Des O’Driscoll meets classical concert pianist Hugh Tinney

Ambassador UCC Glanmire face Liffey Celtics in the Women’s Super League final as the curtain comes down on the basketball season at the Waterford IT tomorrow night.

Hypatia, the first great female astronomer and mathematician, lived in Egypt in the 5th Century AD. 

Basketball is poised for its annual Cork extravaganza, as almost 500 players from across the country head south for the National Cup semi-finals weekend.

A fisheries officer who asked an angler for his licence retreated from the riverbank when the fisherman produced an air pistol and held it down by his side.

Nasa has succeeded in an engine test on a spacecraft 13 billion miles away.

As a child, Emer Reynolds used to stare into the night sky at her uncle’s farm in Mullinahone. It sparked an interest which has culminated in a widely-praised documentary on the journey of the Voyager spacecraft, writes Esther McCarthy.

The domestic regatta season officially kicks off this coming Saturday with the largest ever Neptune Regatta taking place in Islandbridge, Dublin.

Tommy Lyons takes a look at the recent victory of Sizing John and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Go retro with this cute vintage television-style alarm clock. It’s even got glow in the dark hands. Take note though, it needs batteries. €11.20 from www.dotcomgiftshop.com

Esther N McCarthy has lanterns, linens and lots of other lovelies on her list this week. 

November sees the centenary of Percival Lowell’s death. 

Let the madness of Grand National Day begin. Unfortunately for me, after my fall from Blood Cotil in the Topham I sustained a wrist injury and won’t be involved in the way I had hoped.

With the Cheltenham Festival now just a fortnight away, Willie Mullins talks through some of his formidable team for the showpiece meeting.

On Saturday afternoon Leopardstown hosted an Irish Gold Cup meeting which threw many Cheltenham markets into complete disarray.

Astronomy Ireland held a free public event which allowed people to witness, through powerful telescopes, the planet Neptune as it appeared unusually close to the Moon last night.

Holders C & S UCC Demons begin the defence of their National Cup title when they travel to Limerick this evening for a first round, first leg clash with UL Eagles.

A ‘wheelie’ good time is in store in Cork as the annual cycling festival rolls in to the city and its environs over the next nine days.

Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft is closing fast on an unexpectedly spotted Pluto, the most distant planetary body ever explored.

Building blocks of life have been found for the first time in a distant infant star system.

Shaneshill looks the stand-out bet on tomorrow’s card in Fairyhouse which features two Grade 1 races.

Two waterfront apartment blocks in Cork’s suburban Rochestown, totalling 50 units, are up for sale in one lot, with a guide price of €6.75 million, or an average of €135,000 each. They come to market at time of proven and competitive demand for multi-let investments.

Ruby Walsh reflects on Tuesday’s treble and Wednesday’s woes at Cheltenham.

What a remarkable start to the meeting! Unbelievable. You know you’re not going to win them all, or at least you think something is going to go wrong — and it did when Annie Power fell.

Willie Mullins admits Nichols Canyon puts him in mind of stable star Hurricane Fly as he bids to give the trainer a fourth Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle win in the last 10 years at Cheltenham today.

If the betting firms are to be believed then this year’s Cheltenham Festival could well be the one which sees John Ferguson break his duck and saddle his first winner at the iconic meeting, writes Graham Clark.

What to watch on the box tonight.

Connections of Open Eagle remain upbeat after the runaway November Handicap winner suffered an odds-on reverse on his hurdling debut at Punchestown on Sunday.

Exciting novice hurdler Caracci Apache could put his unbeaten record over hurdles on the line on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham.

Basketball: The Mardyke Arena will be packed to capacity when C&S UCC Demons host neighbours BFG Neptune in an intriguing Men’s Premier League derby tonight. 

AS the new year is almost upon us we conclude our series of favourite walks with this fine walk which has for a long time been near the top of my list for birdwatching in winter.

YOU’ve known each other since your first job. You’ve had nights out and days shopping, you’ve shared boyfriends and secrets.