TODAY we have not only a taste test but also a bake test. We looked for the best cake mixes to see if they were worthwhile compared to baking from scratch.

A 23-year-old man who suffered a severe injury playing five-a-side football and later had to have most of his middle finger amputated has been awarded €145,000 by the High Court.

More than €1.6bn was paid to over 130,000 Irish farmers last year under a variety of EU agriculture schemes, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

Commercialisation of the potentially lucrative Spanish mineral mine being developed by Co Meath-based prospecting firm, Ormonde Mining, is likely to be delayed until next year.

There has been widespread surprise at the selection of Enda Kenny’s junior ministers with a number of high-profile TDs losing out.

A Co Meath insurance broker who carried out a €109,000 life insurance fraud has been ordered to perform 240 hours unpaid work in the community in addition to a four-year suspended sentence.

Wedding fairs, foodie fun, Rockathon 2015 and International Explorers Film Festival and Awards. There’s plenty to look forward to for the week ahead.

Commissioning of Ormonde Mining’s flagship Barruecopardo tungsten project, in western Spain, is targeted for the end of next year.

In publican speak, they’re the ‘lost generation’ — younger people who have forsaken the traditional pub for the nightclub or home-drinking, as well as the tens of thousands that have emigrated.

Housebuilding group Abbey says it is concerned over State intervention in its sector in its core markets of Britain and Ireland and has urged both countries’ governments to sell more land to private developers.

Heroin, tablets and cannabis with a total value of approximately €700,000 have been seized by Co Meath, it has emerged.

Noel Meade is set to make plans for the Kerry National nearer to the big Listowel event.

Bobby Browne is nothing short of a legend at Laytown and Bettystown and the 71-year old PGA professional was beaming on Saturday as the ladies claimed the AIG Senior Cup for only the second time in the club’s 105-year history — 26 years after their breakthrough win in 1988 — with victory over a youthful Killarney. 

Luxury chocolate maker, Lir Chocolates is on course to record a 47% jump in profits to €420,000 in its current financial year.

Just under €22.62m worth of tax settlements were paid to Revenue during the second quarter of the year; a rise of just over 10% on the preceding three months.

The titanic minutes of the Irish Tug of War championships in broiling Corofin on the edge of the Burren yesterday came when the two top Irish teams eventually qualified to meet in the final.

Trust has become a key ingredient in food production in Ireland, according to the Irish Food Writers’ Guild.

Irish mineral exploration company, Ormonde Mining has raised £1.4m (€1.7m) in fresh funding via a new share placing.

A string of top awards at last week’s Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show pointed to a revival of sport horse breeding in Munster.

They look lovely and last so long — well looked after dairy show cows come up shining year after year, with top winners from 2010 taking the red rosettes again last Sunday at Tullamore Show.

A Co Meath housewife has won a GAA club lottery on the direction of a judge.

A trip to Aintree is one of several options open to Rathlin, who has delighted trainer Mouse Morris by finally showing his true ability over fences.

IRISH housebuilding group, Abbey has reported a near €2 million year-on-year drop in first-half profits, due mainly to a decline in its best performing British-based division.

WHEREAS Tramore have captured the Barton Shield on three occasions, Mitchelstown were contesting the national finals of any competition when they took on Ballina in the semi-final of the Irish Junior Cup at Castlerock, Co Derry, yesterday.

FOUR years ago, I spoke to Co Meath organic operator Des Crinion about his business.

THE tail-end of Hurricane Katia has made the practice rounds for the Chartis Irish Cups and Shields finals at Castlerock, Co Derry over the past few days more a test of stamina than skill, although it is confidently expected calm will have been restored when the festival gets under way today with the semi-finals of both the Barton Shield and Irish Junior Cup.

GOLF is one of the most individualistic if not the most selfish of sporting activities.

CAPTAIN CEE BEE, is set to return to Punchestown for his next start in the John Durkan Memorial Chase.

LARGE numbers of people opposed to Green Party legislation on field sports are expected to take part in a public protest at the party’s national conference in Waterford city this weekend.

IRISH housebuilding group Abbey has said that its prospects remain dull, even after a good first half which saw a year-on-year swing from loss to profit.

CHARLES BYRNES fears Binocular will be a major stumbling block to Solwhit, who is unbeaten in 2009 and is fresh from claiming the scalps of Muirhead and Hurricane Fly in the Punchestown Hurdle two weeks ago, in the WBX.COM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle today.

Noel Meade could still run Casey Jones in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on Saturday despite having a couple of concerns.

Laytown and Bettystown's Robbie Cannon captured his first amateur major when he beat Cork's Gary O'Flaherty 4 and 3 in the final of the South of Ireland Amateur Open at Lahinch today.

Co Meath experienced the largest proportional increase in the number of people on the Live Register last month, according to the CSO.

Lucan's Richard O'Donovan recorded a fine opening round of 70 to lead after day one of the Irish Boys Amateur Close Championship at Portumna Golf Club.

A WILLOW processing unit being built at Balrath, Co Meath, will require 250 hectares of willow for harvesting each year, for which about €60 per tonne (dried) will be offered.

QUALITY is the gateway to winning and keeping consumer confidence, Glanbia chairman Michael Walsh declared in Kilkenny yesterday.

Timoney Technology of Co Meath has signed a contract worth an estimated €1 million with global truck manufacturer Terex.

Two double clear rounds in the warm evening air of Florida helped Ireland to a second place in its first Nations Cup of the year in Wellington last night.

BOOMING demand for fake blood, joke teeth and witches’ hats is making Hallowe’en a serious rival to Easter and St Valentine’s Day, shopkeepers said last night.

Marts: The indications that the factories were anxious to tighten the upward price trend for beef has been confirmed in the farmer pay sheet returns for last week’s kill.