The world of traditional music is opening up to hundreds of Cork children who are getting in tune with flutes, banjos and concertinas.

Bridesmaid. It’s a word that seems to provoke equal amounts of fear and loathing from members of the opposite sex, much to the incomprehension of men everywhere.

The Central Bank of Ireland took enforcement action against 10 financial providers, securing the disqualification of two directors and collecting fines of €5m last year.

Roscrea must feel aggrieved by the 17 minutes of injury-time played before St Michael’s fly-half Ross Byrne landed an equalising penalty to send this Leinster Schools Senior Cup first round tie to a replay at Maynooth yesterday.

They will face tougher examinations during their efforts to retain the Sigerson Cup title but UCC made as positive and productive a start as possible in last night’s first-round tie in the Mardyke.

It’s hard to know what was more impressive – the ruthless exhibition dished out by Galway to the students on the pitch or the marker put down by new Tribe boss Anthony Cunningham afterwards.

Two first-half goals from Ivica Olic helped Bayern Munich to a routine win over Marseille that booked them a Champions League semi-final berth.

Gavin Henson’s weekend indiscretions not only casts a shadow on his future in the game but has left me scratching my head as to how the Cardiff Blues are organised off the field.

A whopping 48 scores in thisfrenetic final round Division 1A Allianz Hurling League game in sunny Semple Stadium yesterday, Cork’s Patrick Horgan with a superb grab and smashing point in the second minute of injury-time earning his side a fully deserved share of the spoils after they had trailed by four entering the final 10 minutes.

The sight of Mayo supporters lining up to take photographs of the scoreboard at the end of this remarkable league match last Saturday evening told its own story.

Shamrock Rovers maintained their unbeaten start to the Airtricity League Premier Division campaign with Gary Twigg’s fifth goal of the season and an injury-time second from Billy Dennehy helping the champions grind out victory at Tallaght Stadium last night.

Phil Jones was part of the Blackburn barrier that has proved so difficult for Manchester United to knock down over the years — but it is the memory of the Red Devils’ title celebrations at Ewood Park that persuaded the defender to switch clubs.

Ardscoil Rís ambitions of claiming a three Harty Cups in-a-row are still intact but those hopes came desperately close to being extinguished in a dramatic semi-final clash in Tipperary Town yesterday afternoon.

Joe Canning fired Galway into the Walsh Cup final and past a lacklustre Laois in a sodden Duggan Park in Ballinasloe yesterday.

It used to be that you could wander around Croke Park at will.

With so many subplots funnelling into tomorrow night’s Super Bowl, the expectations are that it will be one of the most watched NFL title games of all time.

UL Eagles were crowned cup champions after defeating UCC Demons in a thrilling final at the National Basketball Arena last night.

As far as Rory Best is concerned, revenge is a dish best served at home.

One thing players can’t throw at referee Alain Rolland — what would you know, you never even played the game. The former scrum-half talks Warburton, crooked scrums and respect with his former international colleague.

The eve of the championship. Whichever sport is your passion, the coming of a new season is a heady mix of emotions.