IRELAND’S modest minimum wage represents a fortune in the majority of the 10 accession countries due to join the European Union in May this year, a recent study shows.

MANCHESTER United striker Wayne Rooney has been banned for two matches following his sending off against Villarreal for a sarcastic clap at referee Kim Milton Nielsen.

THE manner in which Kilkenny secured their 28th All-Ireland title, with more graft than craft, bodes well for a team already knocking on the door marked legendary.

IRISH referee Alan Lewis will take charge of the World Cup Pool B clash between France and Japan in Townsville after Australian official Scott Young injured a hamstring.

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ISLAMIC militant Hamas has won a landslide victory in Palestinian parliament elections, winning 76 seats in the 132-member parliament.

GREG DYKE was effectively sacked as BBC director-general in the wake of the Hutton Report, he revealed yesterday.

PRESSURE group Fathers 4 Justice clashed angrily with police yesterday as one of its notorious activists was arrested before its demonstration even began.

FOUR years ago, after a bitterly-fought election campaign that led to 36 days of uncertainty, George W Bush was declared US President by the tiny winning margin of 572 votes.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter yesterday launched a scathing attack on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho for his behaviour during the club's Champions League campaign.

THE roses held by 28 Co Carlow schoolchildren weren’t the only things wilting in the summer sunshine yesterday afternoon.

DUNDEE UNITED midfielder Willo Flood missed the crucial penalty in an incredible penalty shoot-out to send Celtic into the Co-operative Insurance Cup final.

SWEDEN striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended his international goal drought in style as Greece’s defence of their European Championship title started with defeat in Salzburg.

SWITZERLAND and Turkey renew rivalries tonight in a game both teams must win to keep their Euro 2008 dream alive (kick-off 7.45pm).

EVEN Kris Boyd could not see Rangers safely through to the last four of the Scottish Cup as Partick Thistle earned a well-deserved draw at Ibrox last night.

FROM Fortress Lansdowne to Castle Croker, Ireland’s first home and away soccer match was as much a voyage of discovery for the fans as the footballers.

CORK South West TD Denis O’Donovan has taken the blame for wrongly building up hopes of new jobs in Dunmanway before the last general election.

THE IRB U-19 World Championships were launched yesterday in Belfast and Ireland coach Charlie McAleese expects a tough campaign in the Division A Championship.

WHEN Pat McEnaney blew his whistle for the last time yesterday afternoon, Jason Ryan called his panel into a huddle on the Croke Park pitch determined to put his own punctuation mark to the end of Wexford’s season.

EVANDER HOLYFIELD will take time to consider whether to return to the ring after narrowly failing to become the oldest heavyweight champion of all time in Zurich.