Even in this assertively secular age, Skellig Michael can be described as a special place.

I know parents are supposed to look forward to Christmas, but let’s face it, the most wonderful time of the year is that fortnight in the sun when you can have a bottle of wine with lunch because your offspring are in the Kids Club.

Balteenbrack House offers a multitude of options for family living, writes Catherine Shanahan

What a difference one teenage girl and one year makes.

There's been a recent history of hospitality at The Cove, by the Beacon road in West Cork’s Baltimore, exemplified by this home/B&B called the Slipway – but hospitality wasn’t always the flavour of the day.

Just how much should we trust TripAdvisor? Pat Fitzpatrick puts the website to the test on holiday — but also in his native Cork.

BALLYGARRY House Hotel proprietor and general manager, Padraig McGillicuddy, has the tourism business running deep in his veins.

British intelligence was very good at identifying Republicans who were interned without trial in Spike Island in 1921.

The TripAdvisor award recognises the most popular locations that are most popular based "on millions of reviews and opinions".

Audrey's been sorting out Cork people for ages...

So that’s Tuesday nearly wrapped up. Here are some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

Tommy Barker reports on two homes that form our house of the week.

This week’s column is brought to you by First World Problems, because I have one. Technically, it’s not a problem, more a First World Irritation, but where better to moan than here, in my own column, where I can monetise my displeasure.

It may take a while to get to Harvey’s Point, but once ensconced, you won’t want to leave, says Elaine Loughlin.

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime.

A five star hotel in Kerry has been named the best in Ireland.

US stocks slipped today as smaller companies and banks took their worst losses in a few months.

AN historic hotel in an historic Munster town celebrates 220 years of guest service and hospitality this year. It is also for sale, for €1.5m.

With 1,300 years of history, Ireland’s ‘Alcatraz’ has been named Europe’s No 1 tourist attraction, writes Sean O’Riordan

Energy companies led US stocks to modest gains on Wednesday as the market recouped some of its hefty losses from the day before.

In every town and village, people work hard to create a viable tourism sector that generates jobs and enhances quality of life.

POT KETTLE BLACK!

Being named as one of the five best ports to visit in Western Europe is very prestigious for the town of Cobh and has come about through a lot of hard work.

You need to read this Clare hotel's response to a negative TripAdvisor review that is 'liberal with the truth.' HotelDoolin_large.jpg

Hook Lighthouse was a victim of its own success last year with visitors queuing for up to two hours at times to take a tour — so this year online ticketing has been introduced.

Valerie O’Connor comes upon a forgotten clump of native asparagus and is prompted to make it the centre of a quick and easy, vegetarian meal.

Killarney Park Hotel finished first in the luxury hotel category, while Pax Guest House in Dingle topped Ireland’s B&B list, as well as placing 15th in Europe.

Experts in a variety of fields offer some life advice to Ciara McDonnell.

The Dow Jones industrial average missed the 20,000 mark by a fraction of a point on Friday as US stock indexes rose after the government said wages jumped in December, but two other major indexes set records.

Heron And Grey, Blackrock Market, 19a Main St, Blackrock, Co. Dublin; 01-212676; heronandgrey@gmail.com

The Skellig Ring — consisting of Skellig Michael, the 6th century precipitous monastic island off the coast of Kerry, its sister island the Little Skellig, and the coastal villages on the mainland — has been named among the top regions in the world for travellers in the influential Lonely Planet 2017 yearbook.

This week’s online and in the shops.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs have said that the market for mergers and acquisitions is “healthier than headline volumes suggest” and pinpointed some tech stocks as ripe for merger and acquisition.

With 62% of our former prisoners re-offending within three years of release it’s obvious that

The owners of this renovated Youghal home bought it to fit their 350-year-old door, writes Trish Dromey.

A 1990s-built, yet traditional looking 14-bedroomed townhouse accommodation business in West Cork’s Clonakilty has a guide price of €600,000 as it comes for sale, all ready to trade: even the bedrooms are prepped for guests.