Take a break from the high street to see the full spectrum and prolific output of innovative craft makers in Cork, at locations which include the city centre, suburbs and country towns, writes Carol O’Callaghan

A battle for the patronage of a primary school planned for one of Cork’s largest towns has kicked off.

Kya deLongchamps enjoys the whimsical interior of a period renovation and extension project near Fermoy which displays the flair of jeweller, Simon Barber.

AS A secondary school pupil in Carraig na bhFear all Simon McKeown wanted to be was a vet. 

The IndieCork Film Festival has launched an initiative named in honour of a pioneering young filmmaker who died suddenly, aged just 29.

The Underground Short Film Festival, which takes place in Cork from Saturday to August 16, will, for the first time in its four-year history, screen five feature films.

DEFENCE PLAN

NOW in its third year, the Dare Media Underground Short Film Festival, in Cork, runs from Aug 10-17.

Head Over Heels is the name of the film that could bring her Oscar glory but it also describes how a young Co Kerry filmmaker feels about being nominated for the industry’s biggest awards.

BUILDING bridges in the air for internet search engine companies, completing a psychiatric care hospital for the Under 18s in Cherry Orchard, Dublin, and fitting out offices in Cork for the likes of VMware and extensions for Boston Scientific — the architectural practice Reddy O’Riordan Staehli is back being busy as it celebrates its 40th birthday.

CORK Cine Club’s latest programme runs from Oct 11-Dec 13 at its new venue, St John’s Central College in Cork city. With screenings of art house films and documentaries every Thursday night, the season kicks off with Even The Rain, directed by Iciar Bollain. This socially aware film is about a production team in Bolivia making a controversial film about Christopher Columbus. Meanwhile, a local uprising against water rates takes place.

The beau monde mannequins of Brown Thomas have entered the realm of contemporary art as the chain turns its windows into galleries for the next three weeks.

Who could fail to be inspired by Jennifer Lopez’s long, lithesome legs?

SNAKES alive...an exotic animals expert has called for new legislation to control their import after several venomous snakes were abandoned.

IF YOU can’t stop tapping your fingers to your favourite music, a Cork teenager’s free smartphone application could be just the thing for you.

SOARING demand for training has left at least two people turned down for every successful applicant to restricted places on further education courses.

STUDENTS with degrees or who have recently lost their jobs may struggle to get funding for courses to attain new skills because of strict social welfare rules, heads of some of Cork’s busiest further education centres have claimed.

AROUND two-thirds of people applying to study in some further education colleges have been unsuccessful because of a cap on places imposed by the Government, a union has claimed.

CORK could become the creative capital of the country through a planned art and design quarter, graduating students heard yesterday.

A SHOWDOWN is looming over city plans to acquire the prime 22-acre Showgrounds site in Cork’s docklands.

TRAVELLERS were honoured last night for completing an EU-funded college course on horse care that is set to be rolled out nationwide.