There’s a sort of musical chairs series of moves afoot at several of Munster’s TV, audio and white goods retailers this month. As one Cork city centre retailer prepares to move to an edge-of town spot for a larger footprint in coming weeks, the first out of the traps to officially confirm a relocation is the well-known and long-established Soundstore.

STARBUCKS and Nando’s are coming to Cork City’s Emmet Place — and, now, an investment property linked to long-time developer/investor, Robin Power, and which is let to two food operators, is for sale there, priced at €1.2m.

The Irish economy’s pick-up continues to feed, and be fed by, new restaurant openings in Carrigaline and Midleton, with established operators to the fore.

LEAVING Cooper family hands for the first time since Cromwellian days is Sligo’s historic Markree Castle, the latest in a quickly expanding list of Irish hotels and castles changing hands along with the likes of Adare, and Ashford, while Waterford Castle is also up for new ownership.