualifier tonight (kick off 7.30pm).

IRISH captain Brian O’Driscoll isn’t weeping any tears at the absence of France’s Yannick Jauzion for Saturday’s Six Nations clash at the Stade de France.

France’s preparations for their forthcoming RBS 6 Nations campaign have received a major blow after centre Yannick Jauzion was ruled out of action for three weeks with a fractured toe.

FRANCE COACH Bernard Laporte has made four changes to the starting line-up from the one that beat England 18-17 for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales in Paris.

TEARS welled in the eyes of workers as the owner of the Cork textiles plant destroyed by fire told them it was not going to rise from the ashes.