A group has been established to welcome asylum-seekers to the town and they are holding a meeting in Ballinamore tonight.

Secretary-General of Justice Aidan O’Driscoll told the Oireachtas committee relating to his department that “as a secretary-general of two departments I can say this could have happened in any department”.

CÉAD míle fáilte. Ireland, the land of a thousand welcomes — my backside. You are welcome here if you’re white, rich, or American, but if you’re not, there is no room at the inn.

A member of a welcome committee set up to support asylum seekers due to arrive on Achill Island has said that “anybody with a heart would have to reconsider” opposing the housing of vulnerable women in a local hotel.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has described the treatment of a TG4 cameraman at a public meeting on Achill island earlier this week as “deeply disturbing”.

Australian composer and violist Brett Dean plays in Cork and other Irish centres, writes Cathy Desmond

The case of a woman who was accused of witchcraft in Co Cork and prosecuted at a sensational trial in 1661 forms the plot of a new opera by the acclaimed avant-garde composer, Raymond Deane.

A favourite haunt of artists, Achill Island sets the scene for an auction on Sunday. Des O’Sullivan reports.

Des O’Sullivan previews the August bank holiday weekend auctions in Ballyconneely, Connemara.

Your guide to what's on this week by Des O'Sullivan.

Kevin Toolis waked his father in the traditional manner on Achill Island, and the resulting book has been adapted into a stage show at Skibbereen Arts Festival, writes Ellie O’Byrne

The Green party hierarchy has set its sights on running European elections candidate, Saoirse McHugh, in a Seanad by-election to replace newly-elected party MEP Grace O'Sullivan in the upper house.

Green Party MEP candidate, Saoirse McHugh, is being lined up to contest the Seanad seat vacated by Grace O'Sullivan.

The race for seats in Ireland South has heated up as Labour candidate Shelia Nunan and Fine Gael's Andrew Doyle have both been eliminated in the 15th count.

Ms McHugh, a 28-year-old environmentalist from Achill Island in Mayo, is in real contention to squeeze out both sitting MEP Luke Ming Flanagan and Fine Gael's celebrity candidate Maria Walsh for a seat in Midlands North West.

Mallow Castle, the Ring of Kerry and Lough Gur are among 78 outdoor recreation projects which are to share an €11 million investment in greenways, blueways and walking trails around the country.

A musician in Co Donegal lived on Inishfree for around 20 years up to recently.

Technology and tourism collided for me last weekend and — in the process — provided some insight to how one benefits the other.

A helmet and lifejacket believed to be from crashed Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 have been recovered from the Atlantic almost 16 months after the tragedy.

When ten of Cork’s best restaurants team up to present an al fresco dinner to 420 paying guests on the South Mall, can too many cooks spoil the broth? Ellie O’Byrne found out at Cork’s annual Long Table dinner.

Donegal’s Declan Boyle and his Monaghan co-driver James O’Reilly made the perfect start to this year’s Triton Showers National Rally Championship with victory in the Achill Island-based Óstán Oileán Acla/Connacht Print & Signs Mayo Rally.

One of the most scenic locations in the country, Achill Island, provides the backdrop for the opening round of the Triton Showers Rally Championship on Sunday.

Cork racing ace Lucca Allen has teamed up with the British-based Fortec Motorsport outfit for this season’s British Formula 4 Championship powered by Ford EcoBoost — a category recognised as an important step on the ladder to F1.

Dwarfed by its magnificent neighbour, Achillbeg lies to the south east of the dominant landmass with which it shares a name. It forms the pinnacle of an inverted triangle and was once connected to Achill itself. Now, a narrow sound separates the two Achills through which a powerful current flows.

Former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane has never been shy in his support of Mayo and if Cillian O’Connor finally lifts Sam Maguire, Kilbane’s late father Farrell will be close to his thoughts.

Diarmuid Gavin, Garden designer, in conversation with Hilary Fennell

Fire fighters are battling to protect homes on Achill this evening as a gorse fire engulfs the island.

Wow!

Latest: There is still no sign of missing Rescue 116 crewmen Ciarán Smith and Paul Ormsby, despite one of the largest sea searches ever undertaken in the history of the state.

UNLESS weather conditions deteriorated dramatically overnight a major sea search is underway off our north west coast.

A case of third time lucky and with it the luck of the Irish as Kris Meeke and Paul Nagle took their Citroen C3 WRC to victory in Rally Mexico, round three of the World Rally Championship. 

Having failed to go the full distance in the opening two rounds of the World Rally Championship, the Irish duo of Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle (Citroen DS3 WRC) seek better fortune on this weekend’s Rally Mexico, the first gravel event of the year. 

With 2016 having one extra second on the clock there are dozens of ways to ring in the New Year around the country.

As a new greenway opens in the southeast Dan MacCarthy hops on his bike and takes in the splendours of the Déise country

Macra’s Rural Youth Committee has expressed outrage and disappointment that some of the €35m increase in funding for mental health services this year will be moved to other areas.