One time of the year seems to bring out the carnival spirit in the Irish more than any other: the seven short days between Christmas and New Years. Of course, this being Ireland, there are centuries old Irish traditions to follow too, if you want to spend your Christmas like a local, that is. Here’s Irish Central’s list of 10 Irish Christmas Traditions.

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

Ambassador Rooney was on a visit to Kilkenny city Wednesday, November 18, home to the tomb of Obama's long lost relative, Bishop John Kearney. He said he has asked Obama to visit Ireland.

Irish dad Damien Gillan, a self-employed plasterer, has won $230,000 in the Northern Irish lottery.

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

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.

The wife of former All Ireland medal winning Kilkenny hurler Adrian Ronan was taken hostage in Ireland Tuesday morning.

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.

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

Cork hurling star Sean Og O' hAilpin has revealed that he and Donal Og Cusack have a close relationship as they have both received plenty of abuse during their careers because they are perceived as different.

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

Donal Og Cusack spoke about coming out to his mother and father, and how his Dad initially thought it was something that they could get "fixed."

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has dismissed claims that his recent revelations about Sean Cavanagh’s absence from the starting team in the All-Ireland semifinal against Cork will cause any rift with the player.

To get started with your own literary tour of Ireland here’s a list of the 10 top annual Irish literary festivals to check out. Pick any one of them and in no time you’ll be completely absorbed by Irish culture and craic.

Donal Og Cusack, the brave hurling star who has ushered in a new era in Irish sports by publically announcing he is gay this week, has told the press that his mother has stopped attending his Cork hurling matches because of the stress of hearing homophobic abuse shouted at her son from the terraces.

Irish sports star Donal Og Cusack has been overwhelmed by messages of support after revealing he was gay. GAA fans across the globe have rallied round Cusack while top GAA players have applauded him for his honesty and bravery.

Legendary Cork hurling goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack has revealed that he is gay in his new autobiography.

The original Irish name is " Coimn and its variations are numerous in every part of Ireland. The name lends itself to many interpretations. Some say it comes from the Irish word cam, meaning crooked, while others incorrectly believed the name derived from the word camán, which means a hurling stick.

GAA Latest: The Cork county board's executive is to face a vote of 'no confidence.'

We thought it was high time to explain some euphemisms often used by new Irish immigrants.

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.

New York hosts Galway for the second year in a row in the annual FBD League final in Gaelic Park this Sunday. While Galway had a relatively easy time last year, this year’s contest takes on extra meaning, with Galway employing a new manager a month ago in the form of Joe Kernan.

There are only two teams left in the New York Senior football County Championship: Down and Cork. Eugene Kyne preview the game and wonders what team will popping the champagne this Sunday in the 125th anniversary year of the GAA in Ireland and the 95th year of football in the Big Apple.

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 .

Roscommon were crowned intermediate champions for 2009 on Sunday after an enthralling final when came back from a three-point deficit to beat Offaly by 0-9 to 0-8.

Tadhg Kennelly has ended speculation about his sporting future by committing himself to the Kerry football team for another year.

Kerry won their 36th All-Ireland today at Croke Park beating Cork 0-16 to 1-09. After a slow start, they gained control at midfield and led at halftime by two points. Cork dominated early play and held a three-point lead after 15 minutes.

Roy Keane is backing Cork all the way to win their first All-Ireland final in 19 years against Kerry at Croke Park

The All Ireland Final between Cork and Kerry on September 20, 2008 will be a game based on evening up the scores and avenging tough defeats For Cork, though they overcame Kerry in this year’s Munster Final, this team has not reached the Holy Grail of taking the Same Maguire cup Leeside yet, and the closest they came was in 2007 when they were sent home sour-pussed after a ten point defeat to none other than Kerry.

Kerry have been handed a massive boost ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland final derby date with Cork after both Colm “Gooch” Cooper and Paul Galvin were cleared to play after recent injury scares.

Catherine O'Leary has a special interest in this weekend's All-Ireland Football Final between Cork and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. While her allegiance is most-likely with her hometown of Cork, Catherine's only bet a silent wager — is that some of the wealthier fans who prefer to see the game from luxury boxes will take part in an auction for those seats — to raise enough money so that some of her life can be restored.

Four football players from Mayo were sent home from the U.S. earlier this summer after damaging an apartment they were staying in, and leaving a Boston GAA team to foot the hefty bill.

The Moran clan have produced some very interesting folk. The anglicized "Moran" can be traced to multiple distinct Irish names, and though commonly linked to County Mayo, forms of the name originated throughout middle Ireland in Counties Leitrim, Galway, Kildare, Offaly, and more. Moran is so heavily anglicized - from the French "Morrin" to the Irish "Moran" - that exact knowledge of each Moran's lineage may be hard to trace.

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 GAA is facing new calls to use video referees at crunch ties. The calls come in the wake of the hotly-contested final between Tipperary and Kilkenny at Croke Park. Veteran Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins said he had urged the referee to use the big screen before he awarded the fateful penalty which turned the game for the Cats.

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

Kilkenny Manager Brian Cody was overcome with the victory over Tipperary in the All-Ireland hurling final but refused to discuss the controversial penalty award that changed the game.

Liam Sheedy seemed on the verge of tears as he spoke with the media, admitting: "I'm hurting ... proud but hurting.” The Tipp's manager had no doubt about the most controversial moment – the penalty call. He felt it was wrong and had changed the course of the game.

Sean O'Shea: When the history of hurling is written, the 2009 All-Ireland final will stand out among the best ever. Kilkenny may well be the best team of all time. They are the only four times successive winning champions since Cork in the 1940s. Next year they go for the mythical five in a row, not often attempted and never achieved.

Analysis: A disputed penalty, a man sent off and the best All-Ireland hurling final in decades ended with Kilkenny beating Tipperary 2-22 to 0-23 points. It means that Kilkenny has now won four All-Irelands in a row, the greatest since a similar Cork run in the 1940s.

Kilkenny made it four-in-a-row when they beat Tipperary by 2-22 to 0-23 to win the Liam McCarhty cup at Croke Park on Sunday.

Kilkenny have named their starting 15 for the All Ireland Hurling Final against Tipperary on Sunday at Croke Park.

Eugene Kyne with the match reports from all the action at Gaelic Park in the Bronx

FULL TIME: Kerry 2-08 Meath 1-07 Kerry are off to yet another All-Ireland SFC final, and we can only hope their game picks up. A dreadful afternoon's football saw 32 wides from both sides in a dull affair at

Offaly continued their dominance by capturing their third consecutive hurling title, while the ladies of Na Fianna won the Sean Faherty New York Championship and Rangers captured the Junior Title on a busy day at Gaelic Park in the Bronx

Cork beat Tyrone at Croke Park on Sunday to become the first team to book a place in the All Ireland football final where they will await the winners of next week's semi final between Kerry and Meath.

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.

Saturday 7:30 p.m.: SF Leitrim vs.

Eugene Kyne reports on all last weekend;s action at Gaelic Park in the Bronx.

Muhammad Ali will be made a freeman of Ennis during his historic Irish visit, and will be the first person to receive the honorary freedom of the town during his visit to Ireland next month.