US vice-president Mike Pence will be met at Shannon Airport by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and Mayor of Clare Councillor Cathal Crowe

US vice-president Mike Pence looks set to arrive in Ireland four days ahead of originally scheduled and is now likely to land at Shannon Airport on Monday.

People living in a town in West Cork are celebrating its declaration as the 'Best Kept Town in Ireland'.

The west Cork hotspot was announced as the winner today while also being named as winner in the Best Kept Small Town category.

The German Chancellor has said Germany and Europe will stand by Ireland in Brexit talks and said ongoing negotiations will have to find a way to protect the single market while also avoiding a hard border in Ireland.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted Ireland is being “flexible” in its attempts to help Britain out of a Brexit crisis “of its own creation” with just one week to go before a crucial House of Commons vote on the existing EU deal.

Seven members of An Garda Síochána have been recognised at an awards ceremony in Dublin for their courage in the line of duty.

The Rock of Cashel and numerous other abbeys were among those to sustain damage last year, according to the Office of Public Works (OPW).

Coast Guard volunteer Caitríona Lucas, who died last year following a rescue mission off the coast of Kilkee, Co Clare, was awarded a posthumous gold medal for her outstanding act of bravery.

Potential recruits can sample the first ever Virtual Reality experience of the Defence Forces today.

Cork has found a new political son in Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, and Simon Coveney had better watch out.

The Taoiseach has sought the advice of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on how to achieve a gender balance in politics.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has attempted to cool concerns the public is at immediate risk of price gouging by bin collection firms by saying it will take at least 15 months to fully implement the new charges regime.

Latest: The Dáil has voted for a waste collection pricing “watchdog”, as the row over proposed new bin charges escalated.

Rathbarry in Co Cork has been named the overall winner of Ireland’s best kept town competition, 2017.

Former dual Dublin GAA star Conal Keaney has set similar high standards in business as he had on the field, as he tells Pádraig Hoare

The State-owned mansion in Dublin’s Phoenix Park used to accommodate visiting heads of state was described in 1986 as “slightly shabby” with an interior that was “one of spacious but faded elegance”.

The man behind Ireland’s only missing persons helpline is concerned that lack of government funding could see the charity close its doors within 12 months.

Teenager Ricky Osagie, who died trying to save two girls from drowning, was remembered yesterday as the National Bravery Awards were presented in Dublin.

An Garda Síochána’s blueprint for the future has been dealt another blow after a second Garda association refused to implement it because of a row over pay.

IT is heartening that Ireland has acknowledged outstanding acts of bravery by 42 heroes, some of whom put their lives at risk so as to save others, by honouring them with silver and bronze medals, as well as certificates. 

Plans to impose water charges twice as costly as today’s rates were drawn up by the Fianna Fáil-led government months before the troika bailout, despite repeated claims that the system was only created to comply with EU demands.

Teenagers are opening up about issues that affect their mental health as part of a programme to help prevent suicide.

With an election in the offing, a growing percentage are completely disillusioned with politics as it has been practiced by the main parties in this country for decades. Time and again we’ve had the merry-go-round of promises to do things differently when in opposition, and subsequent reneging when in government. In that light, we have compiled 10 ideas that might contribute to saving politics from total cynicism, writes Special Correspondent Michael Clifford

The chairman of the national referees development body insists the policing of verbal intimidation is not being ignored by match officials.

Leinster chairman John Horan has defended the province’s decision to keep the Dublin footballers in Croke Park.

There is no better testament to the Easter Rising than to begin building the new national children’s hospital next year on one of its most famous battle sites, the South Dublin Union, Health Minister Leo Varadkar said yesterday.

In April, 2012, Social Protection Minister Joan Burton announced that the OECD would conduct an independent review of long-term pensions policy in Ireland. She said: “the study will be a short and focused review”.

Elber Twomey, whose entire family was killed by a car crash, has been honoured by the Road Safety Authority for her road safety campaign.

Joan and the Giant Joint was probably not the kind of Christmas fairytale the Tánaiste had on her mind as she toured an art exhibition at a festive-looking Farmleigh House.

The mother of missing Mary Boyle, 6, apologised for crying at yesterday’s event in Dublin to mark Missing Persons Day.

Just over 1,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the National Cancer Control Programme Rapid Access Clinics last year. The newly established clinics saw 2,583 men and 1,050 were diagnosed with the disease.

A quick-thinking garda has become the first person to receive two National Bravery Awards in the same year in the ceremony’s 67-year history, after risking his own life to ensure the safety of the public.

The new health minister has taken the unusual move of inviting up to 50 hospital chiefs to meet him this morning to "let them know he is backing them in their fight for resources".

Justice Minister Alan Shatter was visibly moved yesterday when he launched Missing Persons Day at Farmleigh House in Dublin.

Ireland's first ever National Missing Person's Day will be marked later today at a special ceremony at Farmleigh House in Dublin.

EVERY year thousands of people go missing in Ireland, causing much anguish and loneliness amongst their loved ones. It is difficult to imagine the scale of such pain.

The founder of the Missing in Ireland Support Service hopes to establish a missing persons alliance next year to ease the burden on families experiencing the sudden disappearance of a loved one.

Cillian Mahon and Ryane Twomey, who rescued two men from a burning building in Fermoy, Co Cork, will be presented with one of the country’s highest award for bravery today.

The upkeep of Farmleigh House in Dublin's Phoenix Park has cost nearly €39m (€38.75) since 2001.