All-Ireland final referee David Gough has responded to the controversy generated by the Irish Examiner GAA Podcast, on which former Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice insisted Gough shouldn’t be selected to ref that final.

The joint operation on the house in Kells was conducted by Revenue’s Customs Service, the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Drugs Unit based in Slane, Co. Meath.

"I admit I didn't think it through when I first made the journey to Surrey because I was obviously still grieving after my mum's death...(But) "I'd have moved heaven and earth to try and buy him extra time."

Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has welcomed the decision by the final beef blockade to stand down its protest after repeated Government warnings a failure to end the dispute could risk the future of the entire industry.

Blockades are continuing at meat processing plants around the country as just four of the 20 pickets have been lifted.

The decision comes after those picketing outside a Dawn Meats factory in Co Meath ceased their protest yesterday.

Dawn Meats said it has called gardaí over the presence of “masked individuals” at a blockade outside of one of its factories, in what it called a 'sinister development' in the ongoing demonstrations over the price paid to farmers for cattle.

Pressure mounted on protesters to step down from beef factory picket lines across the country, after one such demonstration that had prompted legal threats came to an end.

Peace has broken out at all Dawn Meats factories affected by the beef price blockade after the High Court heard today that permanent orders restraining trespass and intimidation could be made with the consent of named protesters who had taken part in disruptive nation-wide protests.

A multimillion-euro meat deal with China is under threat because of farmer protests outside processing plants, it has been claimed.

The owners of up to a dozen meat plants today have been granted temporary High Court injunctions restraining groups of protesters from blockading their factories and intimidating staff and suppliers.

Louise Walsh People are relocating from all around Europe to attend a school in Sligo where students have complete independence to decide their own education.

An Irish teenager has died following a fall in Lanzarote.

Tuesday morning, 12 days out from Dublin’s next game in the Championship, and two Ciarán Kilkennys turn up for a media engagement.

Dáithí Ó Sé in conversation with Richard Fitzpatrick.

What happens when your mam never comes home?

Gardaí are appealing for the public's help in finding a missing man in County Louth.

Just days after US president Donald Trump left west Clare on Friday, the sound of helicopter blades were once again in the air as legendary rock band Metallica paid an unexpected visit to the tiny village of Liscannor.

"We love you, Philip"

It’s not the journey, but finally arriving at your destination that matters at a Slane gig.

Metallica's first Irish show in a decade kicks off this evening at Slane with an estimated 75,000 fans expected to attend.

All the latest music and arts news with Des O'Driscoll.

In the summer of 1990 the biggest heavy metal band in the world stood at a crossroads.

All of this week's entertainment news with Des O'Driscoll.

Here's your summer events guide for the month of August, including all things music, arts and ents.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of Metallica's concert at Slane.

A stroke-victim whose life was saved by the fast actions of a retail assistant has described him as her '"real-life hero".

In years to come when the history of Irish agriculture is being written, and downturns are being discussed, some will no doubt point to the bad winter of 2012.

The crash involving a car and a van occurred on the Slane to Drumconrath Road at Lobinstown in Navan at around 9pm last night.

Arlene Harris talks to mums about the challenges and joys of rearing a large family

A man stabbed 28 times before escaping from the boot of a car that was pushed into a canal near the Battle of the Boyne site, has told a Central Criminal Court jury that he thought he was going to die.

The big show for Irish viewers this weekend is Taken Down, the new series from the same people who made Love/Hate.

The worst-kept secret in Irish music has been confirmed with the announcement that Metallica are to headline Slane Castle on June 8 next year.

Visitors such as Sinead O’Connor and Tommy Makem once enjoyed tea at one of the country’s oldest galvanised shops, which is hoping to ensure its future with nostalgia.

An Garda Síochána was paid more than €1.1m to police 10 of the country’s biggest events last year — with Electric Picnic topping the charts, figures reveal.

A consultant in emergency medicine earlier testified that Gerard Boyle might have died and presented a ‘surgical emergency’ on admission to hospital that night.

Meet the faces of 2018 — the emerging talents who’ll soon be seen on a screen or at a venue near you. From cinema and TV to music and fashion, we profile the new names reaching for success in 2018, writes Esther McCarthy.

The man who brought huge international singers like Jon Bon Jovi and Paul Heaton to his tiny pub in Co Meath over the last 10 years will pull his last pint on New Year's Eve.

From surprise comebacks to celebrity spats and unfortunate deaths, pop stars were never far from the headlines in 2017, writes Ed Power.

“When you get it right, it is profitable. Equally, over the years, we have had big losses.” 

Cocaine and cannabis thought to be worth €1.2m has been seized by officers in West Dublin and Meath.

A man who lives next door to a cemetery says he fears finding hundreds of human remains in his front garden.

Who would have thought that a marquee in Cork could attract the world’s biggest music acts? Peter Aiken reflects on 12 years of Live at the Marquee with Ed Power.