Chickens, cheese, buttery cakes, oysters – Darina Allen tells us what to buy food lovers for Christmas.

In the Christmas spirit, the time has come for the reality-based community to reach out to the White House. The Bush warriors are so deluded, they're even faking their fakery.

Fergal Keane examines Traveller issues as part of Traveller Focus week

Paul Gascoigne has quickly taken the baton passed on by George Best. He was talking, or slurring, to Sky Sports News this week about his "chlose pursonal frend" who had passed away and how he'd had a double brandy when Callum Best phoned him on the morning of the funeral. Scuffling with photographers hours after the interview where he first denied drinking, then admitted having a glass of wine with friends, then denied he'd even swallowed, Gascoigne ended up in jail for the night. Another woman-beating footballer's descent will be chronicled in public.

Nearly 70 per cent of economic activity in the North revolves around the public sector, compared to 37 per cent in the South. Finance Minister Brian Cowen recently announced €75 billion in cross-border investment, while Peter Hain has declared that the North's economy can only be seen as part of an 'all-Ireland economy'. Surprisingly, this has received cross-party support. Colm Heatley reports

A great adulterous womaniser, with a passion for blondes, Elia Kazan's biography is a tour de force through Broadway and Hollywood at its most sparkling time. Review by John Simon

Neilstown was originally mooted for a town centre development. But this idea later moved to Liffey Valley. Neilstown has suffered ever since

Dai was sweating hard carrying the box up the hill, although it could not have been heavy. He kept it clasped close to his chest, leading the procession. Coming level with him, I saw it was not sweat but tears that were trickling down his cheeks.

How the US has restricted and distorted the definition of torture

The Abbey revives an Irish 'classic' by Lennox Robinson for the Christmas season. Colin Murphy wonders why