Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron will be spending lots of time in Ireland next year, as she’s down to play the lead female role in the film version of the Sebastian Barry novel “The Secret Scripture.”

The Australian rules and Kerry Gaelic football star Tadgh Kennelly has said he has returned to Australia because Ireland is "on its knees" economically.

Lonely Planet's best in Travel 2009 names the Clare cycling route in Ireland among the greatest alongside similar routes in Vietnam, Cuba, New Zealand and Australia.

Former Progressive Democrat and junior minister, Tom Parlon has denied tipping a chauffeur $2,620 while on a state trip to Atlanta as part of the St. Patrick Day celebrations in 2006.

Listowel man Tadhg Kennelly has announced that he will return to Australia to resume his AFL career.

Boyzone may be too devastated over Stephen Gately’s death to go on tour to promote their upcoming album.

Niall O'Dowd: Somewhere in Australia there's an Irish lad called Rowan McCormick who broke Maureen Dowd's heart. When she went back in the early 1970s to visit her homestead in County Clare, hard by the majestic Cliffs of Moher, she met him and fell madly in love.

Tadhg Kennelly returns to Australia next week to promote his autobiography amid furhter speculation that his future may lie in the red guernsey of the Sydney Swans as opposed to the green and gold jersey of Kerry.

An Irish man is fighting for his life in an Australian hospital after being attacked in a Sydney beach suburb. Gearoid Walsh, 23, was rushed to hospital Sunday when he stopped breathing following the attack at

Kristen Stewart has dumped her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson - because he wanted to marry her. Sources close to the couple say that Stewart, 19, felt smothered by the 'clingy' 23-year-old

News from the 32: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

April Drew: You'd think that emigrating to the U.S., Canada or Australia from Ireland would be easy. We speak the same language. Right? Think again! The Irish seem to speak a foreign language no matter where they are. Take a read and see what you think.

The latest GAA news from around Ireland, including Tipperary hurling goalkeeper Brendan Cummins' vow to fight for his place next year and Donegal star Brendan Devenney's decision to retire.

The Speaker of Ireland's parliament has become the first casualty of the massive recession and the anger over political spending.

According to the Human Development Index released by the United Nations Development Program, in terms of quality of life, Ireland is the fifth best place to live in the world.

News from the 32: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

Dublin native and Australian Rules football legend Jim Stynes has revealed that three tumors have been discovered in his brain.

Newly crowned All-Ireland champions Kerry dominate the nominations for the 2009 Vodafone football all-stars with 12 of their team in the running for this year’s awards, while Kilkenny hurling legend Henry Shefflin is in the running for a ninth all-star honor like fellow Cats hero DJ Carey .

News from the 32: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

The Ancient Order of Hibernians held a weekend of commemoration to mark the centenary of the cross that began on August 14 with a dinner in Quebec attended by the presidents and vice-presidents of the AOH from Ireland, Quebec, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia and Australia.

  Introduction Ireland is an island on the western fringe of Europe between latitude 51 1/2 and 55 1/2 degrees north, and longitude 5 1/2 to 10 1/2 degrees west. Its greatest length, from Malin Head in the north to Mizen Head in the south, is 486 km and its greatest width from east to west is approximately 275

O'Donoghue is one of the most popular names in Ireland. It is prevalent throughout Counties Galway, Cavan, Kerry and Cork. O'Donoghues, Donohoes, Donohue, Dunphys and Donoges are descendants of O Donnchadha, a personal name that has been Anglicized into Donogh.

Niall O'Dowd: Croke Park – All-Ireland football final day in Dublin is the centerpiece of the sporting year, the moment when Irish from all over the world tune in to see the ancient athletic contest that was celebrating its 125th anniversary on Sunday.

Kelly Fincham / Deja Vu all over again / Click here Australia is emerging as a number one destination for Irish people fleeing the recession in Ireland. The

Some of the pigs in a 5,000-porker Northern Ireland pig farm have been coughing. You'll never guess what the diagnosis is. Yes, it's swine flu, and health authorities are trying to figure how they became the latest animal victims of the famous virus named after them.

News / Ireland plans to act promptly on global advice / Click here News / Bob Geldof in hot water over 'lovely legs' jibe / Click here

Minister for Foreign Affairs Michéal Martin writes about the Global Irish Economic Forum that is being held in Dublin from September 18-20

The ancient O'Maille or O'Malley name is said to be derived from the Gaelic words "maille" meaning gentle or smooth, and "maglios" meaning chieftain, which is fitting as the O'Malleys were once the chieftains of the baronies of Murrisk and Burrishoole in County Mayo.

The name Dunne is derived a color - donn, the Gaelic word for brown. This is relatively unusual since the vast majority of Gaelic names are based on relationships, i.e.

It is quite an image... Maureen Dowd, scourge of every president since Poppy Bush and, arguably, the most powerful journalist in America thanks to her must-read column in The New York Times, talking of the road not taken, living a quiet life as a barkeep's wife back in Clare. Maybe that image isn’t so fanciful, though.

News from the 32: Antrim, Armagh, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Fermanagh, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Tyrone, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

In tough recession times both here and overseas, Ireland’s tourism may have slowed down, but HeritageIsland.com is providing travelers with guides and discounts to some of Ireland’s best historic and cultural spots.

Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named an unchanged squad for the Republic of Ireland's crunch World Cup qualifier against Cyprus on September

Giovanni Trapattoni has revealed his fear that the great expectations surrounding Stephen Ireland’s international return could be the very thing keeping the Manchester City star away from the national team.

FAQ / Symptoms, how it spreads, what you should do / Click here Ireland is on full alert for swine flu after a second person has died from the disease. The man - who has not been identified - did not have any underlying medical

Republic of Ireland soccer manager Giovanni Trappatoni has named his team ahead of the friendly international against Australia at Thomond Park in Limerick on Wednesday night.

Celtic will travel to Canada next month to face old European rivals Benfica in a glamor friendly match in Toronto. The Bhoys will take on the Portuguese giants in a one-off match on Wednesday, September 2, at the BMO Field, with the clubs competing for the inaugural CNE Cup.

Celtic rounded off a busy pre-season campaign by going down to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.

Ireland’s International Rose of Tralee Festival will celebrate its Golden Jubilee 50th anniversary this year when the renowned event kicks off on August 21. 50 Roses from all different walks of life will travel from around the world to compete at the festival.

The name Duffy is derived from dubh, the Gaelic for black. This is relatively unusual since the vast majority of Gaelic names are based on relationships, i.e. "Son of" or "Follower of." The Duffy name is derived from the Gaelic O'Dubhthaig and is mainly associated with County Monaghan.

Two big stories have prompted us here at IrishCentral.com to create a easy guide for tourists going into

The Irish government designated May 17, 2009 as the first National Famine Memorial Day. On that day, Irish people throughout the world remembered and honored the victims of Ireland’s Great Hunger

Ireland is set to promote its own "Alcatraz" in a new tourism blitz. And tourism chiefs are hoping that Spike Island in County Cork will become as big a tourist attraction as the former jail in San Francisco

This is the first day of my official campaign to team up "Harry Potter" star Evanna Lynch with "Twilight's" Robert

Her husband may be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, but Jane Sullivan Roberts is an amazing success story all her own.

Looking to save money on your vacation this year? Heritage Island is here to help!

Soledad O'Brien talks to Cahir O'Doherty about growing up on Long Island with Irish and Afro-Cuban roots, and her highly anticipated new follow-up series "Black in America 2" debuting on CNN this week.

One of Ireland’s most famous tourist attractions, the Cliffs of Moher in Country Clare, are on a shortlist of 28 finalists to be considered for the new seven wonders of the world.

Ireland is set to cut its funding for overseas emigrant groups by nearly 7 percent just as emigration from Ireland is set to expand. The economic advisory group, popularly known as "An Bord Snip," in Ireland has recommended lopping €1 million ($1.4m) off the total budget of €15 million ($21m) for the Irish abroad.

Tony Mowbray unveils his second signing Landry NGuemo, prepares his team for a tough Champions League third qualifying round tie against Dinamo Moscow and offers words of support to John Hartson as he battles cancer.