Schmidt feared that Ireland would be denied victory in a repeat of 2013, his first outing against his native country as Ireland head coach.

As they disembarked the team bus at the Shelbourne Hotel on their return to Dublin last Sunday, the heroes of Ireland’s Six Nations success were manhandled into the waiting embrace of Minister for Sport, Shane Ross.

We’ve beaten the best in the Six Nations — now it’s time to be world beaters.

I couldn’t help but think how, with the vast majority of the country covered in a thick blanket of snow over the entire weekend, that perhaps Ireland’s Six Nations title aspirations are written in the stars, writes Donal Lenihan.

Accumulated profits at the firm that revolutionised the property auction market with their monster quarterly auctions jumped to €1.08m.

Helping patients come to terms with their situation is just one of many care services provided by the staff of Our Lady’s Hospice, writes Alison O’Connor.

You’d think that given the bruising troika years and the fact that we still toil in order to service the debt of private bankers that our attitudes towards the European project would have cooled considerably.

Ireland is to receive around €200m with which to build social housing next year from the European Investment Bank (EIB).

1. Crime Writers

A man jailed for damaging a Claude Monet painting estimated to be worth €10m has lost an appeal against conviction.

PJ Mara was the most famous political spin doctor in modern Irish history, having played a leading role in Fianna Fáil for more than 30 years.

The company behind Eircode expects the postcode to be widely used within two years, despite the teething problems that plagued the system on launch day and sustained criticism from courier companies.

Chances are that, like the vast majority of those who delve into the sports page for a daily dose of sustenance, your annual digression into the world of horse racing has come and gone in the past week.

Cities are beginning to clean up their acts and 13 major urban areas are now deemed to be less littered than the European average.

Two Irish sports stars who enjoyed successful years were absent from Sunday night’s RTÉ Sports Awards - though for very different reasons.

A Dublin man has been given a six-year sentence after being convicted of damaging a Claude Monet painting estimated to be worth €10m at the National Gallery of Ireland.

I was privileged to meet the great Jack Kyle on several occasions and honoured to share a podium with him as we were both invited to speak at the gala 125-year anniversary celebrations of the IRFU.

A man on trial for allegedly putting his fist through a Monet painting accused gardaí of trying to get a false confession, a jury has heard.

A banqueting manager at the Shelbourne Hotel said he noticed threads hanging from a painting in one of their function rooms and took a picture of the damage on his phone.

Two New Zealand tourists have described how they saw a man’s fist go through a Monet painting estimated to be worth €10m in the National Gallery two years ago.

Two New Zealand tourists have described how they saw a man’s fist go through a Monet painting estimated to be worth €10m in the National Gallery two years ago.

A man has gone on trial accused of damaging a €10m Monet painting in the National Gallery and damaging two paintings in the Shelbourne Hotel.

Ashes in the Wind

The Leinster team filed slowly on its arrival from the gates of the Sportsground along the back of the Clan Terrace and towards the sanctuary of the away dressing room when Brian O’Driscoll’s path was about to be blocked by a local fan.

More than €25m of property was sold at the latest large-scale public auction held by Allsop Space in Dublin yesterday. A total of 131 lots out of more than 180 properties for sale went under the hammer for a combined total of €25.61m.

Allsop Space, the auction house for distressed properties, recorded profits of almost €400,000 in its second year operating in Ireland.

Dublin senior football manager Jim Gavin has been selected as the 2013 Philips Sports Manager of the Year, in recognition of his superb achievements this year.

Protesters temporarily disrupted the latest sale of distressed properties by Allsop auctioneers despite strict security at the event.

ONE of the most striking things about Eamon Dunphy’s upbringing in Drumcondra, on Dublin’s northside, was the love his parents had for each other.

A firesale auction of repossessed homes and businesses had to be cancelled when protesters took over a salesroom.

Michelle Obama has arrived in Ireland for a 24-hour visit while the G8 summit takes place.

Michelle Obama has arrived in Ireland for a 24-hour visit while the G8 summit takes place.

Sasha and Malia Obama have shown poise and grace while growing up in the public eye. As they visit Ireland, Rachel Marie Walsh looks at their Mum-influenced fashion choices

Allsop Space, the go-to auction house for distressed properties recorded profits of over €300,000 in its first year operating in Ireland.

HERE’S an event that sounds like a lot of fun.

Successful Dragons Den contestant Sarah Nic Lochlainn of Aruna Sauces is among the nominees for this year’s Women Mean Business awards.

The heat was getting to nearly everyone in and around Leinster House as the yes and no sides battled for control with just a few days left before voters go to the polls.

Feta cheese, Swiss funds, and Greek business. A different type of Eurovision contest was under way yesterday with the yes and no sides throwing all sorts of ingredients into the EU treaty debate while singing from different hymn sheets.