For the Irish actress this Christmas will be ‘incredibly bittersweet’ as she mourns the death of her dad and celebrates her much-fought-for daughter

Want to escape the bleak midwinter? Here are some excellent options to consider, from South Africa to Tenerife

Going on your first holiday with a new partner can be exciting and anxiety-inducing

The second solo album from the sonic architect of The xx is a masterful tapestry of melodies, moods, ideas and bangers to carry you through the warehouse party of your dreams

Bob Dylan is a famous son of Minneapolis but the city is speckled with places to pay homage to its long-time resident Prince, thanks to his zest for local life

The Belfast-born actor – half of ‘British theatre’s coolest power couple’ – puts her success down in part to her determination to avoid being typecast

Dordogne has its own character steeped in centuries of history, but it has remained welcoming to outside influence

The top places to holiday around the world, from the majesty of Petra in Jordan to new sail and rail routes to France for the Olympics in Paris

The Belfast actor is already a familiar face. With the new series of The Tourist coming up, among other roles, he’s about to be on our screens a lot more

Yearning for a mid-winter fix of vitamin D? From budget fly’n’flops to dreamy tropical locations, these deals have you covered

The veteran band’s next album title turned out to be prescient after the unexpected loss of original member Andy Fletcher

No-fly holidays speak to the trend of ‘slow travel’ – taking time to enjoy the journey as well as breathe in the destination

Irish people will have less money to spend on travel this year, but it won't stop us as we're learning to be canny to make holiday funds go further

Here’s a selection of some of the best, which are close to airports served by direct flights from Ireland

The Antrim actor relishes her central role in Gangs of London, especially given how often older actresses are often expected to play only wives and mothers