When Willie McCreery saddled a double at the Curragh last Saturday it was further evidence that here is a trainer who is rapidly going places.

A centre which has played a significant role in scientific, religious, learning, and economic life through the ages is set to celebrate 25 years of Heritage Town status.

“With the year I’ve had this is very special,” said trainer Mouse Morris after watching Rogue Angel battle back bravely to snatch victory in the Guinness Kerry National, when the Listowel Harvest Festival resumed yesterday afternoon.

The progressive Algonquin completed a four-timer with a typically gamebattling display in the listed Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes last night at Killarney last night.

There’s a very good Flat card to start the four-day meeting at Killarney, and trainer Aidan O’Brien has strong claims of leaving the Kerry venue with a treble through Johannes Vermeer, Jinsha Lake and Hallmark.

A Westmeath man has given an undertaking at the High Court not to dissipate any funds connected with the estate of his late mother, said to include a valuable Wedgwood fruit bowl which was part of a dinner service specially commissioned by Queen Victoria.

Moviesta is on course for a Royal Ascot return following a racecourse gallop at the Curragh on Sunday.

Success Days is set to challenge for Classic honours as he once again relished the testing conditions with an emphatic victory in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown yesterday.

Under a power-packed ride by Barry Geraghty, even-money favourite Ted Veale swooped late to beat market rival Un Beau Roman and longtime leader, The Black Russian, in the Grade 3 At The Races Kilbegnet Novice Chase in Roscommon yesterday.

A play which sheds new light on the bloody pirate raid of a West Cork village in the 1600s will be performed over the next three nights.

IT is not necessarily true that familiarity dulls the perception of excellence.

Enjoying afternoon tea served by a bona fide butler, followed by a tour of one of the country’s most renowned castle gardens, isn’t exactly a traditional St Patrick’s Day celebration but it is likely to be popular in Lismore, Co Waterford.

Mary Leland enjoys a talk by Peregrine Cavendish — the Duke of Devonshire — on his family’s extensive collection

LISMORE, CO WATERFORD

Veteran artist Hans Josephsohn’s sculptures have their first Irish outing at Lismore Castle Arts, writes Tina O’Sullivan

We scan a selection of starter homes from around the country.

IN John Mendelssohn’s 2004 novel Waiting For Kate Bush the protagonist threatens suicide unless his musical heroine releases a new album in six months.

I’VE NEVER met Deborah Cavendish, the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, yet she has long been a hero of mine. Debo, as she is known to her friends, now a feisty 90, was the youngest Mitford sister.

HE tied fishing flies with Eric Clapton, played the blues with the greats, touring with Jimmy Page, Motorhead and the Moody Blues — but the late Doug Lock left the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle to fish in Fermoy.

A GOOD eye, a very sharp one, eclectic too with a quirky and unerring taste applied the final gloss to Lismore’s Headview, once part of the Devonshire estate.

Gordon Ramsay was today forced to defend his reputation today after it was revealed he uses ready-made food at one of his restaurants and in his gastropubs.

IN the recently released film, The Duchess, Keira Knightley plays Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.

Keira Knightley has defended her new movie 'The Duchess' after images of Princess Diana were included in the trailer for the film.

Hundreds of rioting youths attacked police who answered reports of a stolen vehicle being set on fire in central Belfast overnight.

Jude Law has signed on to play Sebastian Flyte in a revisited version of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited with husband and wife team Paul Bettany and Oscar winner Jennifer Connolly.

A remarkable collection of art and historical objects dating to Elizabethan England has begun a tour of the United States.

LITTLE girls in communion dresses, grown-up brides in white exaggerated creations — the extravagance of rites of passage seems to be part of the human condition; it always has and will always be and right now it’s the season of the wedding.