Two brave David’s to talk about this week — David Whelehan of Whelehan’s Wines which opened in December in the old Silver Tassie pub in Loughlinstown on the N11; and Dave Gallgher of Green Man Wines in Terenure which opened last month.

New Year Resolutions are usually tedious things such as “visit the gym more than once a week”, “pay off the Visa bill every month” etc. This week I am proposing some pleasurable resolutions which will be no hardship.

Red Mist Curiously Red Ale, 4.2% ABV, 500ml — €3.29-3.69

That hidden jewel of East Cork, Ballycotton, will be hopping this weekend as the Seafood & Shanty Ballycotton Festival (May 31-June 1) brings together fine local chefs, splendid seafood straight from the pier and excellent family entertainment.

The Menu loves chips and The Menu also loves Limerick.

There comes a time in spring when The Menu pokes his nose into the air and draws deep a draught from the east, checking the wind for first stirrings of his beloved West Waterford Festival of Food in Dungarvan (April 10-14).

From the starter to the main course to dessert, wine columnist Leslie Williams serves up some must-have holiday drinks.

After weeks of Halloween shenanigans, the ghouls and goblins (both commercial and otherwise) have shuffled off for another year.

SEPTEMBER is never a good month money-wise with the summer holidays a distant memory, the children arriving from school with requests for extra books and sports equipment, and the radio programmes beginning their doom-laden countdown to the next austerity Budget.

IN CASE you haven’t heard the rumour there is talk of duty being increased on wine in the budget once again this year so I, for one, am beginning to stock up.

IMAGINE the floral perfumes and white pepper of a fine German Riesling and mix that with the freshness of a Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc such as Sancerre, and finally add in the lusciousness of the best Pinot Grigio from Northern Italy.

IRISH wine consumers like familiarity and consistency in their wines and it is largely for this reason that over 50% of the wine we drink is from Australia or Chile and almost all of that is from grapes such as Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.

IRELAND has become a nation of wine drinkers in a very short time but the wines we drink now are quite different to those sampled in the mid-2000s.

Wine dinners — where importer and restaurant collaborate to showcase a particular range of wines — are often great fun and very good value too.

WITH spring lamb coming into season, now’s the time to consider what to put with it.

THERE’S this funny inspirational poster you may have seen: The first drawing shows a giant fish, mouth agape, chasing a tiny minnow.