Don't waste your money on par-cooked or boil-in-the-bag rice: it's easy to cook rice once you know which variety and strain will suit your need. Here, Darina Allen discusses the origins and delights of rice

Fergal Keane reports from Ennis court house where the sentencing of Wayne O'Donoghue was superseded by the moving statement by Majella Holohan which has changed public opinion and raised unanswered questions about the circumstances of Robert Holohan's death

The Media coverage

Dick Marty has produced an interim report on allegations of CIA rendition flights and secret prisons in Europe. Now the Irish Government – and their European counterparts – have detailed questions to answer. Colin Murphy reports

Secret services:

 Welcome to Ryan's world – a world which is self absorbed, a place where the main occupant likes listen...

The organic movement in Ireland has lost its main protagonist with the death of David Storey on 20 January, 2006. Be...

Dermot Bolger stays up late into the night to see what the current RTÉ schedule has to offer

Donald Mahoney previews the inaugural Temple Bar Trad Festival, and wonders if it will help to improve the area's 'identity crisis', moving it one step closer to the cultural quarter it wants to be

There has been a remarkable silence this past week from those normally so vocal concerning the sensitivities of Travellers.