The dreaded ‘C’ word is fast approaching so if you can be disciplined (or can lock the wine away somewhere) it is good to begin picking up some wines or at least thinking about what you will need.

This house is in walk-in condition, and within an easy walk of Douglas village’s services and shops and schools.

Watching the Euros has got me thinking about French wines so once again this week I’m back in the Languedoc.

The weather on Tuesday summed up the challenges for grassland farmers.

Dublin might be waiting to take on Kerry in Sunday’s All Ireland Football final but it was a Mayo man who was beaming brightly at Carton House yesterday as Royal Dublin ended their 47-year wait for victory in the AIG Barton Shield.

Galway and Royal Dublin’s Barton Shield sides will provide the high quality golf in today’s AlG Cups and Shields National finals but all the excitement may well come from the minnows in the Pierce Purcell Shield semi-finals at Carton House.

Kilmeen 5-14 Grange 0-5: It was third time lucky for Kilmeen as they put on a superb display to claim the Cork JBFC title at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Unsurprisingly, Our Table, the Cork Midsummer Festival long table al fresco banquet on Cork’s Oliver Plunkett St, feeding 400 white-clad diners, is long sold out.

A maritime historian has warned that one of three Spanish Armada wrecks off the coast of Streedagh in Sligo may be under threat following the discovery of what appears to be ballast from one of the galleons on the beach.

So what does a Ryder Cup captain do, once he’s delivered the trophy to his bosses at the European Tour?

You would imagine Paul McGinley has plenty on his mind right now, with the Ryder Cup just days away.

Wexford manager Liam Dunne has left dual star Lee Chin out of his side for Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier Phase 3 clash with Clare in Thurles on Saturday (5pm).

As Cork head for Killarney on Sunday to take on the might of Kerry in the Munster SFC final, there are surely two very proud parents over in Grange, just outside Fermoy.

All-Ireland champion Martin Coppinger was awesome in the opening score of his title defence at Grange on Friday beating Brian Wilmot by three bowls of odds.

The demise of the golf membership entrance fee in Ireland has become a reality as we head into 2013, writes Brian Keogh

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

Karl O’Dwyer shakes his head at the thought of it now.

Another new road race is added to the ever-expanding calendar tomorrow when the Bride 10km run, organised by the local Bride Rovers GAA club, takes places at Rathcormac, Co Cork.

I once heard one of Chile’s most illustrious winemakers, Aurelio Montes, affectionately refer to the pinot noir grape as being like his teenage offspring: full of potential for a great future — but a royal pain to deal with right now.

THERE was an embarrassment of riches at the annual New Zealand wine fair last week.

IF you’ve taken on a ‘new you’ programme to counteract the excesses of the festive season, you deserve every credit.

CORK

CHAMPIONS Thurles Sarsfields have been drawn against Knockavilla Kickhams in the first round of the Tipperary senior hurling championship.

TWO-TIME All-Star Paul Kelly has been dropped from Tipperary’s senior hurling panel.

REIGNING Cork senior football champions Nemo Rangers will begin the defence of their title on May 7 with a first round tie against Ballincollig in Ovens.

THERE are extensions and conversions that follow the line of a given house, blending the architecture of the old to the new in a seamless join.

TIPPERARY hurlers suffered a devastating pre-championship blow yesterday when Paul Kelly suffered a broken ankle on club duty with Mullinahone.

Kitchen equipment group Aga Foodservice today posted a 5% rise in half-year profits boosted by strong sales of its Rangemaster cookers.

EARLIER this month, members of Ardmore/Grange ICA guild in Co Waterford visited Áras An Uachtaráin.

Defending champion and Irish international Maria Dunne (Skerries) has safely made it through to the semi-finals of the Clarins Leinster Ladies Golf Championships at Grange Golf Club.

European Hockey results

European Club Hockey Championships

Royal Co Down ladies take Irish Seniors title. Results below:

The following team will represent Ireland in the Ladies’ Home International Matches which takes place at Carlow Golf Club, from August 22-24.