Cork woman, Laura de Barra has become a DIY sensation and her earthy, down-to-earth edicts have won her legions of fans.

The politicians were asked to respond to comments from Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, who on Thursday said he favoured a tunnel rather than a bridge as a way to link the two nations.

Here is a selection of people starting new roles with businesses in Ireland, including the Irish Banking Culture Board, Bord Bia, Causeway: Ireland Scotland Business Exchange, the Irish Hotels Federation and Sodexo.

About 5,000 people were conferred with citizenship in ceremonies which continued in Killarney, Co Kerry, yesterday.

AUDIBLE is an interesting subject when it comes to podcasts. An Amazon-linked subscription service (from £7.99 a month), it’s known primarily for its audiobooks offering.

Chris Farrell returns to the Munster team as Johann van Graan makes five changes ahead of Saturday's Guinness PRO14 match against Scarlets at Thomond Park (5pm).

Connacht prop Paddy McAllister will make an emotional return to South Africa for the first time in 11 years to take on the Southern Kings.

Finlay Bealham faces a race against time to play any part in the remainder of Connacht’s season after suffering a fractured ankle at the weekend.

Darren Sweetnam scored the bonus-point try six minutes from time to celebrate his first start since October against 14-man Zebre in Italy.

The result keeps Richard Cockerill’s men at the top of Conference B and on track for a play-off spot.

Robin Maharaj, director at Kilkenny Architectural Salvage and Antiques

Connacht backs coach Nigel Carolan says another “ruthless” performance is necessary to have any chance against Edinburgh in tonight’s Guinness PRO14 clash (7.35pm, eir Sport).

Niall will lead a team that includes his younger brother Rory and their cousin, Jack O'Sullivan.

Robertson revealed that he will be seeking the SNP’s nomination to stand in Edinburgh Central at the 2021 election.

"Our attitude is that you don’t get to be the best unless you play the best."

Edinburgh went back to the top of Guinness PRO14 Conference B after putting in a strong defensive effort to stop Scarlets in a hard-fought 14-9 win at Parc-y-Scarlets.

What’s motivating Eddie Jones?

Andy Farrell has experienced the cruel extremes of Anglo-Irish rugby conflict from both sides, for England in Dublin and Ireland in London.

Mariella Frostrup tells Richard Purden about her book on female travellers, her days in the music business and childhood memories of her time in Ireland

Earlier in the week, new head coach Andy Farrell made the point that he wanted his Irish team to stand for something.

Just five training sessions into his tenure as Ireland attack coach, Mike Catt is nevertheless expecting “some good stuff” from Andy Farrell’s team against Scotland in Dublin tomorrow.

Gareth Hanrahan is garnering quite a reputation as a fantasy author. He tells Ed Power how some of his novels’ settings are inspired by old Cork.

We first saw him as a young thug in Trainspotting, but Robert Carlyle has come of age to play the UK prime minister in an exciting new TV series, writes Ed Power.

A man was injured after he became trapped beneath a gate that had blown open on top of him during Storm Brendan this morning.

Flybe, Europe's largest regional airline, is at risk of collapse, according to a report.

Johann van Graan has rated fly-half JJ Hanrahan’s chances of facing Racing 92 on Sunday in Paris as 50/50 with the Munster boss preparing to decide between rookie Ben Healy and Rory Scannell as his starting number 10 in the absence of Joey Carbery.

With Ireland's Euro 2020 play-offs looming in March, he will now be urgently seeking another club to give him the game time he will require to ensure he remains in the forefront of Mick McCarthy's plans.

Gardaí are believed to be spearheading an international manhunt for a suspect after the “macabre” decapitation of a man in Cork City.

The Guinness PRO14 rarely fares well when observers from across the Irish Sea compare it to their own Gallagher Premiership.

The global community needs to come together to tackle climate change in 2020, according to the President of Ireland.