DON Baker does not believe in self-pity, even though he has every reason to feel sorry for himself following the cruel treatment he experienced as a young boy in a reformatory school.

WEST CORK has a few iconic bars with a reputation spreading over the waves — and the Algiers Inn is definitely up there with the best of them, hosting celebs, slaking thirsts and appearing in movies, ads and TV shows.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival got into full swing last night on a weekend which will see almost 1,000 musicians from 18 countries performing in various venues around the city.

Rachel Pilkington makes plea to Irish Government.

Over 271 of the biggest names in Irish film, television and music have called on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to ban fur farming in Ireland.

A man who overcame drug addiction to direct films with an anti-drugs message has accused the organisers of the Cork Film Festival of snubbing him.

PARKING any talk of belt-tightening, the city down south showed it had the nous to knock the best out of straitened circumstances in a three-day extravaganza of jazz and drink.

MORE than 1,000 artists will perform in some 80 venues as Cork swings to the beat of one of Europe’s biggest jazz festivals later this month.

TENS OF thousands of jazz fans blew into Cork city yesterday as the 31st Guinness Jazz Festival roared into action.

HARMONICA legend Don Baker helped launch a unique album yesterday featuring the talents of homeless people.

Ronnie Drew was buried today after a funeral ceremony that brought together many of Ireland’s finest musicians.

RADIO presenter John Creedon said he’d be prepared to put himself through another mentally gruelling Big Brother-style show for charity.

WITH the economic slowdown, the entertainment business is also feeling the pinch. But one music venue is bucking the trend.

FAMOUS Dubliners went sightseeing yesterday to help raise funds for a charity devoted to helping sick children.

THE Cork Jazz Festival ended on a high note last night, when Guinness confirmed it will sponsor the event for at least another two years.

AUDIENCES come as varied as performers and the Cork Jazz Festival is no exception. While some of the crowds were getting mellow on melodies, others were being challenged, if not downright confused, by sounds not so easy to hum along with.

Cork's Guinness Jazz Festival is expected to pump over €20m into the Cork economy over the four days of the October bank holiday weekend (Oct 24- 27).

BLUES singer Mary Coughlan is looking forward to celebrating her ninth Christmas sober.