Catholic children and parents at the centre of the north Belfast school walk protests today held a prayer service and a minute’s silence for the thousands of victims of the terrorist outrage in the United States.

Two United Airlines jetliners crashed this morning, one in western Pennsylvania and the second at a location the airline did not immediately disclose.

She’s done it so many times, it takes Chiara Cassurino only a few minutes to get ready.

Bobby Petta last night revealed what inspired him to turn on the magic which left Ajax’s Champions League dream in tatters.

The unsuspecting stranger clearly had not recognised Ireland’s most famous rugby player when he anxiously sought the use of a mobile phone in the middle of busy down-town Dublin.

Darren Morris tonight underlined the Lions’ determination to erase memories of a disastrous week by declaring: ‘‘This is a squad of winners - not losers.’’

Andy Robinson today defended the Lions from stinging criticism fired by Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen and New South Wales boss Bob Dwyer.

The outcome of the first of the Leinster football semi-finals in Croke Park yesterday had as much to do with Dublin achieving their victory as Offaly allowed a chance of advancing to slip through their fingers.

About 200 loyalists gathered on the disputed Ardoyne Road to hold a short service in memory of 16-year-old Thomas McDonald, who died in an incident in another flashpoint area of the city on Tuesday.

Northern Secretary John Reid says the north Belfast school crisis can trigger a political settlement in Northern Ireland.

Dozens of Catholic families have made their way safely down the Ardoyne road to the Holy Cross Primary School this morning.

The protest by loyalists at the Holy Cross School in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast has passed off without incident.

There was little trouble in Munich last night following the English victory over Germany at Olympic Stadium.

Holland boss Louis van Gaal is under severe pressure after his side's 1-0 World Cup defeat to Ireland in Dublin.

The parents of a young man murdered in Northern Ireland will tonight be among the audience watching the curtain fall on the final performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton’s musical, The Beautiful Game.

Two identikit headers by Arsenal’s Graham Barrett and another by substitute Jim Goodwin sent the Republic of Ireland marching to a clear-cut victory in their European Championship qualifier against Estonia in Tallinn.

Ireland strolled to an easy, if lacklustre, 37-3 win over Romania in the friendly in Bucharest.

The number of litter wardens on the streets of Dublin is to increase as part of the biggest ever push to clean up the capital.

All Ireland champions Kilkenny take a six-point lead to the dressing room at the interval of the Leinster Final at Croke Park.

The Taoiseach is to receive up to 40,000 postcards through the post in protest at the shortfall in local authority housing.