For any business, customer loyalty is vital, particularly during a summer routinely described as a washout. However, as Noel Baker discovered, one West Cork town is ensuring rain is not a spoiler by offering visitors more cultural events and a greater choice of eateries

Tommy Barker visits the lush green countryside home of Mrs Brown’s Boys’ Eilish O’Carroll, all down to Winnie McGoogan’s winning ways.

Tommy Barker finds that New England style, sea views and a gourmet food shop next door make for a great blend on Bantry’s Golden Mile.

The Opening of the Skibbereen Arts Festival

This property clicked with Tommy Barker while photographer Denis Scannell had the task of saying cheese.

Cremona Quartet in rehearsals at Bantry House, West Cork.

This suburban 1950s home has almost doubled its original size in a magical makeover says Tommy Barker.

There’s horses for courses out at Old Abbey, in Cork’s Waterfall: not only is the area home to a well-known riding school, Greybrook, but it’s also popular with hunts.

Denis Cronin with his 1904 Minerva. On the flat, she’s capable of 25mph. Pictures: Denis Scannell

Today more than 4,000 of us will pass through Fota Wildlife Park’s gates. Yet we know very little of what goes on behind the scenes.

Location: Dromore, Bantry €1.25 million

Cork people are long convinced of the county’s delights, but the rest of the world seems stunned that Kimye would consider a honeymoon in the Rebel county.

Ronan O’Gara must feel like everyone is starting to gang up on him.

Ronan O’Gara must feel like everyone is starting to gang up on him.

Tony Lyons was counting his lucky stars last night.

A century after the last senior rugby international on Leeside, the Ireland Club XV takes on England Counties in Cork this evening.

The ConnectIreland initiative will create at least 300 jobs this year, the serial entrepreneur behind the project, Terry Clune, told Cork Chamber’s breakfast briefing.

The Irish Examiner and Mediacontact.ie have joined forces with UCC to launch Cork’s inaugural Social Newsmaker conference.

Top Irish boxing coach Billy Walsh fears children are being forced to choose between sports at too young an age.

JENNIFER Evans, 62, has worked in M Evans sweet shop on Wolfe Tone Square in Bantry since she was a girl.

SEASONED stout drinkers are about to get a taste of the good old days with the launch of a beer steeped in history.

Cork legend Ronan Curran on the highs and lows of a career in intercounty hurling

This modern homestead enhances a slice of pastoral paradise, by blending into the landscape. Tommy Barker reports

ELDERLY women with cameras at the ready jostled for position, giddy school girls stood on bins and school-bags, toddlers on shoulders had a bird’s eye view — and some well-seasoned voyeurs had even thought to bring step ladders or stools. Everyone wanted to see the Queen.

AS Cork’s Lord Mayor Michael O’Connell sees it, the city’s celebrated marytrs, Tomás McCurtain and Terence McSweeney, would have been proud.

A NUMBER of protests passed off without incident just over 100 metres from the English Market during Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Cork.

TWO Japanese students studying English here were trying desperately to contact their loved ones last night.

A UNIQUE mental health initiative designed to provide independent supported living for people with mental health issues is under threat due to loss of funding.

THE country’s newest and most advanced private hospital will close within months unless the VHI provides health cover.

THE engineers of tomorrow have had a chance to see how two of the navy’s eight ships work.

CALLED after a contemplative order of nuns living across College Road is Cork’s St Clare’s Avenue, marking the quiet presence of the Poor Clares Monastery.

LARGE parts of the country will have a white Christmas Day as sub-zero temperatures over the next three days rule out a thaw.

IT was — well a white wedding.

FORECASTERS yesterday predicted the coldest December on record with more snow on the cards and biting temperatures lasting at least six days.

THERE’LL be plenty of puffing activity outside this unusual west Cork property offering today — it is placed on the last mile back into Clonakilty on the town’s inaugural Waterfront Running Marathon.

Tommy Barker warms to The Mill, a spacious property in Kerry with an outstanding array of features.

Tommy Barker views a property that offers the best of both worlds.

Munster journalists’ team for the interpros at Portumna on May 5 and 6 has been announced.