The 2018 FAI Festival of Football got underway today as the FAI delegation made stops at six different clubs in West Cork, including Kinsale AFC who were awarded a grant worth €100,000 for their clubhouse development.

The 27-year-old had a successful operation on a double leg fracture he suffered in January.

North Korea has denied that its agents masterminded the assassination of the half-brother of leader Kim Jong Un, saying a Malaysian investigation into the death is full of "holes and contradictions".

A ticket scandal has been uncovered by RTÉ investigators.

It’s many years since Noel Coward said it, but the longevity of his remark shows how acute he was: “Extraordinary how potent cheap music is.”

Speaking to the West Brom programme on Saturday, the Republic of Ireland international revealed he would not wear a poppy next month and will stand up for his beliefs. 

Des O’Driscoll highlights this spring’s TV highlights.

Scotland 1 Republic of Ireland 0

Colin Falvey used to scrape by on meagre wages at Cobh Ramblers. Now, he is being paid to stop World Cup winners like Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet.

Republic of Ireland 1 Croatia 0

Former Celtic winger Aiden McGeady has warned whoever succeeds Neil Lennon as manager he will have to win two trophies a year if he wants to be considered a success.

Hull City defender Curtis Davies is being strongly courted to declare for the Republic of Ireland ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Republic of Ireland international striker Kevin Doyle is gearing up to spend the season in League One with Wolves, according to manager Kenny Jackett.

Former Republic of Ireland star Denis Irwin is happy to be guided by David Moyes’ unequivocal statement that Wayne Rooney is going nowhere.

The luxury Fermanagh hotel which hosted the most peaceful G8 in history could be sold by the end of the summer, it was revealed today.

Cork-born Shane O’Neill was on the scoresheet as the USA warmed up for next week’s U20 World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Portugal in the Algarve last night.

Richard Dunne, Eric Lichaj, Andy Marshall, Jean Makoun and Simon Dawkins have been released by Aston Villa, the club have confirmed.

Shay Given has confirmed that he will leave Aston Villa over the summer.

David Meyler has hailed Robbie Keane’s dedication to the cause after the Republic of Ireland skipper persuaded LA Galaxy to release him for Wednesday’s glamour friendly against England.

Aston Villa defender Richard Dunne is poised to return to training later this week after undergoing three operations this season.

Two republicans being sued by relatives of victims of the Omagh bomb have been challenged to break their silence and testify in court.

Nottingham Forest last night sacked manager Sean O’Driscoll just hours after a 4-2 home win over Leeds left the club one point adrift of the npower Championship play-off places.

Kevin Kilbane has announced his retirement from professional football.

Former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Ireland has revealed he is still struggling to shrug off the tag of a big-spending Premier League star.

Stephen Kelly was back in the starting line-up at Craven Cottage with his country this week and now the 29-year-old is hoping to do the same with his club.

Daniele De Rossi has admitted he is attracted by the Premier League ahead of Italy's European Championship clash with England.

Never apologise, never explain, so they say.

SOUTHAMPTON missed the chance to move back to the top of the npower Championship after suffering a second successive home defeat last night.

Wolves striker Kevin Doyle has signed a new contract to keep him at the club until June 2015.

GREETINGS from Moscow where, with our usual sense of timing, we arrived here late on Sunday night and managed to miss the Russian capital’s annual ‘City Day’ by a matter of hours.

THE collapse in moral values, and the steady, multi-decade decline of Britain into a broken society, as demonstrated by the horrifying riots across many of their cities, must act as a warning for the Republic of Ireland, which is still a number of years behind Britain in terms of this process (but catching up fast).

Nigel Worthington has backed Johnny Gorman to flourish for Northern Ireland after handing the 18-year-old an unexpected first competitive start against Serbia tonight.

Barnsley have moved to bolster their squad today by completing the signing of Hull defender Paul McShane on a two-month loan deal.

IT might be a matter of interest only to the most zealous of statisticians, but the Republic of Ireland and Scotland are joint top of the Carling Nations Cup table this morning after Craig Levein’s team comfortably saw off the feeble challenge of a weakened Northern Ireland side at the Aviva Stadium last night.

STEPHEN IRELAND of Aston Villa has reiterated that he has no intention of playing international football for the Republic of Ireland again.

ROBERTO MANCINI will allow Shay Given leave Manchester City on loan in January after the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper admitted he was “very, very frustrated” with life as Joe Hart’s deputy.

Arsenal look set to strengthen their defence with the signing of France international Sebastien Squillaci from Sevilla, after the Spanish club confirmed an offer had been received for the centre-half.

The Football Association of Ireland are hoping to resolve a dispute with their Slovakian counterparts over the venue for October’s European Championship qualifier.

Liverpool have completed the signing of Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen on a three-year contract.

STOKE manager Tony Pulis has revealed his frustration after details of a dressing room bust-up between Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelan and Abdoulaye Faye were leaked to the press.

Raymond Domenech has refused to give assurances over Thierry Henry’s place in France’s 23-man squad for this summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has come out in support of French international Thierry Henry following the controversial hand-ball assist which helped Les Bleus qualify for the World Cup at the expense of the Republic of Ireland.