It is likely to be some time before solar farms become a common sight in rural Ireland, with Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton saying commercial solar power is still relatively expensive, and it has not won out at auctions or successfully competed for any Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff schemes.

A plan which may allow the Department of Agriculture to approve afforestation projects in Special Protection Areas (SPAs) is being finalised for public consultation — after six years in preparation.

Irish golf saw its fair share of ups and downs during 2018. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open was a huge success at Ballyliffin, several clubs celebrated significant anniversaries and the golf course at Adare re-opened to global acclaim. The headline feeling was positive… but here are the 2018 report cards from nine golf clubs, covering every tier of Irish golf.

Aching limbs and sore muscles mingled with broad smiles at Munster’s high-performance centre in UL yesterday, as all involved with Saturday’s win over Leinster reflected on an occasion that will live long in the memory.

Colin Sheridan's A to Z of 2019

Fewer people died on Irish roads in 2018 than in any other year since records began almost 60 years ago, according to provisional statistics from the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

No subject matter exercises ministers more than talk of a reshuffle, writes Political Editor, Daniel McConnell

The dominant feature of the Irish residential property market last year remained the shortfall in supply.

The ending of one year and the start of another can provide an opportunity for a sprinkling of Irish and a reality check for others. With each passing year, the green contingent in the Premier League, especially the top half, is shrinking.

Ireland should withdraw from involvement in the EU/Nato army — “As a nation we box above our weight.”

This year — welcome 2019 — closes the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac designations making this the year of the pig.

One of the shameless and all-so-revealing dodges used by Irish businesses, whose balance sheets might be constrained by a more responsible, by a more honest response to climate collapse, is that this is a small country that can’t really do much to turn the climate change tide.

One of the unintended consequences of the Brexit vote was that 200,000 Irish passport applications were received from Britain this year.

Premature babies, or ‘preemies’ as they’re affectionately called in maternity units, face a tough fight but are well cared for by neonatal staff across the country. Though their parents run a gamut of emotions, writes Kelly O’Brien

I was really tempted to start off 2019 with a load of rugby predictions.

The US withdrawal from Syria is being ordered unilaterally by a president who clearly has no idea what he is doing, writes Christopher R Hill.

The interest rate you pay, the type of mortgage that buyers choose, and the possibility of paying off the loan early are all factors to consider when buying a property, writes John Lowe

You don’t get balloons and congratulations when your baby is born as prematurely as ours was, writes Conall Ó Fátharta.

The Crawford’s display of Harry Clarke’s paintings includes Fiona Shaw’s reading of the Keats poem that inspired them, writes Ellie O’Byrne

Happy New Year to one and all and we bring you some good cheer with the news that Davy Fitzgerald and John Mullane recently made their peace.

New instalments of Star Wars and Toy Story are among this year’s crop of eagerly anticipated movies, writes John Daly

From ‘swackets’ to seaweed, art to armcuffs, Esther N McCarthy asks the experts to tap into the trends we should watch out for in 2019.

One of the major themes of the Christmas season is the message of the coming of Light into the darkness of our world.

An €8m flood prevention plan for a Cork satellite town has been delayed because a review is being undertaken of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and it also awaits sanction from the minister for public expenditure and reform.

The organisation representing Defence Forces officers says it doesn’t have confidence that the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) will deliver much-needed pay increases for lowly-paid soldiers, sailors, and aircrews.

With a Christmas festival blitz that provided a host of surprises now in the rearview mirror, the focus turns to what lies ahead in 2019,writes Darren Norris

Bishop of Kilmore Leo O’Reilly has retired from his position on health grounds and has had his resignation accepted by Pope Francis.

More than 10,000 people became naturalised Irish citizens last year, as new figures also revealed a rise in the number of people issued passports, particularly from the UK.

Who better to ask about the notion that 2018 has been a pivotal one for women’s sport in Ireland than six athletes who are at the top of their game right now?

Many companies and employers remain unprepared for changes to the PAYE system which come into law today, a payroll specialist firm has warned.

From reformed pop icons to vintage rockers and singing showmen, there’s a lot to look forward to in live music in 2019. Here, in chronological order, Ed Power looks at some of the highlights.

Meet Orla Farrell, the teacher who retired early to combat climate change.

To many of his team mates, Johnny Sexton has often been seen as a man who brings a Monday morning personality to a Saturday night game.

This year, on paper at least, seems as though it could be something of a watershed for the Irish oil and gas exploration industry.

Joe Schmidt is relying on Robbie Henshaw being his “solutions man” when the Leinster star faces England tomorrow from full-back.

Cork manager John Meyler says his attentions are already firmly fixed on their Munster championship opener against Tipperary in May, as they look to win their first All-Ireland since 2005.

'Trade-off’ is needed to get housing supply moving in the right direction

Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno is looking forward to returning to action so soon after the Gunners were thrashed by table-topping Liverpool.

Campaigners opposing a large solar farm planned in West Cork have called on the Government and local authorities to introduce legislation and guidelines to control and regulate the development of such projects around the country.

Hugo Lloris is hoping 2019 will be the year he finally lifts some silverware with Tottenham.

New domestic violence laws which come into effect today won’t be effective unless support services, the gardaí and the courts are given additional resources.

The market is seriously concerned about the global economy.

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson believes the Premier League leaders cannot be considered equals to Manchester City until they have won the title.

In a recent article in this newspaper, I referred to 2018 as a year of uncertainty for personal finances. I feel that 2019 will be the same.

Donegal will not rush some of their more experienced campaigners back into action just yet as they bid to defend the Dr McKenna Cup that set them on their way to an Ulster title last year.

Burglary rates in Cork have increased by almost 10% in the year to the end of September, despite overall rates falling in most other parts of the country.

Ireland’s drinks industry continues to prosper. It is one of the country’s most dynamic sectors, driven by innovation and growing demand in export markets.

The comeback, though she hadn’t intended on one, was triggered by an unexpected phone call from Cork camogie manager Paudie Murray.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to an accident in which a 16-year-old girl was left fighting for her life after being hit by a car in Ballincollig, Co Cork.

A “momentous day” but not one for “jubilation” is how Health Minister Simon Harris has described the availability of abortion services from today

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has put his ministers on notice of his intention to carry out a reshuffle this summer, in the wake of the local and European elections.

A new €2 coin is being launched this month, to mark the one hundred years since the sitting of the first Dáil.

The Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI are reminding the public to be safe if they are heading to the sea today.

Two men are being treated in hospital following a shooting at a fast food takeaway in Dublin in the early hours of this morning.

An Irish woman who was a "formidable warrior" for transparency in hospital care after she was left with terminal cervical cancer arising out of medical negligence in Holland has passed away at the age of just 58.

While the notion that elite sportspeople might be attracted to playing professionally is lost to many on these shores, the facts speak for themselves and Ailish Considine is predicting more interested among ladies footballers in participating in the AFLW next season.

Provisional road collision statistics for 2018 show Ireland continued to improve its road safety performance by recording a 4% drop in road deaths, making it the safest year since road deaths were first recorded in 1959.

The cash tills rang for Christmas tree growers this festive season as sales surpassed €22m.

A lucky Lotto player in Co Wexford has had a dream start to the New Year scooping the top prize of an incredible one million euros in the last night’s National Lottery Christmas Millionaire Raffle.

A number of babies were born in Ireland just seconds past midnight as we welcomed the New Year.

The Guinness Storehouse retains its position as Ireland’s number one international visitor attraction by surpassing all previous records, with over 1.7 million guests passing through its doors in 2018.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has released a New Year's Day statement in which he acknowledges an important milestone for Ireland's social progress, economic prosperity and equality of opportunity.

Ronan McCarthy has announced the Cork senior football team to play Limerick in the semi-finals of the McGrath Cup this weekend.

A driver has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after being pulled over by gardaí in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow.

Maeve, born to mum Michelle Montague and dad Simon Cox from Kilmessan near Trim in Co Meath, weighed 7.4lbs and is the couple's first child.

Did you do a New Year's Day Swim?

Fionn Doyle, the boy who captivated people at home and abroad in his brave battle with leukaemia had passed away, now entering 2019 in a new place.

Calvin White is missing from his home in Ballyfermot since last night, December 31.

Vinny Perth is the new Dundalk head-coach after signing a two-year contract to succeed Stephen Kenny.

Motorists are being urged to check their car batteries before returning to work amid a warning that they could be flat after the festive period.

The winning ticket was sold in the UK.

It may have taken more than 30 years after his last championship for the wisdom of John Wooden to cross over from his own sport and permeate the language and thinking in Irish coaching circles, but since it did, he has been pretty much a constant and towering presence there.

There have been so many twists and turns in Sanita Puspure’s life, from the moment she quit rowing in Latvia to when she ruled the world in Bulgaria last summer.

One race, one game, one day can only ever add to the information bank. It is never definitive.

Billy Holland will make his 200th appearance for Munster when he lines out against Connacht in Saturday’s crucial Guinness PRO14 game at the Galway Sportsground.

Unai Emery is prepared to stand up for himself against star players and even the crowd after he was booed for the first time as Arsenal manager when making a substitution.

The first thing I’m asked by an African man when I attend a fundraiser for asylum-seekers in Ireland is: “Are you alone? Do you have someone with you? A friend? Will I introduce you to people?”

The winter solstice and Christmas festivities are behind us. The business data for the year is being crunched and chewed over by the statisticians.

This year opens with what now seems the perennial gift of uncertainty for exporters plying their trade across world markets that are increasingly sanctions-hit and politically ostracised.

The most interesting and illuminating piece of data that surfaced over the holiday period was about life expectancy in Ireland, writes Joe Gill.

Until recently, we equated values with religion, but have swapped all that for public opinion, writes Gerard Howlin.

Provisional figures on road deaths record the lowest total in 60 years making 2018 the safest year on our roads since records began in 1959.

One of the empowering themes of 2018 was the determination of people poorly treated by the health system to insist on higher standards of transparency and accountability.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has admitted that the ongoing housing crisis was “easily the biggest challenge” faced by the Government last year. Maybe Mr Varadkar should have expanded by conceding that the crisis was “easily the biggest challenge that we can do something meaningful about”.

When the Government sold the National Lottery licence five years ago, for €405m, the justification was that the money was needed to construct the National Children’s Hospital, which, at that time, was estimated would cost €600m.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been diagnosed with lung cancer after breaking ribs. If she retired, her replacement would tilt the US Supreme Court to the right, says TP O’Mahony

So who dares stand in the way of Dublin and history in 2019?

Donal O’Keeffe spent time in the run up to Christmas with buskers in Cork City. Here’s how he got on.

Ronan Jennings selects the video games he’s most looking forward to for the year ahead

Olivia Colman’s brilliant portrayal of Queen Anne in ‘The Favourite’ nicely whets the appetite for her turn as Elizabeth II in ‘The Crown’, writes Gemma Dunn.

From Kinsale and Clonakilty in West Cork to Donegal via Dublin City, gin producers are cropping up across the country eyeing an ever-increasingly popular market, writes Olivia Kelleher.

It is easier to get a bag of coke and a pint than it is to get help for depression.

Gardaí have said it was “pure luck” that at least one of two workers shot during an armed robbery at a north Dublin takeaway on New Year’s Day was not killed.

Tipperary and Donegal had the greatest number of road fatalities in 2018, Garda figures show.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has talked down the chances of Sinn Féin dominating future presidential elections, should overseas Irish people be allowed to vote.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has enacted domestic violence legislation to include new crimes of coercive control and forced marriage and to incorporate crimes committed during dating.

Farmers have opened up about the agony of suffering silently with Lyme disease, which is notoriously difficult to diagnose.

The past year produced another crop of bizarre, eye-watering injuries for sport stars. And not all of them happened during the action.

Johnny Sexton may be Ireland’s best place kicker, but the statistics suggest Connacht out-half Jack Carty is leading the chasing pack when it comes to success from the tee.

Clare hurling joint manager Gerry O’Connor has identified a trio of national league games that he thinks will prime the Banner for a tilt at the Munster championship next summer.