The chance to play golf at the renowned El Prat while staying at the spectacular La Florida hotel in Barcelona is hard to beat, writes Ronan Bagnall.

Pat Dawson, chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association, last night expressed his delight at being awarded the Medal of the Order of Civil Merit at the behest of King Felipe VI of Spain.

Spain’s senior soccer squad trained last Wednesday at suburban Madrid’s ‘Ciudad del Futbol’ campus, with national manager Vicente Del Bosque preparing Xavi Hernandez, Iker Casillas, Andres Iniesta and company for their last two crucial World Cup 2014 qualifiers.