In hard times even Santa feels the pinch. That’s the message of “Santa and the Recession,” a timely new book for children written and illustrated in Ireland (where the recession is biting harder than most places).

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.

Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck will hit the road in January for a four-night tour that will feature this unlikely double act in concert halls in Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and New York. The "Bold and Fresh" tour promises to bring conversations of "substance" from the two TV hosts.

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.

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.

The Football Association of Ireland has lodged an official complaint with soccer's governing body FIFA over the controversial handball by Thierry Henry which dumped Ireland out of the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup. And the FAI has cited precedent for the game to be replayed.

American born artist Daniel Mark Duffy has been on the receiving end of a moral debate on modern Ireland. The artist’s provocative nude portraits have drawn both criticism and praise from all corners of Irish society.

It has emerged that the DUP politician Iris Robinson, also known as the "wicked witch of the North," has 10 Catholic cousins.

The former president of the High Court, Justice Richard Johnson, has called for a referendum to reintroduce the recently abolished death penalty in Ireland.

Dara McBride: Bono is a wonderful musician and a great world citizen — but can anyone really make any sense of his latest column in the Sunday New York Times? It's all about the fall of the Berlin Wall and its impact on this "singer," who is of course Bono. He even catches himself writing about himself in the third person — but I don't know if it works. It all gets kind of weird.

Robert Reynolds: Since Sarah Palin once famously said she didn't know whether Africa was a continent, we in the global Irish community are left to wonder whether she could have ever unscrambled the difference between England, Britain and the so-called United Kingdom. Alas, we won't have to wait too long for Palin's wit (?) and wisdom (?!). Her new book comes out Monday.

Sarah Palin releases her new book 'Going Rogue' this week, and judging by the reviews she really gets her Irish up. John McCain, the media, the Democratic Party, and the know alls in Washington all get it loud and clear from the former Alaska governor.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton played a major role in securing the release of Irish priest Fr. Michael Sinnott. The priest was kidnapped 32 days ago by a radical group of Islamic militants called the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The kidnapped Irish Catholic priest, Fr Michael Sinnott, has been released without injury in the Philippines. Arriving at Manila Airport, the 79-year-old Wexford priest even tried to make light of his experience. "Because I am a bit old and I found hiking a bit difficult at times, I think that they'd be glad to kidnap a younger man the next time," he said.

Certainly Irish leaders are called on to comment on everything, but Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen probably took it a bit too far when he answered a question about “Jedward."

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

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.

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.

Government officials have warned Irish Minister for Finance that high earners are likely to flee Ireland if he raises taxes again in the Budget, set for next month. Currently many key Irish figures including U2 members, and billionaires

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.

Niall O'Dowd: Ted Kennedy Jr. will preside — and Irish tenor Ronan Tynan will sing in his first New York engagement since his controversial firing by the New York Yankees — at a memorial Mass for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.

The Irish premiere of Kilkenny man Gabriel Murray's documentary on the Irish heritage of U.S. president Barack Obama will be screened on Sunday as part of the Waterford Film Festival.

Labor Party leader Eamon Gilmore has claimed Ireland is “hurtling headlong into a period of conflict, strife and division.” His warning came as talks resumed between government and unions on public sector pay -- and as exchequer returns for the first 10 months of the year revealed a deficit of €22.7 ($33.7) billion.

Former Taoiseach (prime minister) John Bruton has returned to Ireland after his five-year stint as EU ambassador to Washington, D.C. came to an end on Friday.

The Bank of Ireland is reeling today after it announced losses of €1 ($1.4) billion for the half year accounting time up to the end of September.

English musical theater actress Elaine Paige says Susan Boyle is just like Evita.

Robert Reynolds: Is Bill O'Reilly the new moderate voice of America's right? That would seem to be the case after Bill O' took on Rush Limbaugh, the fire-eating grand poobah of everything right-wing on his show.

It's official! Thanks in no small part to Colin Farrell, the Irish accent is now the sexiest in the world. French men can only hang their heads in shame as they came FOURTH - just ahead of the Australian accent.

Abuse victims submitted a petition to the Northern Ireland Assembly Monday demanding that an inquiry be established that would investigate institutional abuse in church run institutions in Northern Ireland in the same way the Ryan Report documented the abuses in the South.

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

Be it the economic downturn or the increase in apparitions across the country, the number of those attending Mass in Ireland is on the up.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and the Irish American Unity Conference (IAUC) have joined together in a renewed effort to support an independent truth commission to deal with the past in Northern Ireland following last week's Congressional hearing into collusion there.

Recently released files from the British National Archives reveal that the IRA targeted Buckingham Palace and other famous London landmarks during the 1970s London bombing campaign.

President Barack Obama has attended the removal of fallen Irish American hero Dale Griffin. As originally reported by IrishCentral.com, Obama's decision to attend the removal of American soldiers at Dover Air Base draws a clear line in the sand between this administration and the Bush administration.

IrishCentral has learned that President Barack Obama will go to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware shortly to be present when the coffins of American soldiers killed in Afghanistan are brought back.

Bob McCann, a leading figure in the American Ireland Fund in New York, has been appointed UBS new head of wealth management in America. McCann will oversee 8,000 financial advisors and almost $700 billion in assets at UBS.

Raymond McCord, 53, the father of a Belfast man murdered by Loyalist paramilitaries in 1997 took his campaign to bring his son’s killers to justice to Capitol Hill last Thursday. McCord, a staunch Unionist, told a House of Representatives subcommittee he believes there was collusion between the Northern Irish security forces and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in the killing of his son.

A new "White House" is planned for Ireland as part of an ambitious entertainment complex in County Tipperary. The Irish White House would form the center-piece of an $680m 800-acre development which would also include a concert venue, golf course, casino and racecourse.

Would-be Irish parents face a heartbreaking wait to see if they can still adopt their children after Russia put Ireland on an adoption blacklist. About 100 adoptive children have been affected by the blacklist.

Have you heard the one about the Irish politician who recommends a drink for nervous drivers? Well, now you have. Tipperary Fianna Fail politician Mattie McGrath says "jumpy" drivers could be better drivers if they had a drink to steady their nerves.

Threats by Ryanair bosses have sparked fears that Shannon Airport in Ireland’s west will become deserted.

A new book by an American author is claiming that Eamon De Valera was so afraid of losing his life during the 1916 Rising that he turned informant for the British.

The powerhouse conservative Website, World Net Daily, has begun pushing Sean Hannity for President. WND founder Joseph Farah says he's ready to lead the fight to have Hannity run.

Robert Reynolds: The conservative Website World Net Daily has begun pushing Sean Hannity for President. Given the incredible lack of any attractive Republican candidates for president in 2012, that may not be as far-fetched as we might think.

Collusion between British security forces and loyalist terrorists in Northern Ireland was the focus of hearings on Capitol Hill this week in Washington.

Planning a trip to Dublin but strapped for cash? There’s no end to the free fun to be had all over the nation’s capital with museums, visitors centers, scenic attractions and tourists trails.

An Irish politician has claimed that he is taking a stand for the traditional Irish farmer who wants to have a pint on his way home.

The inaugural meeting of the newly formed Irish American Leadership Council took place last Friday in New York, with a robust exchange of ideas among members and Irish government leaders on how to maximize the multi-tiered relationship between Ireland and the Irish community in the U.S.

SECRETARY of State Hillary Clinton has made it crystal clear in her visit to Ireland that she and the Obama administration are giving the Irish peace process a very high priority indeed. It is also very welcome that she dropped the ludicrous “no special deal” nonsense when she talked about the undocumented Irish and the need to address that issue.

British Prime Minster Gordon Brown pledged between $1,323M and $1.6B Wednesday to fund the devolution of justice and policing powers in Northern Ireland.