The bizarre and the brilliant were showcasing their abilities in Cork this weekend with two festivals giving centre stage to those ordinarily on the fringes of the entertainment industry.

I have been monitoring the proposals for a conference centre in Cork City. This is a great opportunity, if we look at the greater scheme of things.

The survivors of the ‘battle of Christchurch’ gathered in Dublin on Saturday night to swap old war stories.

The survivors of the ‘battle of Christchurch’ gathered in Dublin on Saturday night to swap old war stories.

Paul O’Connell has come through Ireland’s final team session this morning and has been declared fit for Sunday’s crucial World Cup Pool C match against Italy in Dunedin.

PAUL O’CONNELL, Tommy Bowe and Gordon D’Arcy’s injuries were under scrutiny this morning as Ireland began their preparations for Sunday’s Pool C finale against Italy.

Connacht Rugby have today completed the signing of winger Fetu’u Vainikolo from Super 15 franchise The Highlanders.

LEINSTER have offset the upcoming departure of Scottish lock Nathan Hines to Clermont Auvergne by signing Natal Sharks second-row Steven Sykes, who wants to represent Ireland.

Leinster rugby have announced today the signings of Natal Sharks secondrow Steven Sykes, Connacht tighthead prop Jamie Hagan and Canterbury Crusaders outhalf Matt Berquist.

WE’VE reached the moment that the Romans celebrated with the Festival of Janus, the two-faced god who managed to look both forwards and backwards at once.

HAVE you been following the Women’s Rugby World Cup? It seems a simple enough enquiry, doesn’t it, that I punted at half-a-dozen or more of my laddish, sports-mad, acquaintances in the past week.

Dan Carter has been called into the New Zealand squad for the remainder of the team's Tri-Nations campaign.

Carl Hayman has ended speculation that he was angling for an early return to New Zealand by confirming he will see out his current contract at Newcastle.

IT HASN’T been easy keeping track of Brad Thorn’s unique and fascinating career but the man himself can rattle off his bewildering array of career stats like most of us can our mobile phone numbers.

Ireland 39 Barbarians 14

BYRON Terence Kelleher; reverse a couple of letters in the first name and Brian Terence Kelleher could be half-back on any football team still standing in the Cork football championship this weekend.

HE could have been made to measure, Carl Hayman; if you’re looking for an interviewee who embodies the All-Black, it’s this grizzly-bear of a man from Opunake in Otago.

Crusaders centre Rua Tipoki will lead the New Zealand Maori in their Churchill Cup defence this month.

SAMOAN flanker Ray Ofisa could make his debut for Connacht against Edinburgh Gunners in the Magners League at the Sportsground on Friday.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has bolstered his squad ahead of the start of the new season with the signing of Samoan back rower Ray Ofisa.

LONDON IRISH have signed Samoan-born centre Seilala Mapusua from New Zealand province Otago on a three-year deal.

Connacht have announced the signing of Samoan-born flanker Ray Ofisa from Otago.

COACH Mark McCall is looking for Ulster to continue their good away form in the Celtic League when they tackle Edinburgh at Murrayfield tonight (ko 7.30).

CASTRES captain Kees Meeuws smiles when asked about the powerful Munster rolling mauls, which resulted in two tries for the home side.

LEADING New Zealand referee Steve Walsh has been red-carded by the IRB after a verbal sideline row with Shane Horgan during the Lions tour.

FEW members of the British & Irish Lions squad returned from New Zealand with their reputations enhanced after the 3-0 whitewashing at the hands of the All Blacks.

New Zealand 31 South Africa 27

WITH the first Test fast approaching, the timing of Saturday's Dunedin performance and victory by the Lions could not have been better.

Will Greenwood tonight hailed the “fantastic impact” Irish flanker Simon Easterby has had on the Lions’ New Zealand tour.

IF MENDING fences was Clive Woodward's plan, he used the wrong hammer.

Simon Easterby openly admits that filling Lawrence Dallaglio’s boots is effectively an impossible task.

AS a consequence of their first defeat on tour to the Maoris last Saturday, it has been a difficult week for the Lions.

Scottish hooker Gordon Bulloch will lead the Lions when they tackle Otago in Dunedin on Saturday.

Nick Evans will bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on All Blacks selection by making his debut for Otago against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday.

Gareth Thomas’ chances of featuring for the Lions in the first Test against the All Blacks are receding almost by the day and it is becoming a cause of increasing frustration to head coach Sir Clive Woodward.

England’s World Cup coaching team is set to be reunited for the Lions tour of New Zealand next summer.

Former Scotland international John Leslie has announced his retirement from rugby.

The British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in the summer of 2005 will consist of 10 matches, including a three-Test series against the All Blacks.

FOUR men were charged yesterday with torturing and raping a New Zealand man for almost 16 hours at a warehouse in the Australian city of Brisbane, police said.

Four men were charged today with torturing and raping a New Zealand man for almost 16 hours at a warehouse in the Australian city of Brisbane, police said.

Record-breaking All Black Jeff Wilson, who retired from rugby this year to play cricket again, has been awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in his country's New Year honours list.

JONAH LOMU and his Wellington Hurricanes team-mate Tana Umaga have been dropped from the New Zealand squad named yesterday for the opening Tri-Nations clash of the season against Australia.