Finding Jews in Ireland is not an easy task. Of Ireland’s 4.4 million people, only 2,000 or so are Jewish. But finding a menorah, the eight branched candle that celebrates Hanukkah – that’s a cinch.

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.”

When it rains it pours for the Irish. The country is facing a multi-million euro clean-up bill after some of the worst flooding in living memory.

The National Book Award for fiction for 2009 has gone to Irish author Colm McCann who lives in New York for his book "Let the Great World Spin." The book is set in New York in 1974 when a French tightrope walker Philippe Petit walked between the two towers of the Twin Towers, creating a massive publicity stunt.

Sean O'Shea: France is through to the World Cup finals after an incredible oversight by the referee, which allowed a Thierry Henry handball to go unpunished, which led to the winning French goal. With the goal, the French qualified on a 2-1 aggregate score

A little girl, Ruby Ayoub, who would have been six this week, was buried in Dublin on Monday following her death from meningitis which doctors wrongly diagnosed as swine flu.

Father Francis Markey, 81, an elderly Irish priest based in Indiana, was released from jail on bail on Tuesday pending an extradition hearing later this week.

A Texas woman who fled to Ireland with her two children in 2005 is to attend an extradition hearing in Dublin on Wednesday, December 3.

Ronan Keating says spending the night with Stephen Gately’s body was a “beautiful” experience.

Olivia Wilde’s star is firmly on the ascent. Best known for her recurring role in Fox’s “House,” the Irish American actress trained at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin and chose her stage name in honor of Irish playwright Oscar Wilde. She talks about her Irish background, her pride in her heritage and her ultimate dream – the chance to make a film in Ireland.

Not every boat was lifted by the Celtic Tiger economy. In "W.C.," the low key, but thoroughly likeable new Irish film by writer and director Liam O’Mochain, it’s the people who work unseen and underpaid who are his subjects.

Travel to Ireland is on a downward curve this year. Tourism Ireland reports that “the first 10 months of 2009 have proven to be a very tough period for tourism to the island of Ireland, and for tourism worldwide.”

France coach Raymond Domenech is pleading for players to turn out in huge numbers on Wednesday night in the second playoff game against Ireland. His side leads 1-0 after the first leg "We need the support of the fans from the first to the last minute," Domenech said. "The fans have a real part to play."

Ireland face an uphill task in Paris on Wednesday but star midfielder Damien Duff thinks the upset can be achieved. The Republic trail 1-0 on aggregate after a Nicolas Anelka goal gave France victory in Dublin on Saturday evening. But Fulham midfielder Duff believes a shock win can be pulled off at the Stade de France.

French midfielder Lassana Diarra has issued a threat against Irish player Keith Andrews who has accused Diarra of refusing to shake hands with him and calling him "An Irish pr*** at the end of their World Cup game in Dublin.

Sean O'Shea: Ireland will travel to France on Wednesday night knowing their World Cup hopes hang by a fingernail. Yet they can pull off a huge upset.

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

There are barely enough priests to preach in Dublin's 199 parishes. According to Dublin's Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, “We have 46 priests over 80 and only two less than 35 years of age. In a very short time we will just have the bare number of priests required to have one active priest for each of our 199 parishes."

Sean O'Shea: The explosive reasons behind the brawl at the end of the Irish vs. France World Cup game in Dublin on Saturday have been revealed. After the game, French player Lasanna Diarra refused to shake hands with Irish player Keith Andrews and said ' F-- off Irish pr--- to him adding '"You're out," referring to the 1-0 first leg victory for France.

Ireland’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa were dealt a cruel blow when an unlucky Sean St. Ledger own goal gave France a 1-0 win at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday night.

Ireland’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa were dealt a cruel blow when an unlucky Sean St. Ledger own goal gave France a 1-0 win at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday night.

The High Court in Dublin has awarded $130,000 to a woman who was seriously injured by a flying dog that was airborne after being hit by a car.

Giovanni Trapattoni confirms ten of his team for the first leg of Ireland’s World Cup playoff against France at Croke Park on Saturday, but must make game time decision between McGeady/Lawrence.

There are few countries that celebrate a cozier, put-your-feet-up Christmas than Ireland. With its family-oriented culture and the legendary friendliness of its people, spending the holidays in Ireland is one of the most rewarding decisions you could ever make.

Irish coach Marco Tardelli has warned his World Cup hopefuls that they will need to be on full alert for the two legs of their playoff against France.

Miami Police Chief John Timoney, an Irish man hailed as “America’s Best Cop’’ by Esquire magazine, has stepped down. Timoney resigned as Tomas Regalado was sworn into office as the city's new mayor.

Bridget English/ An American Student In Ireland: “You can tell Americans,” my Irish friend told me in the pub one night. “they look different, and not just the way they dress. It’s the features. Even if you put an Irish person in American clothes I could tell. And the teeth. Like you, you have very American teeth.”

At the tender age of 23 in 1987, Irishman Steve Conway began the adventure of a lifetime onboard a leaky ship called the Ross Revenge, the floating home of legendary “Pirate Radio” station Radio Caroline, which originally started broadcasting during the 1960s. He talks about the real life experiences that inspired the film “Pirate Radio” which opens this weekend, and his new book “Shiprocked”.

The Irish Arts Center’s inaugural Irish Poetry Festival was a standing room only event last Saturday in New York, proving that the demand for a forum for Irish verse is as strong as ever.

Actor John Cusack says he’s proud of his Irish roots. The Illinois native was asked about his background, and he replied that he always “felt” Irish.

If his current set-up with Katy Perry doesn’t pan out, Russell Brand says he wouldn’t mind hooking up with Irish singer Sinead O’Connor.

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen has urged workers to embrace reform of the public service rather than viewing it as a threat. He made it clear that a shake-up of the system has to happen in order to make dramatic savings to reduce the country's debt.

John Timoney, 61, the Dublin-born four star Miami chief of police may be seeking pastures new soon if the city’s newly elected Republican mayor has his way.

Niall O'Dowd: Steven Spielberg's trip to Ireland was a "life-changing experience" for the Oscar-winning director. Spielberg was transformed by his summer visit to Ireland, which included literally "hanging over the edge" of the Cliffs of Moher.

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

Sometimes when you get chatting to a person who has emigrated from Ireland, you can catch a glimpse of the country’s own evolution over the last thirty or so years. That’s very much the case with Buncrana, County Donegal man Turlough McConnell, whose writing and music took him first to Dublin and then on to New York.

According to a recent study, Dublin has the highest rate of gun murder in Europe. The rate is almost as high as some cities in the U.S. like Washington D.C. So far this year, 19 gun murders, all of which were gang related, have occurred in Ireland’s capital city, which has a population of 1.2 million.

A female Garda (Irish Police officer) based in Dublin has become the fourth member of the Garda Siochana to be questioned about leaking vital information to ruthless criminals gangs. It is suspected that the Garda in question suffers from a discreet but severe addiction to cocaine and may be exchanging the information to settle a massive drug debt that she has with drug dealers.

Meet the Irish American Princess. She’s Catholic, she’s wealthy, she’s popular – and she’s way out of your league.

A blistering attack has been launched by the manager of Knock Shrine against thousands of pilgrims who stampeded and left the place “in a terrible state” on Sunday in the hopes of seeing an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

Dublin was brought to a standstill today as up to 70,000 people took to the streets as part of a national day of protest. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) organized eight rallies across

The great review in The New York Times on Monday for "The New Electric Ballroom," the new play by Irish playwright Enda Walsh, further reinforces the remarkable story of Irish success in New York in recent years.

Gardai (Irish police) carried out several smash and grab raids in Dublin's north inner city last Monday and confiscated 7,000 Samurai swords.

Andy Lee's (19-1) preparations for his fight against France's Affif Belghecham (19-3-1) on November 14 at the University Arena in Limerick are going to plan in New York.

Irish Voice Senior Editor Debbie McGoldrick answers your immigration questions, queries and concerns. This week: I-94 Submission

A senior Irish bishop has urged Irish Catholics to stay away from the next predicted apparition of the Virgin Mary at the holy shrine in Knock. The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, appealed for people to stay away from the Marian Shrine on December 5 when Our Lady is predicted to appear.

Westlife singer Nicky Byrne's dad, Nicky Sr., died suddenly on Tuesday, and Byrne, who was in London at the time, has now flown back to his native Ireland to be with his family.

What does the current commotion at Knock Shrine tell us about Ireland today? Ten thousand people gathered there last weekend form all over Ireland hoping to see the Virgin Mary appear, as she is thought to have done back in

Giovanni Trapattoni has told his World Cup playoff hopefuls that France are beatable -- and he has the DVDs to prove it. Trapattoni, who has left Andy Reid and Stephen Reid out of his squad for the two games against the French, has spent hours studying Raymond Domenech’s side in their qualifying campaign.

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