Business leaders are confident about the prospects for growth in Cork despite the challenges facing the region.

Here is a selection of eight people who have recently begun interesting new roles with companies based in Ireland.

Réidín Aherne is director of operations at SAGE Midleton restaurant and festival co-ordinator for fEast Cork Food & Drink Festival, which runs until September 8. www.feastcork.ie

HERE’S one very simple way to give yourself a summer health boost — grow parsley in a pot on your kitchen windowsill, writes Clodagh Finn.

Hilary Fennell meets TV presenter and Chef Takashi Miyazaki.

Aileen Lee sits down with Cork architect Michael Carroll.

“Granny dumping” in nursing homes, pilfering from pensions, and lack of clear obligation on the State to protect vulnerable adults are among the reasons adult safeguarding legislation was needed, an Oireachtas committee heard.

Trish Dromey talks to a Dublin-based fintech firm that is taking the drudgery out of book-keeping.

More than half of Irish businesses are planning to increase exports next year.

An elderly man living in a nursing home was medicated because he was upset having being informed of the death of his wife.

Sage is a select band of Irish restaurants determinedly questing for that elusive modern Irish cuisine in the manner prescribed by Redzepi. 

7.30am

Newcastle-based businessman Graham Wylie, and his wife Andrea, are living the dream and surely grateful for the day they decided to have horses in training with Willie Mullins.

Dublin has beaten off 11 other European cities for 300 new jobs in technology company Sage.

Read on for the best in fine dining and street food, from where to get the best burgers to where to bring the family...

A graphically well-designed menu suggests cheering possibility like a well-dressed Christmas tree levitating on a bed of beautifully-packed gifts, some labelled with your name in generous Auntie Betty’s clear, strong, knowing hand. 

The vast majority of Irish businesses thought the Government was doing a better job of managing the economy under the direct supervision of the troika, according to a survey.

BY THE time we had got three-quarters of the way to Westport, our phone sat navs were locked in battle.

US travel accommodation company Airbnb has said it will double its workforce in Ireland to 200 employees by the end of this year.

O’Donovan’s Restaurant,

Casual restaurants which exhibit flair and creativity have been the most notable innovation of Irish restaurant culture over the last 12 months, according to food writer John McKenna.

Claims that the latest research shows there is no link between high voltage overhead powerlines and childhood leukaemia have been blasted as dishonest by a leading expert in the field.

A 15-minute “selfie” test conducted at home can indicate signs of mental decline that might be the first glimmer of Alzheimer’s.

Global markets took cheer after a key player pulled out of the race to head America's central bank, lifting hopes that the US will keep the printing presses rolling.

Global stock markets powered ahead today on renewed hopes America's money-printing presses will continue to roll.

Accountancy and retail software company Sage said that organic revenues growth of 5% in its UK and Ireland business helped underlying profits rose 6% to £184.9m in the six months to March 31 (€219.3m).

About 6,000 contactless payment terminals have been installed in Ireland, allowing consumers to pay with a wave of a card rather than having to key in a pin or sign a piece of paper.

Sage Stallone's funeral will take place on Saturday.

A feast of food from some of the country’s leading chefs, restaurants, and producers will be served up during a revamped food festival in a city park next month.

The continued political stalemate in Greece triggered more heavy falls for world markets today as party leaders failed to make progress forming a coalition government.

WHILE there will always be charlatans in the restaurant trade — as in all walks of life — the huge surge in promoting local produce on Irish menus is, for the most part, genuine.

SOME light at the end of the tunnel may be visible for Talk Talk employees about to lose their jobs, with a range of vacancies due to be advertised today.

Howard Johnson insists he is the victim of a witch-hunt after his licence was revoked for four years on Friday.

HOWARD Johnson plans to retire from training after being banned for four years yesterday by the British Horseracing Authority after being found in breach of charges relating to horse welfare and the administering of steroids to horses in his care.

Horse trainer Howard Johnson has had his licence revoked for four years after being found in breach of racing’s rules relating to horse welfare.

Banking stocks were driven lower today as jitters in the run-up to the sector’s results season added to worries over the US debt crisis.

SOME of the country’s top chefs will serve up their signature dishes on the banks of the Lee next month as the southern capital celebrates its renowned food culture.

The rally on London’s FTSE 100 Index came to a halt today amid falls from heavyweight oil giant Royal Dutch Shell and concerns over escalating violence in Egypt.

Software group Sage today said its sales revival continued as more of its small and medium-sized business customers showed signs of recovery.

The London market continued its rally today after the European Central Bank stepped up efforts to contain the continent's government debt crisis.

Cork: Sage Ireland, the business software company, has secured an exclusive partnership with FDC which will roll out Sage Accounts and Payroll solutions to the FDC client base of 15,000 clients.