THERE I was in the middle of getting a stubborn grease stain off the bottom of the casserole dish when a scream rushed its way into my ear canal and shook me from my day dream.

Get a taste of some of the interesting and quirky happenings in Europe from our Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill.

Cathy Desmond loves Munich and says there’s much more to the Bavarian capital than Oktoberfest —it’s a great place to visit now, especially with direct flights from Cork and Limerick.

Owen Farrell is a conundrum. He is the least flashy of characters in the most showy of positions.

Pep Guardiola’s side have more fun than the rest of us. Fact.

The Oktoberfest taste of Bavarian culture, which has proved so popular in Cork in the past couple of years, is about to hit Waterford.

The Menu’s grievously overworked gob is always either eating or yapping from morning til nightfall, so the notion of a spot of yapping about eating at Foodcamp (Oct 26) as part of Savour Kilkenny Food Festival sounds most promising.

When Schalk Brits flies past you driving a spray-painted old banger with four large, loud rugby players as passengers, you realise this isn’t your average club.

The Menu relishes any opportunity to spice up his dining with a bit of pizzazz.

English clubs are instinctively divided, but there is one topic that unites them all; their dislike of Saracens.

The mayor of Munich has tapped the first keg of beer to kick off the 179th traditional German folk festival Oktoberfest.

A tent made out of 500 beer bottles has been created in Germany.

Poor Neidín barely gets a chance to wolf down his oats this weather before The Menu has him back in harness and out and about on the high roads for all the autumnal food festivals.

Dust down the lederhosen and prepare to clink your steins to the sounds of Bavarian music, because Oktoberfest will be staged in Cork City again this year.

CLASSY CAMPING FOR OKTOBERFEST

Germany striker Mario Gomez has hit back at criticism of his performance in their win over Portugal by pointing out only Lionel Messi scored more Champions League goals than him last season and questioning why he should change his game.

IT WON’T be long now before Munich’s wintery smells start taking to the nostrils.

AFTER claiming their 11th straight clean sheet in all competitions, record-breakers Bayern Munich kicked back by taking part in the Bavarian capital’s Oktoberfest beer festival.

The top-ranked competitive eater in the world and reigning king of the World Bratwurst Eating Championship successfully defended his title in Cincinnati, Ohio, washing down 35 sausages in 10 minutes.

Round up your pals for a citybreak with a difference.

ERNST JOUBERT shouldn’t be a rugby player. He should be an accountant, or a full-time traveller. And it is as much to his surprise as anyone else’s that he will be lining up for Saracens against Leinster at Wembley this afternoon.

Munich’s mayor has tapped the first keg, opening this year’s annual Oktoberfest in southern Germany, where millions of guests from around the globe are expected to clink mugs of frothy beer in celebration of 200 years of the world-renowned festival.

Smokers heading to Germany's famous annual beer festival, Oktoberfest, will be forced to light up outside after voters supported a total smoking ban in Bavaria for restaurants, bars, cafes and beer tents.

German authorities have banned flights over the annual Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich after a series of terror threats aimed at Germany.

AN Australian tourist has died after being hit by a train as he headed back to his campsite from the Oktoberfest, Munich’s annual beer festival, German police said yesterday.

An Australian tourist has died after being hit by a train as he headed back to his campsite from the Oktoberfest, Munich’s annual beer festival, German police said today.

LONG-HAUL operator Tropical Sky could have picked anywhere to feature in their latest holiday promotion, but chose the tiny unspoilt island of Grenada to offer chill-out breaks to Irish clients.

The beer-loving governor of Bavaria was forced to climb down after claiming that some people can drive safely after drinking four pints.

Two people were killed when their mobile home was battered by a storm, US authorities said today.

Magners Irish cider maker C&C is to quench Bavarian tastebuds after unveiling details of a trial run for the brand in Munich and Barcelona today.

Party girl Paris Hilton thrilled German revellers at Munich's Oktoberfest yesterday when she donned traditional alpine attire for the celebrations.

In spite of yourself – and your better judgement – you’ll find yourself chuckling at this film, while at the same time hoping nobody actually spots you doing it.

Munich’s two-week Oktoberfest drew to a close today, and organisers said more people visited this year but they drank less beer than in 2004.

The world's biggest beer party is underway in Germany.

Ralf Schumacher wants the United States Grand Prix to be cancelled.