It takes approximately twenty seconds of travel on a canal barge to seriously consider moving to a houseboat. We were on the Royal Canal, heading for a jaunt west, from Castleknock railway station to Clonsilla, and I was hooked. The heart rate slowed. I haven’t felt as one with my surroundings since the last time I had a bath.

An “important and trusted member” of an organised crime gang who was arrested with a loaded gun in Dublin’s north inner city has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for seven-and-a-half years.

A Dublin man who was arrested with a loaded gun in Dublin’s north inner city was “an important and trusted member” of an organised crime gang, the non-jury Special Criminal Court has heard.

Waterways Ireland now believes the sighting is actually the native Irish otter.

Illustrated by Richard Mills, this compendium by Jo Kerrigan takes us on journeys some may never have known existed. It’s a historical travelogue that will inspire explorers, writes Majella Flynn

Detectives were last night seeking to speak to a number of people who are thought to have been with a teenage girl who was subsequently subjected to a violent death.

Four people who own properties near Croke Park are challenging the go-ahead for a proposed development of a new route to and from the stadium which they say will adversely affect their houses.

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

A homeless man has died after being found unresponsive in a tent in one of the wealthiest parts of Dublin.

It has emerged that a walkway under a bridge at the Royal Canal in Dublin has been flooded to discourage homeless people from using it and to address general safety concerns.

A father and his three year old son drowned after becoming trapped in a ditch while using a short-cut into an estate, an inquest heard.

Two of the country's premier waterways have been shut down with authorities blaming indiscriminate attacks on boaters and barges.

Submissions have been made in relation to the proposed Albert Quay office development, for which Owen O’Callaghan has sought permission in Cork’s south docklands.

A Kerry fan who travelled to Dublin for the All-Ireland football final drowned after a night out with friends, an inquest heard.

Update 1.14pm: Calls are being made for increased safety measures at a Dublin railway track following the death of a three-year-old and his father yesterday.

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the bodies of a man and a young boy in a stream near Dublin’s Royal Canal.

Latest: The pilot who died when his single-seater aircraft came down at the Abbeyshrule Aerodrome yesterday evening has been named as William Hillick from Mullingar in Co Westmeath.

The results of forensic tests on part of a power tool and on bags containing the limbs of murder victim Kenneth O’Brien are expected to take a couple of weeks.

The Garda investigation into the murder of Kenneth O’Brien is gathering apace after human limbs were discovered along the Grand Canal.

Many of Ireland’s most remote and beautiful tourist spots are to feature on Google Street View for the first time next year.

A publican and his wife narrowly escaped the force of a blast when a helicopter crashed into their canal side pub.

Thursday of last week, a gathering of building surveyors, QSs and estate agents in their professional body the SCSI heard that their attendance - of 1,250 diners- for a black-tie function was “a very good barometer of the growing confidence in the economy and our industry.”

A court has heard that a number of children were inside a McDonalds in Dublin when a man allegedly burst in waving a knife at workers.

A reservoir in West Dublin is being searched as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Thomas Kennedy.

Details of a €10m investment package to develop greenways and cycling routes across the country has been announced.

Check out the best shows and films to watch on TV tonight.

A 26-year-old man has been jailed for four years for his part in a violent robbery in which the victim was thrown into the Royal Canal.

Three men have been arrested as part of the investigation into the murder of Christopher Warren.

‘VM’ at Viewmount House, Dublin Road, Longford; tel: 043-3341919; viewmounthouse.com

Normally, the distance from the Burlington Hotel to Glenswilly is 260 kilometres or so — but this was no normal week in Donegal.

The true grit shown by Clonakilty was rewarded yesterday when the West Cork town claimed the award for the country’s tidiest small town — 10 weeks after being devastated by floods.

A priest has said Donegal needs no greater incentive to go on and win the All-Ireland than to honour tragic GAA fan Andrew Duffy.

A small GAA community has been left devastated by the death of a young footballer celebrating Donegal’s first All-Ireland final in 20 years.

A 24-year-old man drowned in the Royal Canal returning home after celebrating Donegal’s win in the All-Ireland football semi-final.

A toddler has died after falling out a window of a Dublin apartment block yesterday afternoon.

One of two men murdered in a gangland shooting spree at a quiet suburban housing estate was trying to flee his killers when he died, investigators have said.

Gardaí in Co. Offaly are appealing for witnesses after a woman died yesterday afternoon when the car in which she was travelling entered the Royal Canal.