MICRONESIA: The men rescued in this tale of three castaways were not named Tom Hanks, or Gilligan, or Robinson Crusoe. Though they might as well have been.

The themes may be ancient, but Marina Carr’s tales of tough women in repressive communities feel as relevant as ever, writes Padraic Killeen.

Sonnets at breakfast, coffee with Hamlet, and a selection of soliloquies from the jukebox — it’s Clon Upon Avon as one West Cork town celebrates the 450th birthday of the Bard.

President Michael D Higgins has insisted his state visit to Britain was not intended to “force amnesia” about the country’s past treatment of Ireland.

To be, or not to be theatrical, that was the question for President Michael D Higgins as he took to the stage of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The Queen will bid farewell to the President Michael D Higgins today, drawing to a close an historic four-day state visit to the UK.

The royal carpet to be rolled out for Michael D Higgins will be an even richer red than usual as Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has taken a special interest in how the President is treated during the state visit.

President Michael D Higgins has said it would be wrong to wipe the slate clean over historic conflict which affected relations between Britain and Ireland.

President Michael D Higgins’s historic state visit to Britain will take relations between the two nations to a new level, the foreign office has said.

A young landscape gardener was killed at work in West Cork when he picked up a damaged electric cable when it was live.

Plan B may embrace dance music on his next album.

Entertainment group HMV insisted today that it still has a future – despite reporting a further drop in sales in the run-up to Christmas.

Three people had a miraculous escape after their car crashed through a railway bridge on to the track below in front of an on-coming steam train.

Struggling retailer HMV today said it was looking to sell its live music division as it bids to bolster its finances after it nearly doubled half-year losses.

A mildly entertaining animated twist on the Shakespeare romance with gnomes playing out the ill-starred love story … the trouble is they do with a minimum of charm or magic.

And Furthermore

Britons endured more travel chaos today as snow blanketed much of the country, with airports shut, roads closed and train journeys cancelled.

British restorers unwittingly altered what is believed to be the only known portrait made of William Shakespeare during his lifetime, it was claimed today.

Private healthcare giant Bupa plans to create 800 jobs, the firm said today.

Actor David Tennant today hinted Billie Piper could be the next Doctor Who.

David Tennant is quitting the BBC’s 'Doctor Who' series at the end of next year.

He has sorted out kitchen nightmares one by one - now Gordon Ramsay wants to tackle an entire town.

Restaurant and deli group Carluccio’s today said profits for the year were set to beat expectations after a continued strong performance across its sites.

THE successful return home of the space shuttle Discovery yesterday has increased the ambition of Limerick man Cyril Bennis to be the first Irishman to fly into space.

Robbie Savage today insisted he will never forgive Birmingham for the way the club treated him before his £3m (€4.3m) move to Blackburn.

A Japanese financial services group said today it had snapped up UK hotel operator Menzies for £120m (€169.4m).

The partner of murdered schoolteacher Jane Longhurst today told how he was “devastated” at the discovery of her burning body in woodland.

The Teletubbies are reported to be coming to an end.

The company behind hit shows including Teletubbies could face an actors’ boycott by Equity over claims it used unfair contracts, the union Equity said today.

Big Brother star Penny Ellis is to make a special appearance with the Royal Shakespeare Company after expressing an interest in treading the boards in one of their productions.

When Shakespeare wrote about a "noted weed" he may have been referring to cannabis.