SAILING: A soft day marked the opening race at Cork Dry Gin Calves Week yesterday and with it, light to moderate winds and thundery rain just as racing ended.

A new umbrella body for the whiskey-making industry has been established to guide growth in a sector which is expected to invest more than €1bn in the Irish economy over the next decade.

After 47 years working as a distiller, Barry Crockett, master distiller at the Midleton Distillery, will retire in March.

China-based founder and chief executive of PCH International, Liam Casey, will be among the speakers at the Cork Chamber of Commerce 2012 business conference.

FROM Aghada to Angola — the success of Ireland’s leading whiskey knows no bounds.