Seeking inspiration for a book to read or give as a gift? This selection could help you

Hourihane’s new book is a powerful exploration of death, dying and rituals in Ireland

We are a better, more mature, kinder country now because of Gay Byrne

He combines a natural genius for broadcasting with ferocious professionalism

Video

After ’16 films include animation telling the story of teenage rebel Vincent Byrne

Interview: Sal Khan went from tutoring his cousin to setting up Khan Academy, a not-for-profit online school. He talks about his own education, and expanding his ‘flipped learning’ worldwide

In early May, a ‘normal Irish drinker’ undertook a minor social experiment: to give up drink for a month and write about it. Now it’s over. So is she getting drunk tonight?

Fat has been given a reprieve as sugar gets the blame for everything from heart and liver disease to cancer

Homeless for much of 2013, this family are overjoyed that they will be spending Christmas in a house of their own

Love it or loathe it, panto takes huge effort. For Twink, 38 shows in a fortnight mean there’s no time to lose in the rehearsal room

Forget fraud: Nigella Lawson and her ex are doing battle for custody of the public’s approval

The Sunday show, a mixture of jazz and giving out, is becoming cult listening, mainly for the darkness of Byrne’s presentation. His subject matter takes in everything from the pope’s fitness and spitting to Pat Kenny’s move

Valerie Farragher’s alcoholism almost ruined the lives of her family. Now four years sober, she is trying to help other women avoid that terrible fate