Darron Gibson turned down the chance to play for Ireland against Poland in Wednesday night’s friendly, but could return for the crucial World Cup fixtures against Sweden and Austria next month.

Out with the old and in with the new – that’s Giovanni Trapattoni’s motto for the friendly with Poland next month.

IRELAND goalkeeper Shay Given paid his respects at the funeral of Irish fan James Nolan on Monday, 24 hours after captain Robbie Keane made a special tribute of his own in the U.S.

Hundreds of mourners flooded the streets of Blessington, County Wicklow, to play tribute to the 21-year-old student, James “Jam” Nolan, who tragically drowned a week ago in Poland.

In Poland and Ireland, as well as on social networking sites, there has been an outpour of emotion and sympathy following the identification of James Nolan the soccer fan, who drowned in the Brda river, in Bydgoszcz, in the early hours of last Sunday.

The heartbroken father of drowned Irish football fan James Nolan has thanked the friends who stayed on in Poland to help locate his son’s body.

Polish police have found the body of a man believed to be the Irish football fan missing since last Saturday.

James Nolan, from Blessington, County Wicklow, was last seen in the town of Bydgoszcz, 80.7 miles outside Poznan on Saturday. Polish police are now searching for the 21-year-old.

Ireland’s European Championship dream quickly turned into a nightmare in Poznan on Sunday – only a miracle can save it now after a crushing 3-1 defeat to Croatia.

A politician who owes the taxman over $2.6million has skipped the country – to cheer on Ireland at the European Championships.

Poland

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has told Shay Given and John O’Shea – Prove your fitness on Monday or miss Euro 2012.

Irish soccer fans along with the help of Today FM’s radio host Ray D’Arcy and major names in Irish music have created a tune they hope will put fire in the bellies the Irish players on their way to Poland for the UEFA Euro 2012. 

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni won’t rule out the ultimate European Championship revenge when his team face Italy in Poznan next June.

Polish immigrants in Ireland have sent home an astonishing $7.5billion in wages since they arrived to work at the height of the Celtic Tiger boom seven years ago.

A few years back Poles were flooding into Ireland, now the situation has been reversed as the Irish flock to Warsaw.

In his many years as an Irish gay rights activist in New York, Brendan Fay has been involved in his fair share of disputes.