A new book on the meaning of life by UCC lecturer Dr Catherine Conlon got us thinking.

It’s a question that mankind has pondered since the beginning of time and the answer is never the same  - no matter who you ask.

Budget blues in December pushes annual consumer spending down by as much as 7%, according to the National Retail Industry Alliance, who argue the Government’s VAT tax take would rise significantly by moving the budget to February.

Dozens more bookshops will shut down over the coming years because people are buying low cost titles in big supermarkets and over the internet, it was warned today.