The IRFU has doubled down on its doubts over South Africa’s suitability to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with the union continuing to push for answers on aspects of the technical review which last week recommended the Rainbow Nation.

The English Market in Cork city centre is on the lookout for two new tenants.

A recovery operation is under way after a 75-metre cargo ship ran aground off the English coast.

Investment spend dragged accumulated profits at well-known Cork fishmonger K O’Connell Fish Merchants down by over €122,000 in its last financial year, newly-filed accounts show.

Fiann Ó Nualláin is enthusiastic about soft fruit planting and says canes and bushes should be set now.

Ireland’s oldest indoor market is introducing a tour-group booking system and is capping visitor group sizes to a maximum of eight people at a time in a bid to manage surging tourist numbers.

Valentine’s Day may have become an excuse for commerciality and excess, but there is worse these days than having a day that celebrates love in whatever form.

The English Market in Cork has launched a start-up stall initiative to foster fledgling food businesses.

Investment property activity is continuing through to year’s end in and around Cork city centre streets by the Penneys site, which is expected to go forward for planning permission next month for a major redevelopment, after a two-year site assembly

The sale and €75m- €100m redevelopment of Cork City’s prime Capitol Cinema site for a food-related innovation centre, retail and office block represents "a turning point for the city" and will lead to renewal of a whole section of Cork, it has been claimed.

Cork’s most famous country house has hit back at unfavourable reviews from a British journalist.

Keeping things in perspective is what Fran Gavin does. Charged with running the SSE Airtricity League, he has mastered the art of standing back and looking at the big picture.

Pharrell's song Happy has been embraced by the people of Cork who can now be found singing and dancing along to it on YouTube.

Cork’s famous fishmonger Pat O’Connell has been invited to Buckingham Palace.

Traders in Cork’s historic English Market could face fines if their stall displays encroach on the aisles under proposed new bylaws.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND, FIRST LEG:

FINALLY the summer seems to have arrived with a run of warm days. The barbecue has been on standby all week in my house and the heating has been turned off for the first time this year. Now I fully admit that summer drinking is a little more complicated in Ireland given how unpredictable our weather is, but warmer weather does demand a slight change in drinking habits.

Each week, Esther N McCarthy scouts around for interesting bits for your home. This week, she suggests some gifts for Mother’s Day.

Captain Ross Ford believes a Scotland win in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin is necessary for the squad to retain belief that they are moving in the right direction.

EVERY YEAR the Georgina Campbell Awards are eagerly awaited by the restaurant industry.

THE Queen of England has thanked Cork’s best-known butcher for welcoming her to the city’s historic English Market.

COULD Fine Gael be overcompensating a little? Keen to dispel the notion that Enda is ducking a debate, the folk behind the party’s Facebook page are now throwing absolutely everything open to the floor.

I LIVE in Limerick and work as a sales manager for a company based in Scotland.

Kelly Osbourne flew to London to surprise her fiancé.

TWELVE months ago, Giovanni Trapattoni touched down in London for just his second game in charge of the Republic of Ireland, a largely low-key friendly against Colombia, and duly likened himself to a concert pianist.

Mothers who are pregnant in the summer have taller, stronger-boned babies because they benefit from the sun’s vitamin-boosting rays, a childhood study revealed today.

AS MUNSTER blazed a trail through European rugby over the last seven years, Leinster have become the Irish wannabes in the Heineken Cup tournament.

Mick Kinane could be in for the mount on Group One winner Simply Perfect when she launches an attack on either the French or English 1000 Guineas.

TRADERS in one of the country’s most historic food markets said they will fight plans tonight to almost double rents over the next three years.

Scottish Power reported further strong growth south of the English border today after adding 460,000 new UK customers and lifting half-year profits by 12%.

FIFA will keep a watchful eye on the Adrian Mutu case to ensure the Football Association impose a minimum six-month ban on the Chelsea striker should claims that he has tested positive for cocaine be proven.

Adrian Mutu is heading for talks about his Chelsea future with manager Jose Mourinho today following allegations that he has tested positive for a banned substance.

On entering the English Market from Prince’s Street and Grand Parade in Cork one is confronted with a notice entitled Historical Context. On perusing the text I observed what might be a spelling error. It read: “The market was traditionally a meat, foul, fish and vegetable market.”

An operation to remove the wreck of a huge car carrier which has blocked part of the English Channel for more than six months was due to move into its main phase today.

ENGLISH 2000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend is very much on track for Saturday’s Vodafone Derby at Epsom, as Mark Weld yesterday emphatically denied rumours regarding the horse’s recent homework.