Garrett Lombard and Druid’s other young guns were eager to put their spin on Beckett’s classic, writes Alan O’Riordan

A drone crashing into an abbey, damage caused by metal detectors, and stones being removed from heritage sites are just some of the issues uncovered last year by the Office of Public Works.

3/5

With more than 1,200 acres of land in total and an impressive Georgian pile in the middle of it, Kilcooley Estate in South Tipperary is a property of multiple aspects which will attract a lot of very different interested parties.

MUSIC NEWS: Though there were all sorts of stories about Michael Jackson’s perilous finances through the years, the late prince of pop did listen to some of the right advice when he managed to amass the rights to songs by an impressive roster of artists. 

A 365m stretch of the Shannon running by Limerick city centre between Sarsfield Bridge and Thomond Bridge will be critical to how flooding develops or abates over coming days in the lower Shannon between the city and Parteen Weir, 13km up river.

An alleged serial killer has appeared in court accused of drugging and murdering four young men he met on gay websites, and dumping their bodies in and around a churchyard in east London.

Emmanuelle Chriqui looked adorable in a dress by Lela Rose at The Dizzy Feet Foundation’s Celebration of Dance Gala in Los Angeles. 

Journalism student Micheál O’Mahony meets former model and actress, Olivia Cronin, whose incredible journey following an acquired brain injury reveals a brave woman whose determination to be a victor over - rather than a victim of - her fate is an example to us all.

Caroline Delaney and her husband spent a couple of days away from the kids in the welcoming embrace of a country house    

Three separate diphtheria outbreaks among infants in one of the country’s mother and baby homes had 100% mortality rates.

The world can expect to see a lot more of Rory O’Neill, aka Panti Bliss, after a crowdsourcing target for a feature-length documentary on his life was smashed this week.

As John B Keane’s classic tragedy Sive returns to the Abbey stage, his family hope that two of his unseen plays will also be produced, writes Pádraic Killeen

RELAXING into the ritual of a soft-boiled egg on Sunday morning I was astonished, actually envious, to read in several newspapers that RTÉ paid out €85,000 to named people ostensibly libelled when called homophobic by Rory O’Neill aka the drag-artist Panti Bliss on the Saturday Night Show.

FOLLOWING a weekend in which the city she represents was swamped with flood water, Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan said the devastation — and what happens in the future — would have to be an “absolute priority for the Government”.

MUSIC NEWS: It’s been far too long since we’ve seen a new video from the Rubberbandits, and we’re glad to confirm that new track ‘Hey Mister’ reinforces the Limerick duo’s reputation as the sharpest social commentators in Irish music.

Jockey Joseph O’Brien is praying the rain stays away from Ascot to allow St Nicholas Abbey show his true brilliance in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

It’s beach weather, for sure, but there’s no shortage of organised festivities and events this weekend.

ONE hundred years ago this month Stravinsky debuted the The Rite of Spring at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris.

Hollywood star Liam Neeson arrived back in Ballymena to a jubilant welcome as he accepted the freedom of his home town.

Michael Halford is looking forward to Defining Year having another crack at Sharestan in Sunday’s Coolmore Stud China Ire.Friendship Silver Stakes at the Curragh.

Margaret Dillon recalls the thrill of playing the title role in John B’s first play, Sive, while she was still a schoolgirl

JOHN B KEANE lived a double life.

The Abu Dhabi Irish 2,000 Guineas remains under consideration for Takar following his impressive display at the Curragh on Monday.

The Dublin Dance Festival showcases innovative performances in diverse venues. It’s for everyone, says Jo Kerrigan

Odds-on favourite St. Nicholas Abbey was upstaged by 66/1 stable-companion Windsor Palace in a bizarre renewal of the Group 3 High Chaparral Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

Alice in Funderland is the first new musical at the Abbey in 20 years, says Pádraic Killeen

This stylish home in Aghadoe, outside Killarney, is finished to a five-star standard with space aplenty, sympathetic landscaping — and a National Park on the doorstep, writes Tommy Barker.

SIMON Crisford believes a strongly run race is the key to Rewilding’s success ahead of Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Adrian Frazier does a fine job in bringing to life John Ford and others involved in the remarkable links between the Abbey and Hollywood, says Val Nolan

AFTER a week-long saga over their intended Derby rides, it was finally down to the action at Epsom as Johnny Murtagh's supreme effort on Dancing Rain forced Kieren Fallon and Wonder Of Wonders to settle for second in yesterday's Investec Oaks.

A SUPERSTAR in Australia and destined to be a superstar in the Northern Hemisphere — that was the impression given by So You Think on his debut for Aidan O’Brien in the Group 3 High Chaparral Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

A FINE Gael candidate who sent election literature into an area of his constituency earmarked for a party colleague was under fire last night from senior party members.

THE death of a woman in a fire at her home has stunned the village of Crosshaven in Cork harbour.

THE absence of St Nicholas Abbey takes some of the intrigue from today’s Investec Epsom Derby but, for all that the Ballydoyle team will miss the horse they believed ‘could walk on water’, the stable dominated the major trials and appears to hold all the aces today.

JOHN McCRIRICK has plumped for Rewilding at Epsom today – but not with tremendous confidence in what he describes as an “enigmatic” Investec Derby.

ANTE-POST favourite St Nicholas Abbey features among a total of 19 horses remaining in the Investec Derby at Epsom following the latest forfeits.

MUCH of today’s Newmarket 2000 Guineas centres on how well favourite St Nicholas Abbey has trained on from last year. Not that he’s susceptible to not having done so but he was frighteningly good in last year’s Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster and it can be the case that the most exceptional juveniles fail to progress at three.

BALLYDOYLE, who are usually mob-handed in the Classics, will rely solely on Devoted To You in Sunday’s StanJames.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.