Conor Murray and Robin Copeland took part in some gentle ribbing on Twitter today.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has been urged to ban all planned surgeries for the next fortnight in a bid to stop the hospital trolley crisis spiralling out of control.

A Government minister has launched an attack against broadcasting watchdogs over their "chilling" rulings regarding marriage equality.

The State would lose out on at least €1.6bn in revenue if it cut the deeply unpopular universal social charge for people earning €60,000 or less a year.

Enda Kenny has signalled there will be no referendum on reducing the voting age during the lifetime of this Government.

A family escaped a Christmas Eve plane crash in Tipperary after their light aircraft fell 9,000 feet out of the sky and into a farmer’s field.

Ireland’s constitutional ban on abortion is being used to deny women choice in their maternity care, a campaign group has claimed.

Irish Water protesters may run candidates in the next general election in a bid to scrap water usage charges which are being introduced from today.

A senior trade union leader has launched a broadside at a number of independent TDs who he claims are "scapegoating the public service for political advantage".

Toronto

A US airstrike has killed the intelligence chief of Somali terror group al-Shabab.

Eurozone politicians are not obliged to rescue Greece as the country is no longer of systemic importance to the euro, a senior member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party has said.

Households continued to make loan repayments at a quicker rate than new loans were issued in November, continuing the trend of paying down debt though at a slower pace than that seen in the previous month.

The German chancellor Angela Merkel has warned the country’s citizens not to participate in weekly anti-Islam rallies that have attracted growing numbers of supporters in the eastern city of Dresden.

Pope Francis has presided over a solemn prayer service in St Peter’s Basilica on New Year’s Eve, using his homily to stress life’s fleetingness.

A relative of the woman who was accidentally shot and killed by her two-year-old son at a US supermarket says she was a “loving mother”.

The fact that it can take over two years to reach a verdict underlined one of the great failings in the workplace dispute resolution machinery, writes Brian McDonald

People across the globe rang in the new year last night with revellers in New Zealand Australia among those leading the way.

Christine Cavanaugh, a prolific voice actress who brought to life characters including Babe the pig, has died aged 51.

Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia has reflected on a “year of joy and sorrow” for the city in his new year message.

The impact of the economic crisis has seen an increase in popularity for the more radical political parties, but how will the EU cope if they win power and how will the markets react?

Two of the biggest private-equity firms are disclosing fees that had largely been hidden.

A woman has been arrested at Luton airport on suspicion of Syria-related terror offences.

A 61-year-old man has died after he was robbed at his home on Christmas Day.

Oil fell below $56 (€46.15) a barrel yesterday and was heading for its biggest annual decline since 2008, pressured by weakening demand and a supply glut prompted by the US shale boom and Opec’s refusal to cut output.

A 72-year-old woman jailed for hugging her granddaughter in breach of a court order banning contact has been freed by a judge.

Surabaya, Indonesia

Stung by a resounding defeat at the UN Security Council, the Palestinians have joined the International Criminal Court to pursue war crimes charges against Israel.

DVDs of Sony’s controversial film The Interview will be dropped into North Korea by balloon, a South Korean activist says.

A Cork hotel has stepped in to save the day for a couple who had their lavish New Year’s Eve wedding renewal party cancelled at the last minute.

KERRYMAN Timothy J Dowd, who led the manhunt for the notorious Son of Sam serial killer in New York, has died at the age of 99.

Funding on the up at CIT’s Rubicon

Solving social issues needs innovative thinking, writes John Daly

A terrified llama on the loose in a town just outside Manchester managed to evade capture for six hours before being safely guided back home.

The Hong Kong authorities began destroying 15,000 chickens at a poultry market and suspended imports from mainland China after some birds were found to be infected with bird flu.

Moscow

A group of social workers has warned the child and family agency’s chief executive that the lack of services to meet the needs of children and families “will place children at risk”.

The Government fell well short of the 3,000 target it had set for the number of people it hoped to place on its “Gateway” job-activation scheme by the end of 2014.

The father of missing schoolgirl Amy Fitzpatrick has made an emotional appeal for information about his daughter’s mysterious disappearance exactly seven years ago.

A Donegal woman was left speechless after her boyfriend pulled off an unusual marriage proposal.

The number of homeless people living in emergency accommodation in the Cork/Kerry region has increased by almost 7% since the start of the summer.

‘Irish Examiner’ Mid-West correspondent Jimmy Woulfe spent 24 hours in a hospital emergency department recently. He describes his experience of our health service

A Scottish nurse’s return to the UK from Sierra Leone after becoming infected with ebola is “extremely unlik-ely” to result in a large outbreak of the deadly virus in Britain, health chiefs said.

The British nurse who contracted ebola in Sierra Leone has agreed to be treated with an experimental anti-viral drug and blood from a survivor of the virus, her doctor has said.

The families of Michael and Valerie Greaney, who died as a result of a murder-suicide, have asked for donations to be made to a group which works with people who are considering suicide.

Cells used to investigate “dementia in a dish” have led scientists to a potential new treatment strategy for an inherited form of the brain disease.

Police in Scotland are making inquiries following complaints over a Twitter outburst about ebola from controversial TV personality Katie Hopkins.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has no concerns about Raheem Sterling’s ability to handle the physical and mental pressure of being the team’s attacking focal point.

Manchester City’s title hopes received a boost last night as Frank Lampard’s contract was extended until the end of the season.

John Carver is convinced he will have Bobby Robson standing alongside him on one side and Gary Speed on the other when he walks out at St James’ Park today.

James Morrison insists there is nowhere for the West Brom players to hide as he bids to impress Tony Pulis.

Louis van Gaal has been telling Manchester United’s players to think of beating Stoke while they are in bed.

Mauricio Pochettino hopes to change the mindset of his players with Tottenham perceived by many to be under a Chelsea spell.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels Theo Walcott is a "bit edgy" after so long on the sidelines, but hopes to soon see the best of him again.

Connacht coach Pat Lam has laid it on the line for the 8,000 people expected through the turnstiles for this evening’s interprovincial derby, calling on the home support to serve as the team’s 16th man to overpower Munster.

There’s little evidence of the extra 2,500 digital gaming jobs to which Richard Bruton aspired in his 2011 initiative, says John Hearne

China’s shift away from muscle-flexing and a confluence of interests with a US-led order offer hope it will not continue to engender large-scale regional instability next year, says Yoon Young-kwan

Sri Mulyani Indrawati says it will take a global effort to end poverty and suggests there is enough money in the world to do so, but getting hold of it is the problem

The recent appointments of Roisin Jordan and Tracey Kennedy to the chairman and vice-chairman of their respective counties appear to indicate the GAA’s growing acceptance of women in high office.

Kevin Ankrom’s first contract as Athletics Ireland’s high performance manager expired last night as the first bars of Auld Lang Syne kicked off and, though there has been no announcement about a follow-up, the American is breezily confident about sticking around.

A crucial weekend in the Munster junior league is in store as title contenders Clonmel and Newcastle West square off.

New Offaly football manager Pat Flanagan says they need to stop looking for excuses if hisnative county is to move forward in 2015.

Younger and hungrier, the GPA has been quick to spot opportunities where money streams can be created or increased

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has been banned for six weeks from football-related activities over comments he made regarding Jewish and Chinese people but the 78-year-old will not carry out his threat to quit the club.

How wonderful it would be to record that the year just past will be remembered as the one when our Government finally recognised that accountability, openness, political leadership, imagination and courage, a rejection of croneyism and the ending of the small-minded divisions that so limit our political system’s capacity — or genuine, unstoppable ambition — to deliver real, uplifting renewal are the hallmarks of a successful society and a functioning democracy.

Versatile veteran He’llberemembered, ridden by Jonathan Burke, was awarded the featured Free Festival Upgrade Ticket Offer Hurdle in bizarre circumstances in Punchestown yesterday.

The people in Aras Attracta had no voice. The behaviour of those ‘care workers’ is appalling and warrants criminal prosecution.

Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Paul Struthers yeterday insisted riders must be the ones to decide if vision problems caused by the sun make fences and hurdles dangerous to jump, but stressed the organisation’s members need to use that power "responsibly" if it is to be retained.

I think it’s great that the United States is starting to thaw relations with the last country from the Cold War, Cuba.

Marito and Roi Du Mee filled the first two places in the Listed At The Races Chase last year and the pair clash again in the Tramore feature today.

2015 is the centenary of the Armenian genocide that cost the lives of up to a millions Armenian men, women and children.

Toulon’s Delon Armitage has appealed against a 12-week ban for abusive language directed at Leicester Tigers supporters after a European Rugby Champions Cup match on December 7, European Professional Cup Rugby has announced.

Last October, after 50 years of blameless, accident-free, summons-free, mostly sedate driving as befits my age, I suddenly acquired a criminal record: two penalty points and an €80 fine for speeding.

There is an extremely high degree of discontent among the heterosexual bovine population, in particular among those about to be slaughtered.

Since the recession began family carers have feared what they would face in every budget. What was austerity for the community at large hit the carers harder.

THE new year is not about whether Enda is under pressure from Leo or not. It’s not about how many people will register for the water charge. 

It is puzzling why the Government has not included amongst the forthcoming referenda what would be a relatively simple and uncontentious change to make to our Constitution.

The truism that the rich get richer — well most of the time anyway — was not confounded in 2014.

‘When we arrive at the 2015 Masters, it will not be about Woods halting his losing ways; it will be about McIlroy starting his winning habit.’

He is the greatest rugby player of his generation — perhaps of all time.

Winning the Six Nations, climbing to third in the world. Of course the Ireland rugby coach is manager of the year. Until you start examining the criteria for truly great team management.

It’s no small irony that the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, although almost universally hailed as one of the best tournaments ever, is destined to retain a unique place in football history, not for all its great games and great goals, but because of one match when, to put it at its mildest, the sublime gave way to the ridiculous.

Hosting a global sporting occasion won’t make a country rich, and isn’t even that good for tourism — but it will make its people happy.

Was Cork’s dramatic fightback to snatch a ninth All-Ireland senior title in ten years the moment Ladies Football moved in from the margins? Coach Eamonn Ryan debates the past, the present and the future.

It was backstage at the All Stars when Paul Murphy met Paul Murphy.

Government Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin is to be congratulated for his criticism of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) over their diktat on how proposals on extending marriage rights to same-sex couples might be discussed on radio.

GAVIN O’CONNOR is from Blarney, Co Cork, and plays the role of Fianna Fail politician, Seán Doherty, in the series Charlie, which begins on RTÉ One on Sunday.

Magic Moment: Caribou, Vicar Street. Caribou’s headliner at Vicar Street in November was sublime and spooky, with delicate beats and waves of old-fashioned human emotion coming together gorgeously.

Ed Power rounds up the best games of 2014 and looks forward to the most exciting upcoming releases

All those sugary Christmas treats can add up be don’t be tempted by celeb-endorsed fad diets as your new year fix. Slow and steady weight loss always wins out says Arlene Harris.

A new book offer unrivalled insight into life in the 9th century. Clodagh Finn turns the clock back.

A 33-year-old pedestrian has died after being hit by a van in Co Donegal.

The father-in-law of a woman accidentally shot dead with her own gun by her two-year-old son has said she was “not the least bit irresponsible”.

New figures released today show that for the second consecutive year, deaths resulting from road traffic collisions have increased.

Revellers converged on the beaches of Brazil, the skyscrapers of Dubai and New York's Times Square to welcome the new year.

The Rotunda Hospital in Dublin welcomed the first baby of 2015 last night.

Tony Pulis has called for unity at West Brom after he was confirmed as the Baggies' new head coach.

Ireland's newest television channel will begin broadcasting later this evening.

An appeals court in Egypt has ordered a retrial in the case of three imprisoned Al-Jazeera English journalists.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said he is open to a summit with his South Korean counterpart.