A rift has emerged between Fianna Fáil’s two candidates in Ireland South after Malcolm Byrne lodged an official complaint to party bosses about his party rival Billy Kelleher, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

From a season-ending World Rally Championship victory being a distinct possibility, on the Kennards Hire Rally Australia, Craig Breen (Citroen C3 WRC) saw the prospect undone ever so quickly. Midway in the second leg, he was down in tenth place, due to a series of incidents. Aided by some late retirements, the Waterford driver eventually finished seventh.

Heavy duty taxes, drink driving laws and changing drinking habits are being blamed for the closure of a fifth of our pubs since 2005.

Trish Dromey views a fine Georgian country home which could be turned to a number of uses.   

It was the second major cannabis seizure in the space of a week.

Since transferring clubs, I’ve become highly conscious of the little differences between urban and rural clubs, writes Eimear Ryan.

Over the weekend, yours truly had to hike himself down to the shops to get a fidget spinner (if you don’t know what that is then you clearly don’t have children under the age of 10 running around your house but don’t worry, soon the fidget spinner will be part of your life too.)

Controversy reigned at the Fiesta 6 Hour Endurance Race at Mondello Park yesterday where weather and track conditions led to the race being red-flagged at around half distance.

Few issues within Irish motorsport generate discussion as much as the Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver of the Year award. 

WHEN you have the option of downloading apps such as Strava and Map My Ride to your phone, creating your own cycling routes or browsing someone else’s, why would you buy a book compiling nearly 50 cycles around Munster?

Plans by Supermac’s chief Pat McDonagh for a network of motorway forecourts have been dealt a blow after An Bord Pleanála refused permission for a rest stop on the Limerick to Gort road, outside Ennis.

Enda Kenny looks tired.

Sitting out Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina due to suspension was tough to take but there is a little bit of Sean O’Brien that doesn’t regret lashing out at Pascal Papé in the opening minutes of the final pool game against France.

The founder of fast-food chain Supermac’s has bought the Charleville Park Hotel in North Cork with a view to a €1m upgrade.

Like a listless ocean liner drifting inevitably towards the iceberg, fear permeated the Labour Party conference, with just the occasional beam of hope flashing through the doom as if it were a tantalising flicker of salvation from a distant lighthouse.

Plans by Supermacs supremo Pat McDonagh to repeat the success of his Barack Obama Plaza in Co Clare are in jeopardy.

Revenues at fast food group Supermac’s are hurtling towards a record €100 million this year.

Kilkenny 4-12 Galway 3-07

A STRONG Irish buyer, Pat McDonagh of the Supermac’s restaurant chain, has emerged as the buyer of Cork’s purpose-built Charleville Park Hotel after very competitive bidding via agent Denis O’Donoghue of Savills.

THIS walk is best enjoyed in summer. These recent weeks, wildflowers are everywhere along the paths in Garretstown woods. Most are at their best this week. In late May, the bluebells were a little faded, but those growing in shade were a vivid, gentian blue.

Who need a presidential library when you can have your name on a petrol station on the M7?

Moneygall may not be known as a rugby stronghold, but Barack Obama proved last night that the Irish everywhere have just one thing on their mind when he hailed the “legendary” Brian O’Driscoll.

An 18-year-old man has died following a road crash in Co Tipperary.

To Sasha Obama it looked like the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft.

Schools, youth groups, and clubs came from all over Ireland on invitation from the US embassy to join Michelle Obama and her daughters for a VIP showing of Riverdance.

Michelle Obama told Irish young people that “we are just like you” on the first of her two-day visit to Ireland with her daughters Malia, 14, and Sasha, 12.

Even the President's daughters want to brag about their Irish roots.

Michelle Obama has arrived in Ireland for a 24-hour visit while the G8 summit takes place.

Mary Regan, Political Correspondent

New laws are to be introduced to allow the Justice Minister order mobile phone companies to shut down networks to prevent terrorist attacks.

A major public march and rally is to be held in Belfast the weekend before the G8 meeting of world leaders.

With the news that Michelle Obama is heading for these parts when Barack attends a G8 summit in the north next month, rumours are inevitably abound that the First Lady will return to Moneygall with the couple’s two daughters in tow.

US first lady Michelle Obama is to visit the Republic of Ireland next month while her husband is in the North for the G8 summit.

US president Barack Obama, has said he intends to return to Ireland for a visit but was unable to give a commitment to travel South when he attends the G8 summit in County Fermanagh in June.

ANYONE who has ever known anyone with an Irish wolfhound declares an Irish connection for St Patrick’s Day.

The US President is to be immortalised in the birthplace of his ancestors with the Barack Obama Plaza in Moneygall, Co Offaly.

Barack Obama's Irish relative, Henry Healy, has said he is confident of another Presidential visit to Ireland.

In his role as Offaly Council chairman, Kilcormac-Killoughey manager Danny Owens had the opportunity to meet Barack Obama on the US president’s visit to Moneygall last year.

Irish President Michael D Higgins has told his newly re-elected US counterpart Barack Obama he hopes bilateral relations between the countries will prosper during his second term in office.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has added his congratulations to US PresidentBarack Obama on his re-election.

President Obama's distant relative Henry Healy from Moneygall in Co Offaly has welcomed the US election result.