FROM early in the morning, rivers of blue flowed into Louth. From every corner of the country, gardaí took to the roads in the dark and cold.

Limerick multi-millionaire and philanthropist JP McManus has been officially announced as the new owner of Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.

Sinitta and Simon Cowell have "debauched" New Year's Eve celebrations.

Sq m: 167 (1,800 sq ft)

Fear gripped an idyllic rural thatched cottage in Limerick when intruders terrorised the middle-aged woman living there, a court heard.

The body of a man has been pulled from the sea off north Dublin.

Gardaí in North Dublin are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 24-year-old Paul Byrne.

Rihanna has flown five of her favourite fans out to her home island of Barbados to join her for a vacation.

Simon Cowell's ex-girlfriend has moved out of his house.

Simon Cowell celebrated Christmas Day by judging a karaoke contest.

Six people were taken to hospital today after a bus and a van collided.

British women appear to be ditching the natural look in favour of fake tans and false eyelashes, according to one retailer.

Torrential rain today forced play to be suspended in the final round of the World Cup in Barbados.

Colin Montgomerie single-handedly lifted Scotland to within sight of their first World Cup title in Barbados today.

Wales’ bid to successfully defend their World Cup title suffered an early blow in the second round in Barbados.

Strong winds and driving rain were not what Ryder Cup star Henrik Stenson had in mind for the World Cup in Barbados, but the leaderboard threw up few surprises after the opening round.

Wales were today making an excellent start to the defence of their World Cup title in the opening round in Barbados.

Wales made a flying start to the defence of their World Cup title in the opening round in Barbados.

Bernhard Langer marked his first appearance in the World Cup for a decade by firing Germany into the early lead in the first round in Barbados.

Colin Montgomerie feels Scotland must be considered among the favourites for the World Cup in Barbados despite his dreadful performance in South Africa last week.

England’s Luke Donald will celebrate his 29th birthday tomorrow by looking to claim a second World Cup title in three years in Barbados.

MANY of golf’s finest are snubbing this week’s World Cup at Sandy Lane in Barbados.

MEN are suckers. Just ask Niamh Coughlan, 15, from Portmarnock, Co Dublin and fellow Dubliner, Grace Bergin, 14, from Malahide who managed to gather a dream collection of autographs from the European players by using the age old method of flattery.

PAUL McGINLEY and Padraig Harrington are passing up on the bountiful number of Ryder Cup points at stake in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Championship, which starts on Thursday.

THERE are still four tournaments to be played in 2005 as part of the 2006 European Tour.

Charlie Mulqueen

Tiger Woods spent the day snorkelling off the coast of Barbados, as police and private guards patrolled the public beach of an exclusive resort where islanders kept talking of an imminent wedding to Swedish model Elin Nordegren.

“THANKS a million Dad,” said toddler David O’Keeffe after a butcher brought home the bacon in style yesterday.

Lochridge seems to have inherited her family’s trait of improving with age and the daughter of the brilliant Lochsong gained her third success of the season in the Slatch Farm Stud Flying Fillies’ Stakes at Pontefract yesterday.

FORMER Walker Cup star and European Tour regular John McHenry is all set to make his return to the big time having spent four years in virtual retirement.

Kieren Fallon, fresh from his Sagitta 1000 Guineas success on Russian Rhythm, delighted Kempton’s Bank Holiday crowd with an 83-1 treble on Cape Fear, Millafonic and Topkamp.

MISS Emma, trained

A LEADING Scottish businessman has dismissed reports that it is looking to buy Dermot Desmond’s stake in Glasgow Celtic football club.