Wes Hoolahan has been there before. Scoot back almost a dozen years and the Dubliner was an integral part of a superb Shelbourne side at the fag end of, what was at the time, the greatest European odyssey any Irish club had known.

Church bells tolled and officials laid wreaths across Europe on Armistice Day to pay tribute to the millions of soldiers killed during World War I.

Long before he became an integral part of the Munster team, BJ Botha was part of a South African squad which captured the 2007 World Cup. So what was it like to claim world rugby’s greatest prize?

With quiet moments of memory or military pomp, leaders and citizens across Europe marked 70 years since the Nazi defeat and the end of a war that ravaged the continent. However, the East-West alliance that vanquished Hitler is deeply divided today.

Ed Dunlop’s “strange entry” for Trip To Paris in the Betway Chester Cup yielded a princely sum as the emerging stayer delivered a show-stopping performance on the Roodee.

Being the son of a billionaire means Emin’s music career comes from a place of love, says Gerry Quinn.

You can pass go, get out of jail free and collect real money.

The eighth amendment of the constitution is so medieval and anti-women that it is the envy of religious fundamentalists, Socialist TD Ruth Coppinger told the Dáil.

Irish rider Sam Bennett moved a step closer to realising his dream of riding the Tour de France in July when his team were yesterday granted a wildcard invitation to the world’s biggest bike race.

Charlie Hebdo's defiant new issue sold out before dawn around Paris, with scuffles at kiosks over dwindling copies of the paper depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

Avenue Gabriel rewarded the patience of her connections with a win in the Listed Clodovil E.B.F. Garnet Stakes on a mixed card at Naas yesterday.

Liz O’ Brien ticked off her continental bucket list with a Contiki ‘European Highlights’ tour in London, Paris, Nice, Monaco, the French Riviera, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Rhine Valley, St Goar, Munich, Edam and Amsterdam    

The Tour de France has begun today in Yorkshire and we are here to fill you in on the world’s biggest cycling event.

In Brazil, another generation of France’s mix of ‘black, blanc, beur’ (black, white, Arab) will try to unite the country through football, writes Eoin O’Callaghan.

With beautiful beaches, a sunny climate and cheap prices, Tunisia is winning tourists back.

Joe Schmidt hadn’t a word of French when he pitched up in the Massif Central town of Clermont-Ferrand back in 2007, but the Kiwi coach was a quick learner and he’s still known for dropping the odd peu de Francais into his vocabulary on those weeks when the opposition is of a Gallic flavour.

We do like a gripe, us Irish.

WHEN Felix Baumgartner stood at the edge of his space capsule with the vast curvature of the earth glowing blue behind him, the syrupy yellow drink that made it all possible was most likely the furthest thing from his mind.

European property investors are so spooked by the sovereign debt crisis that a blinkered focus on the best neighbourhoods of London, Paris and Berlin means they are missing much better deals in far-flung locations.

British cycling chief Dave Brailsford has led the clamour for Bradley Wiggins to be knighted after the Tour de France winner became the most decorated Briton in Olympic history.

THE All Blacks never forgave Stephen Donald for the missed touch kick which ultimately condemned them to defeat by Australia in Hong Kong this time last year.

Bradley Wiggins was in confident mood as the Tour de France entered a fifth day of racing today.

Marks & Spencer is expected to add to the gloom on the UK high street tomorrow when the retail bellwether posts its fourth quarter trading update.

The FTSE 100 Index today rallied past the 6,000 mark for the first time in nearly a month after a report revealed the US unemployment rate fell to a two-year low in March.

Marks & Spencer today announced plans to return to France, a decade after it pulled out of the country.

AS examples of naked political opportunism go, few can match Charlie Haughey’s decision to call for the government’s private jet 24 years ago and make a dramatic dash for Paris.

ALBERTO CONTADOR edged closer to Lance Armstrong’s record number of victories yesterday as the American’s Tour de France career came to an end.

Andy Schleck was forced to change his bike on today's final stage of the Tour de France after suffering mechanical trouble while racing Alberto Contador.

The titanic tussle for the 2010 Tour de France title is set to end in Alberto Contador’s favour after the defending champion increased his advantage in today’s penultimate stage.

THE battle for the race leader’s yellow jersey will take place today as Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck face into today’s 52-kilometre time-trial from Bordeaux to Pauillac.

Mark Cavendish was able to look over his shoulder as he sprinted to yet another sensational victory on stage 18 of the Tour de France in Bordeaux today.

ALBERTO CONTADOR emerged from a mist-shrouded Col du Tourmalet yesterday with his Tour de France race lead intact and one foot on the top of the Paris podium.

FRANCE international footballers Frank Ribery and Karim Benzema were yesterday charged with having had sex with an underage prostitute, as magistrates cracked down on an alleged celebrity vice ring.

When he announced the 2010 Tour de France would be his last, Lance Armstrong would not have expected it to end so soon.

Mark Cavendish stuck two fingers up to his critics – in a metaphorical sense this time – with victory on the fifth stage of the Tour de France.

MARK CAVENDISH hailed his team-mates after regaining the green jersey with victory in stage 11 of the Tour de France yesterday – his fourth triumph in 2009.

Mark Cavendish admits his “big objective” is to win the final stage of the Tour de France on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Spain’s Oscar Pereiro admitted to mixed feelings after being named as winner of the 2006 Tour de France.

FRANCE’S Sandy Casar won the 18th stage of the Tour de France between Cahors and Angouleme in a sprint finish yesterday.

MICHAEL RASMUSSEN is hoping his time-trial failings will not prevent him from winning the Tour de France at the fourth time of asking.

A €2.5m revamp of the Irish embassy in Paris will be unveiled next week.