For Irish woman Angela Nolan and English man Liam Adcock, Irish rugby was their true love. That was, until they met each other on Facebook. Now, both of their statuses read: “Married.”

US Airways has become the latest airline to pull out of Shannon with the announcement Thursday that it ending service to the western airport. The airline said it was suspending flights from Philadelphia to Shannon, London and Birmingham in England, Milan in Italy and Stockholm in Sweden.

Though Labor Day has passed, Irish festivals are still on tap for September and the cooler weather as much of the music shifts to indoor venues. Here’s a look at some things to keep in mind.

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.

UPDATE! Check out our coverage and video of Susan Boyle at the O2 Center in Dublin... Click here

In a shocking surprise that left her fans in tears, Susan Boyle pulled out of Sunday's "Britain's Got Talent "live tour after doctors told her the stress would be too much for her. The 48-year-old Scottish singer was due on stage for a matinee and evening show at the

Dubin lightweight Stephen Ormond (4-0, 1 KO) beat Sergi Ganjelashvili (4-3-1) by unanimous decision at the Capital One Bank Theater in Westbury, Long Island on Friday night.

Giovanni Trapattoni has earmarked Bulgaria as the biggest threat to his team’s World Cup hopes ahead of Saturday night’s Group Eight showdown in Sofia.

Green Day has announced an arena tour of Ireland and Britain to promote their new album, “21st Century Breakdown,” which will be released worldwide on Friday, May 15.

For 22 years Joanie Madden and her female troupe Cherish the Ladies have toured the world with their Irish music and dance. Last week was one of those tour-de-force barnstorming series of shows stretching from Virginia to Connecticut.

The dissident Republican group, the Real IRA has claimed responsibiity for the murder of British spy three years ago

Competition 56 Senior Ladies Figure Dancing results Entry Name School Rank 3 Foireann A The Academy : Birmingham, England 1 6 Foireann B McGing : Ohio,

Competition 54 Junior Girls Figure Dancing results Entry Name School Rank 8 Foireann A McGing : Ohio, USA 1 11 Foireann A Carey : Midlands, England 2 5 Foireann A Claddagh : Western,

Competition 46 Senior Ladies Ceilí results Entry Name School Rank 91 Foireann  A Smith-Houlihan : New England, USA 1 72 Foireann  A Claddagh : Western, USA 2 12 Foireann  A Harney : Mapole, USA 3 17 Foireann  A

Competition 44 Junior Girls Ceilí results Entry Name School Rank 23 Foireann A Kelly Hendry : Newcastle-U-Tyne, England 1 24 Foireann A Claddagh : Western, USA 2 41 Foireann A Smith-Houlihan : New England, USA 3 8 Foireann A Kidd :

Competition 28 Girls 13 - 14 results Entry Name School Rank 67 Micheala Hinds Butler-Fearon-O'Connor : California, USA/

Competition 27 Girls 14 - 15 results 124 Sinead Carson Doherty : Belfast, Ireland 1 17

Competition 26 Girls 15 - 16 results Entry Name School Rank 135 Heather Carr Sylvan Kelly : Mayo, Ireland 1 164 Niamh Taylor Doherty : Belfast,

Competition 25 Girls 16 - 17 results Entry Name School Rank 143 Gabriella Wood Petri : New York, USA 1 41

Competition 24 Girls 17 - 18 results Entry Name School Rank 42 Lauren Early Doherty : Belfast, Ireland 1 41

Competition 23 Ladies 18 - 19 results Entry Name School Rank 81 Claire Greaney Hession : Galway, Ireland 1 4 Suzanne Coyle McLaughlin :

Competition 22 Ladies 19 - 21 results Entry Name School Rank 66 Deirdre Robinett McGing : Ohio, USA 1 149

Competition 21 Senior Ladies results Entry Name School Rank 21 Ashley Smith Smith-Houlihan : New England, USA 1 94 Heather Lynn Hanson Inishfree :

Competition 8 Boys 13 - 14 results Entry Name School Rank 43 Caolan McKeating-Lynch Mulvenna : Belfast, Ireland 1 2 Shane Duigman Hession :

Competition 7 Boys 14 - 15 results Entry Name School Rank 38 Joe Bitter Carey : Birmingham, England 1 12

Competition 6 Boys 15 - 16 results Entry Name School Rank 19 Connor Walsh Glendarragh : Midlands, England 1 52 John Lonergan Kiely-Walsh :

Competition 5 Boys 16 - 17 Result Entry Name School Rank 27 Michael Putman Dennehy : Chicago, USA 1 16

Competition 2 Men 19 - 21 Results     Entry Name School Rank 30 Gerard Carson Doherty : Belfast, Ireland 1 7

There were delays and delays, but finally, the team from the Academy in Birmingham, England, could have been waiting for ten hours and they still wouldn’t have cared: They were the new Senior Ladies Figure Dancing World Champions.

  Entry Name School Rank 19 Connor Walsh Glendarragh : Midlands, England 1 52 John Lonergan Kiely-Walsh :

  Entry Name School Rank 27 Michael Putman Dennehy : Chicago, USA 1 16

  Entry Name School Rank 19 Connor Walsh Glendarragh : Midlands, England 1 52 John Lonergan Kiely-Walsh :

Competition 8 Boys 13 - 14 results Entry Name School Rank 43 Caolan McKeating-Lynch Mulvenna : Belfast, Ireland 1 2 Shane Duigman Hession :

  Entry Name School Rank 151 Shauna Ryan Uí Nualláin : Luimneach, Éire 1 135 Mellisa McCarthy Harney : Walpole,

Entry Name School Rank 4 Shannon Bradley Doherty : Belfast, Ireland 1 94 Amy-Mae Dolan McConomy : Derry, Ireland 2 99 Ciara O'Sullivan Sheehan-Murphy : Kerry, Ireland 3 16 Anna Sulger Pender-Keady : Connecticut, USA 4 27 Kelly Donegan Sylvan Kelly : Mayo, Ireland 5 138 Olivia Murray Mona Ni Rodaigh :

Entry Name School Rank 53 Cyra Taylor" href="/topics?topic=Cyra+Taylor">Cyra Taylor McConomy : Derry (County Derry)"

Entry Name School Rank 46 Jordan McCormick" href="/topics?topic=Jordan+McCormick">Jordan McCormick Lambe : Mayo, Ireland"

Irish dancing is more than dance; it's also the key for a child to develop confidence

Check out our St. Patrick's Day, Dublin photo galleries: part 1 and

Matthew Macklin (24-2) produced a sensational performance to overpower Wayne Elcock in three rounds at the Aston Events Centre in Birmingham and become the new British middleweight champion on Saturday night.

Poor tickets sales due to the recession have forced Irish Ropes Promotions to cancel their St. Patrick’s Eve Erin Go Brawl II show at the

Recently the Irish language station in Ireland, TG4, released the names of the annual winners of their prestigious Gradam Cheoil Awards now in their 12th year. As usual their panel of selectors in the know zoned in on some extraordinary talent in traditional Irish music today whose work exemplifies both the quality and spirit of Irish music that keeps it thriving where ever you find it. The announcement was made in the newly re-designed and constructed Wexford Opera House two weeks ago, where the actual award ceremony will take place in a live performance and presentation on Friday night, April 4 and in a delayed broadcast on TG4 on Easter Sunday, April 12 (www.

IT was a sun-drenched day in East Durham for the 17th annual Catskills Irish Traditional Music Festival, now firmly established as the Andy McGann Traditional Irish Music Festival last Saturday, July 21. It put the cap on another historic and extraordinary week for the Catskills Irish Arts Week (CIAW) which was too monumental to be evaluated in the too few hours since I emerged from the mountains. But the highlight of the week would be the focus on the New York fiddling legend Andy McGann on the weekend itself, lionizing the shy, humble but graceful genius who plied the New York dance halls, pubs and house parties for much of his 76 years.

IT was an exceptional year for new releases up in East Durham during the Catskills Irish Arts Week (CIAW), proving that the traditional waters are running very deep in the wellspring these days. No less than eight new recordings for artists and groups and one book (containing a companion DVD) were celebrated for their contributions to the cause in the past year.

At this juncture we would like to mention some of the CDs and the book/DVD that vividly capture the essence of what makes the CIAW tick and add so much to the week and the months that follow as the publications traveled away from the hamlet with the students and artists.

DO you remember a time when Shane MacGowan had a working set of choppers? How about the time you heard bands like the Saw Doctors and Black 47 for the first time?

Here's something that makes you feel old - those bands are about to mark their 20th anniversaries!

While seeing those bands today is still a nice kick, when was the last time you got knocked over the head with fresh new music in the Irish rock genre?

Your wait is now over, though. The music of Biblecode Sundays takes you back to that time, offering a wildly original voice to the Irish rock genre with their CD Ghosts of Our Past.

Led by Elvis Costello's kid half-brother, Ronan MacManus, Biblecode Sundays bring that famous sibling's defiant energy while neatly avoiding any comparisons.

When Bill Watkins' first memoir "A Celtic Childhood" was released almost a decade ago, the world was awash in Frank McCourt-mania, so Watkins' book might have slipped under the radar, dismissed as "just another Irish memoir." But Watkins' book, about growing up in England and Ireland with a Welsh father and Irish mother, was infused with humor and poignancy. He has now written another memoir, entitled "The Once and Future Celt," which recounts time Bill spent in his early 20s with Romany Gypsies (including his efforts to woo a forbidden girl), as well as his efforts to find employment in Birmingham, England, and his father's decision to offer up some juicy family secrets.

High-pitched squeals and nervous laughter echo along the corridors of the Brandon Hotel in Tralee. Peeping surreptitiously into open bedrooms, I see gaggles of giggling girls. "Does my make-up look good enough for TV?" asks one as she applies one last slick of lipstick to her pink lips.

With 2009 now here, the last 12 months already seem like a lifetime ago. I don't know if that is age or experience talking, but looking forward is sometimes far more enjoyable than the actual doing in this crazy world of ours. Last year the New York GAA had far more hills than valleys in its 365 fun packed days, and we will look back at both as we recollect over the sporting highlights of the last twelve months.

IRELAND West Airport at Knock, Co. Mayo, has not yet secured a replacement carrier for its trans-Atlantic route that serviced New York and Boston last year via low-cost U.K.

After spending more than two decades being what he calls "brainwashed" by the Church of Scientology, Co. Cork native John Duignan believes that A list movie star and noted Scientologist Tom Cruise is the reason why Amazon U.K.