JUST back from a hectic few days in Capetown, whizzing from one speaking engagement to the next.

Veteran travel correspondent Paul Theroux will talk at the Immrama writing festival, says Carl Dixon

A MAJOR search has commenced to find a manuscript which details the amazing story of Limerick yachtsman Pat Lawless, who achieved a life long ambition of sailing around the world singlehanded at the age of 70.

The football fan who managed to get into the England dressing room after the team's World Cup draw against Algeria has been charged with trespassing.

IRISH hopes of a re-staging of the controversial second leg of their World Cup play-off game against France were dashed last night when it became clear that the French Football Federation (FFF) see no basis for such a game to take place.

Five hundred Irish volunteers have begun work on the latest building blitz by the Niall Mellon Township Trust in South Africa.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan is due to lead a trade mission to Russia in May.

A South African drug mule who believed he had swallowed pellets containing gold and was carrying a briefcase of confidential documents has been given an four year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today announced €5m in Irish Aid funding for the Niall Mellon Township Trust.

An Irish priest left for dead by armed burglars will meet the Taoiseach next week in South Africa.

More than one and a half million people passed through Dublin Airport in November, an 11% increase over the same month last year, according to the Dublin Airport Authority.

A group of Irish volunteers have succeeded in building 70 homes for homeless people in South Africa in one week.

IN THE END, a season that delivered so much couldn’t provide the fitting finale. Saturday’s test against Australia proved a game too far for this group of players.

SAYIT Travel and Kumuka have added a new range of Asia family tours to their portfolio.

AS a resident of Zimbabwe for the past 19 years I would like to present another side of the country’s story in stark contrast to the TV images of mayhem, political violence, mobs smashing up farm buildings, and so on.

THERE’S fashion in food just like everything else. Foodies are always intrigued by the latest trends on the gastronomic circuit.

Barry Coughlan

WASPS flanker Johnny O’Connor is poised to make his Ireland debut against Tri-Nations champions South Africa at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week.

TULLOW OIL will hope to raise £120 million through a rights issue to help fund the £319m acquisition of Energy Africa.

A BEDSIDE vigil was maintained last night in a South African hospital where Sue Gamble lies critically injured after a road crash which claimed the life of her husband, Cork dentist Dr Paddy Gamble.

Tourism Ireland, the cross-border body responsible for marketing Ireland, is embarking on a major tourism drive this week in South Africa.

Sting and U2 are to feature in a live New Year's Eve special on US TV.