Handball villain Thierry Henry has called for the controversial Ireland/France game to be replayed. The French star striker said a replay would be the "fairest solution" after his handball set up the goal which dumped Ireland out of the World Cup.

About 200,000 Irish fans from all over the world have joined a Facebook petition calling on FIFA for a replay of the France/Ireland match which ended in bitter controversy in Paris Wednesday night. France advanced to the World Cup finals through a disputed goal after star striker Thierry Henry blatantly handled the ball before setting up the winning score.

Zut alors! Even the French think we were robbed last night in the Stade de France. An online poll in the French newspaper Le Monde shows a staggering 80,657 French people (presumably) believe Ireland should be on their way to the World Cup.

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

This just had to be seen to be believed, as the Moulin Rouge in Paris hosted a Can Can dancer like none ever seen before - an Irish fan.

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.

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.

Central defender Richard Dunne is in defiant mood ahead of Ireland’s crunch clash against France in the World Cup Playoff this Saturday in Croke Park.

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.

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

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.

Irish sports star Donal Og Cusack’s decision to come out in his autobiography has been a massive step forward for Irish society. However, that doesn't make it any easier for the Cusack family, and Donal Og's mother Bonnie Cusack has said that her husband is having problems coming to terms with the issue.

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."

French soccer manager Raymond Domenech is public enemy number one in Ireland after dismissing the Irish soccer team as second-rated has-beens. "They are the England Bs,” he told an Irish journalist with a Gallic

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

Ireland have drawn France in the two legged playoff to earn a place in the World Cup in South Africa.

Sean O'Shea: Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni almost pulled off the surprise of the World Cup qualifying rounds when Ireland led World Cup holders Italy into the closing minutes of an enthralling Cup encounter at Croke Park in Dublin.

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 new Miss Ireland Laura Patterson has revealed that she’s received a lot of flack from snobs who look down on her job at a major grocery store in Northern Ireland.

  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

Ireland slogged out  a narrow win over South Africa with a free kick from Liam Lawrence at

Irish people urgently need to pull together says former Irish president Mary Robinson. A self-confessed optimist, Robinson said that the Celtic Tiger had pushed Irish people apart.

The three points on offer against Cyrpus in Nicosia’s GSP Stadium on Saturday would effectively guarantee Ireland the second spot in the Group Eight table and a place in the November playoffs.

Stephen Ireland won’t be in the Ireland squad for next week’s crunch World Cup qualifier in Cyprus or the Limerick friendly with South Africa despite impressing the watching Giovanni Trapattoni as Manchester City beat Wolves last Saturday.

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.

Irish rugby Captain Brian O’Driscoll is having laser surgery on his eyes. The star Irish center had one eye operated on last week and is scheduled to have the procedure on his other eye in the coming days.

Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, has been named as a 2009 recipient of a U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest honor the

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

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.

Cathal Dervan highlights the recent transfer news regarding departures and arrivals of some of Ireland's best footballers, the result of the British and Irish Lions' third test against South Africa and the past week's Gaelic action from Ireland.

Massachusetts tourism officials have won the bid for their capital city to host the 2013 World Irish Dancing Championships.

The publishers of the Irish Independent in Ireland have warned their financial adviser Deloitte to be "on standby" in case their latest debt deal talks collapse.

Though the series was lost, the British & Irish Lions gained a small measure of revenge Saturday when they beat South Africa in the third test of the series by a score of 28-9.

A late penalty conceded by Ireland’s Ronan O’Gara cost the Lions the second test and the series against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday.

A concussion sustained in the second test defeat to South Africa in Pretoria last Saturday has ended Brian O'Driscoll's Lions tour.

The British and Irish Lions team were upbeat today after an agonizing 26-21 loss against South Africa. Late tries by

Irish-run broadcaster Setanta's UK branch filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday, while ESPN have purchased the rights to broadcast English Premier League in the UK for the 2009/2010 season.

British & Irish Lions number eight Jamie Heaslip has admitted that he struggled to keep his inclusion in the starting line-up for Saturday’s first Test against South Africa from his family and friends

David Wallace and Alun-Wyn Jones will both start for The British & Irish Lions in Saturday's first Test against South Africa in Durban

Donncha O’Callaghan will captain The British & Irish Lions in Tuesday’s clash with the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.

The Lynch family is derived from several independent clans. One of these is the Norman family De Lench who came to Ireland in the 12th century and were the most prominent of the "Tribes of Galway". These were the 14 Norman families who controlled this important medieval trading city and made it one of the few outposts in the West of Ireland that was loyal to the British crown.

Stephen Ferris has been forced to withdraw from The British & Irish Lions squad due to injury.

Stephen Hunt feels that the return of Stephen Ireland to the international fold could spell disaster for unity within the Ireland squad.

Paul O'Connell will lead the British & Irish Lions for the third time on tour against the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday.

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni was happy with his team's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria, but is refusing to get carried away with the result.

Bulgaria entertain Republic of Ireland on Saturday in a crucial World Cup in Sofia.

Leigh Halfpenny and Luke Fitzgerald will both make their first ever starts for The British & Irish Lions in Saturday’s clash with The Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Brian O’Driscoll was overjoyed by the way in the British & Irish Lions refused to ease off in the closing stages of Wednesday’s 74-10 mauling of The Golden Lions in Johannesburg.