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If ever there was a time to visit the Garden County of Wicklow, then it is in early November as woodlands and forest swap summer green for the unspeakably beautiful autumnal palette, one of nature’s finest shows and a most exquisite closing act to the wild food foraging season. 

Believing attendance at an Irish food festival is a state of grace any God-fearing Gael should aspire to on a near daily basis.

He was a ‘mean machine’ by all accounts and the intimidating image of Billy Isaac was what most people who came in contact with him in West Cork will remember.

A former heavyweight boxer and reputed crimeland hardman was found dead at his West Cork home yesterday after a domestic accident.

READY FOR OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD EXPERIENCE?

The former TV3 guru, Ben Frow, is selling his Durrus home, now that he’s moved to Channel 5. Tommy Barker reports

Tommy Barker is tickled pink by this Durrus delight

NO matter where we live, summer brings a freedom from care that is unlike any other time of the year. The season is full of playfulness, wild flowers, light and relaxation.

You’ll earn your mince pies with a bracing walk on Sheep’s Head, says David Young

MICHAEL D HIGGINS owes Martin McGuinness a big favour. But for him, he would not now be the President of Ireland. He only won the title by default.

A CAMPAIGN is being mounted by 37 primary schools in West Cork to fight possible closures mooted by the Department of Education as part of planned cost-cutting measures.

KRISTINA Schroder cannot believe that her husband Wolfgang won’t be coming back.

KILCROHANE in west Cork is the kind of place that makes you believe in God. With this week’s Mediterranean skies and glorious sunshine, it was somewhere that few would be capable of driving through without giving in to the urge to pull up at the roadside and drink up the view over Dunmanus Bay.

I HAVE written before on the subject of flooding, but in view of the recent deluge in Cork city surely it is time to make provision for water barrels at downpipes on houses everywhere.

THE owners of this shore-front property at Rossmore, Durrus, have moved closer to the village, prompting the sale of this immaculate three-bed. It’s far from the stripped-pine style of other west Cork offerings — this is a house with luxe extras, like a sauna and stand-alone barbecue house.

A 66-acre property is bucking the trend and drawing interest on all fronts, writes Rose Martin.

AN estimated 12,000 people flocked to The Beaches in Bantry for the annual agricultural show last Sunday.

ACCORDING to Elaine Spillane of Peninsula Properties, a 50-acre holding at Dromreagh, Durrus is perfect for a buyer who’s fed up with 21st century urban living, and who wants a complete change of lifestyle.

AN estimated €30 million in sales is expected to have been generated at SHOP 2006, Ireland’s retail food and drink exhibition, which ends at the RDS today.

A NUMBER of schemes earmarked for small villages have been refused planning permission by Cork County Council.

IN early March, a so-called Coastal Clean-Up Project invited people, via posters, in Bantry, Glengarriff and Durrus to collect rubbish from our beaches.

A RISE in the number of cattle entries at shows so far this season continued at Clonakilty where 200 animals from the main breeds were entered for various classes.

West Cork Food and Drink Fair at Mannings Emporium, Ballylickey on June 19 & 20 — today there will be a Food & Drink Quiz and on Sunday cooking demonstrations with Carmel from Good Things Café, Durrus and Ivan of Grapefruit Moon in Ballycotton. Special Guests John & Sally McKenna.

THAT there is still huge public misunderstanding about the current status of stem cell research and the difference between adult stem cell (ethical) and embryonic stem cell (unethical) research is brought into focus by Edwin Cussen’s letter (Irish Examiner, Dec 10).

IN support of Dana Rosemary Scallon’s letter (Irish Examiner, Oct 31), and the bishop’s plea to the Taoiseach, I wish to draw attention to some aspects of the scientific dishonesty that is being propagated in an endeavour to hoodwink people into believing that embryonic stem cell research is necessary and imperative for human welfare.

HATS off to Tony Humphreys for his excellent piece on Dr John Nash (Feelgood, The Irish Examiner, March 28).