Ryanair needs a leader who can communicate to people what the airline can do for them, not just what it can’t, writes Victoria White

Protesters have blocked roads and stopped commuter trains as Catalonia faces a general strike.

A Spanish union representing Nestle workers is pushing back against calls for a boycott of Catalan products, saying that punishing a major employer in the region with separatist ambitions could backfire on the country’s economy.

Ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has described the imprisonment of several of his former Cabinet members in a probe over the region's push for independence as "a serious mistake".

Opposition parties have heavily criticised the Government’s decision not to recognise the Catalonian independence vote, saying the move is a “travesty” that “ignores our own history”.

Early education is seen internationally as one of the keys to breaking the cycle of poverty — wouldn’t you think that a country that has one-in-nine of its children living in consistent poverty would finally start to put a value on the things that can break that cycle, writes Fergus Finlay.

Barcelona's mayor Ada Colau has demanded "an immediate end to police charges against the defenceless population".

Celtic's chances of signing Patrick Roberts ahead of their final Champions League qualifier suffered a major blow when the winger was included in Manchester City's travelling party for a training camp in Catalonia.

Gary Hurley stood over a two-and-a-half foot putt on the final hole of the Tour Course at PGA Catalunya yesterday, knowing if he missed, he’d be following fellow Waterford man and playing partner Kevin Phelan and Ruaidhrí McGee on the first plane out of Girona.

The four Irish players competing in the final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona are all in real danger of missing today’s cut after a brutal day yesterday.

Artist Salvadore Dali chose to live in the Girona region of Spain for good reason, says Liz Dunphy.

Paul Dunne was one of just seven players to come through all three stages of the Qualifying School and secure a lucrative European Tour card for next year.

Paul Dunne underlined his immense talent on the penultimate day of the Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona yesterday.

Having led the Irish challenge at the Qualifying School Final Stage at PGA Catalunya Resort outside Girona, Simon Thornton is in a real battle to make the cut heading into today’s fourth round.

The final stage of the European Tour Q-School tees off at PGA Catalunya on Saturday. Around 25 players will emerge smiling at the end of the six-round ordeal but, for the rest, it’s a picture perfect autumn postcard that hides no end of pain and suffering, writes Brian Keogh.

Usually no more than a pitstop for flyers to Barcelona, Girona offers a storied history, wondrous architecture, and mouth-watering eats, writes Brian Canty.

Seventeen Irish swimmers this weekend tackle one of the most challenging open water challenges in Europe.

Bored of London and Brussels? Then try Oxford and Bruges instead. Tony Clayton-Lea picks the best destinations 30 miles from Europe’s top airports. 

It was a day of agony and missed chances for the four Irish golfers in the final Qualifying stage for next year’s European Tour at the PGA Catalunya resort in Girona yesterday.

Peter Lawrie is the best-placed Irishman heading into today’s final round of Qualifying School at PGA Catalunya resort in Girona.

Debt-saddled Cork Airport has been dealt yet another routes blow — this time on the double.

Concerns have been raised about Ryanair’s 2015 summer schedule out of Cork Airport amid fears that 23,000 seats could be lost.

WHEN the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali paraded his pet lobster along the Rue de Rivoli in Paris he must have seemed as exotic as anything — or anyone — led along the promenade in Kinsale.

Ryan Giggs was pictured in the Netherlands yesterday for a meeting with Manchester United’smanager-in-waiting, Louis van Gaal.

Waterford Castle’s Kevin Phelan produced a storming finish to keep his chances of winning a European Tour alive with just one round to go at the gruelling final stage of the European Tour Qualifying School in Catalonia.

Ballymena amateur Dermot McElroy missed the cut, but Kevin Phelan, David Higgins and Ruaidhri McGee still have a chance to win their European Tour cards at the Final Stage of the Qualifying School in Spain.

Ruaidhri McGee’s hopes of securing a European Tour Card suffered a blow after his third round of the final qualifying stage in Spain yesterday.

Kerry’s David Higgins has admitted the pressure in attempting to retain his European Tour card cost him dearly in the last month.

A pregnant British woman has collapsed and died at Girona airport in north-eastern Spain.

Telecommunicationsbillionaire Denis O’Brien has ruled out selling shares in Digicel Group Ltd to the public “at the moment”.

IF you’ve travelled at all to the Costa Brava region in Catalonia, northern Spain, chances are you’ve been to Girona — you just mightn’t know it.

HIRING a car on holiday can be a stressful business — firstly there’s the paperwork, then the cost, then the map-reading and last but not least, the reality of driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.

Following his stunning stage win on Sunday’s ninth leg of the Tour de France, Ireland’s Dan Martin said he might now have to consider riding for the overall General Classification as he is now just over two minutes back on leader Chris Froome in eighth place.

Cycling legend Sean Kelly has hailed Dan Martin’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege win in Belgium on Sunday believing the victory could inspire a generation of young Irish talent.

Dan Martin is still struggling to come to terms with the fact he is the 2013 Volta a Catalunya champion and only the second Irishman after Sean Kelly to win the race.

Dan Martin underlined his precocious talent by taking the biggest win of his fledgling career with a competent and matured display in the week-long Volta A Catalunya yesterday.

Waterville golfer David Higgins landed in Spain on Wednesday ahead of his bid to bring the curtain down on a memorable season by emerging from the infamously torturous Q-School with a prized European Tour card.

Lance Armstrong was a “serial cheat” who led “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping programme that sport has ever seen”, United States Anti-Doping Agency said today.

The Irish Tenors, ranked as one of the most successful Irish touring acts ever, alongside U2 and Riverdance, sing Ireland’s praises whenever they can.

Three Irish golfers, Peter O’Keeffe (Muskerry), Damian Mooney (Ballyliffin) and Mark Staunton (Ballinasloe), take part in the first European Tour School at the Roxburghe Hotel, Kelso, Scotland today.