Esther N McCarthy syncs and swims with a tidal clock and looks at Cork through the lens of Picasso with eight fabulous finds to make our lives and living spaces more fun as the new school year starts

Ruth O'Connor's weekly guide to inspiring ideas and beautiful things

Often dismissed as the unruly fashion child thanks to the denim cut-off, shorts are a major player this season. As seen on the runways of The Row to Saint Laurent, designers are re-discovering the charm of shorts. Versatility is their style power. From knee-length to the biker there is one to suit all, writes Paula Burns