The Church of Ireland cathedral in Kilkenny has been forced to close to visitors until October 25 to facilitate refurbishment work on its 150-year-old heating system.

FORMER Taoiseach Albert Reynolds provoked outrage last night after lavishing praise on the man who helped direct the IRA's 30-year campaign of bloodshed across Britain and Ireland.

IMAGINE, if you can, that first your husband and then your son have been murdered by burning and you are told you are next on the list. You feel you must leave the country and go to a safer place — a place where you believe and hope you can find sanctuary.

PRESIDENT Bush stood beside a Pentagon rebuilt to mourn on this new September 11 the murder of so many innocents a year ago and, in their memory, he commanded the United States military to victory in the war the terrorists began.