Monica Loughman trained as a ballerina in Russia and is directing love story, La Sylphide, at the Cork Opera House.

More meat thrown to the lioness in Dublin last night.

MARIA Tecce is the new Nuala — the latest to join comedy singing trio, The Nualas.

It passed most people by at the time, but apparently Ray Davies was in Dublin a few weeks back.

Sold-out gigs by Rihanna, Katy Perry, and George Michael at Dublin’s O2 last year contributed to the arena’s co-owners recording a 5% increase in pre-tax profits to £6m (€7.45m).

Bord Gais Energy has recorded a 24% fall in profit during the past year.

Kathryn Rudge is savouring her role in Opera North’s production of Giulio Cesare in Dublin next week, Nikki ffrench Davis reports

THE path looks clear for Cork’s new €150 million concert venue to proceed in the city centre as developer Owen O’Callaghan is ending his rival bid for a docklands venue.

Westlife's Nicky Byrne will host and narrate 'The Snowman Movie' this Christmas.

BORD Gáis Energy has signed up as title sponsor of Dublin’s Grand Canal Theatre in a deal rumoured to be worth around €4 million over six years.

Dublin’s Grand Canal Theatre is to be rebranded next year in a deal worth €4.5m.

Chris Rea has announced Irish concert dates for his upcoming tour.

Dancing Shoes enacts George’s skill but doesn’t shirk from his sadness, says Carl Dixon

IRELAND is being run by “mad people in Brussels”, Gay Byrne has claimed, in withering comments which expose a clear division with his potential backers for the presidency, Fianna Fáil.

BROADCASTER Gay Byrne revealed last night that he has been inundated with offers of funds for a campaign if he were to enter the race for the Áras.

AS DAVE MCNEILLY walks me from the backstage door through the belly of the Grand Canal Theatre he cuts an unexpectedly calm figure.

THE Railway Procurement Agency has unveiled a pre-tax operating surplus on infrastructure activities of €1.1 million for 2010, boosted by an 8% annual increase in Luas numbers.

FORMER Miss World Rosanna Davison has promised to donate some of her €80,000 libel award to the Dublin Simon Community.

Janet Jackson is to perform her first ever show in Ireland at the Grand Canal Theatre on July 5, it has been announced.

IT’S the calm before the storm at Dublin’s Grand Canal Theatre.

TRAILFINDERS have again linked with Etihad Airways to feature late deals to Malaysia, but interested clients need to be fast — bookings have to be made by tomorrow.

THOMAS COOK IRELAND, featuring offshoot companies Panorama, Sunworld and Direct Holidays offer flights from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock airports this summer.

TWO leading academics have urged graduates to remain positive in the face of the current economic crisis.

THE company operating the 2,111-seater €80 million Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin’s docklands is reporting “substantial profits” since it opened in March of this year.

PLANNING permission for a €50 million events and concert centre for Cork city is set to be lodged this month: if approved, it could be hosting shows in two years time.

THE Rocket Man is coming back to Cork.

DUBLIN will play host to several internationally renowned designers this weekend as Offset, the country’s largest “creative conference”, takes place in the new Grand Canal Theatre.

WILLIE “Big Bang” Casey took his rivalry with newly-crowned European super bantamweight champion, Kiko Martinez, to a new level when they met face-to-face for the third time in the plush surroundings of the new Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin yesterday.

Entertainer Michael Ball is to perform in Dublin and Belfast next summer.

Dublin has been designated a UNESCO City of Literature.

A €360m research investment unveiled by the government today will create almost 2,500 jobs and help drive Ireland's economic recovery, the Taoiseach pledged today.

THE Sisk Group has won a €60 million development contract to build a major hospital in al-Ain, the second largest city in Abu Dhabi, with work due to commence next month and completion expected in two years’ time.

HUMAN slingshot Rory Delap strides into the room, a new World Cup football loaded in his oxter.

Dublin’s stylish Grafton Street was today revealed as the public’s favourite thoroughfare in the capital.

IF EVER one of our more astute impresarios, Noel Pearson say, was to base a musical on the incredible rise and tragic collapse of the Celtic Tiger then Docklands The Musical would be as good a theme and title as any.

President Mary McAleese is the guest of honour at the opening night of Dublin's new Grand Canal Theatre.

The curtain will lift on Dublin's newest theatre next year with one of the best-known ballets.

Internationally renowned British architect Norman Foster was today announced as the visionary behind Ireland’s first skyscraper – the U2 Tower.