POPULATED with heroism, survival and cannibalism, this true maritime yarn will surely appeal to anyone with a yen to expand their seafaring insights. 

Ron Howard’s In the Heart of the Sea (12A), which is adapted from Nathan Philbrick’s award-winning book of the same name, opens in Nantucket in 1850, with the young novelist Herman Melville (Ben Whishaw) interviewing retired sailor Tom Nickerson (Brendan Gleeson) about the dramatic events that befell the whale ship Essex some three decades previously.

A deckchair from the Titanic has sold at auction in Wiltshire today for just over £100,000 (€138,000).

Delia O’Callaghan spent 15 years building a successful life in the US but one day found herself behind bars. Colette Sheridan hears how she drew from her experience for her new book.

Shark found at door of Nantucket pub

A collection of John F Kennedy memorabilia has fetched almost two million US dollars (€1.5m) at auction, including 570,000 US dollars (€429,000) for the former president’s Air Force One leather bomber jacket.

Hurricane Irene has smashed into the North Carolina coast, forecasters said.

HURRICANE Irene caused extraordinary disruption Friday as it zeroed in for a catastrophic run up the Eastern Seaboard. More than two million people were ordered to move to safer places, and New York announced plans to shut down its entire network of subways for the first time because of a natural disaster.

I should be wary about writing this column for two reasons, at least.

The last ferry left for the mainland and residents took shelter as Hurricane Earl closed in on North Carolina’s dangerously exposed Outer Banks today with 105mph winds.

HURRICANE EARL packed winds near 225km/h as it blew toward North Carolina yesterday, putting the eastern seaboard on alert for a Labour Day weekend pounding by waves, gales and rain.

THANKS to Joyce Anderson Gleasure (Letters, April 26) for correcting me on my geographic illiteracy as to the whereabouts of America.

Ben Stiller wants to save dolphins – but not if it affects his summer holiday.

Ellen DeGeneres is ready to settle for the quiet life with partner Portia de Rossi - the pair is looking to buy a farm.

Senator Edward Kennedy took the helm of his sailboat Mya in a regatta, just a week after undergoing a brain biopsy that diagnosed him with cancer.

SENATOR Edward M Kennedy walked out of the hospital yesterday after being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour, giving a thumbs up to well-wishers and kisses to his relatives before driving off for his Cape Cod home.

Senator Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour in what could be the grim final chapter in a life marked by exhilarating triumph and shattering tragedy.

COASTAL residents in Boston cleaned up tree branches and utilities repaired broken power lines yesterday after the remnants of Hurricane Noel struck the north east.

The snail-paced Ophelia, downgraded from hurricane to tropical storm, moved out to sea early today after a three-day drenching that was far less severe than many had anticipated.

Cue the ominous bass line and close the beaches.

At least 15 people have died after an EgyptAir plane crashed as it attempted an emergency landing on the approach to Tunis airport.

A pilot who flawlessly ditched a small plane carrying his family and friends into the sea also led them safely to a life raft as the aircraft sank in Massachusetts Bay.

A pilot who flawlessly ditched a small plane carrying his family and friends into the sea also led them safely to a life raft as the aircraft sank in Massachusetts Bay.