It’s a pub with a counter almost as long as its history, a meeting place that has become as synonymous with the festive season as carol singing, traffic congestion, and mince pies.

Cork Simon relies heavily on fundraising by ordinary people embracing the extraordinary time that is Christmas, writes John Tynan

INTERNET users researching a trip to Cork can now take a virtual tour inside the city’s bars, restaurants, hotels and other businesses — a move which traders hope will boost tourism.