It’s champagne time for the country’s top chefs who made the grade in one of the most exclusive culinary and hospitality clubs in the land — the 100 Best Restaurants and 100 Best Places to Stay in Ireland.

HAVING searched the entire country for an Irish home back in the mid-1990s, Austrian playwright Felix Mitterer settled happily upon the set piece that is Castlelyons House.

THE upper end of the residential market is strong, with buyers prepared to commit to multi-million euro purchases irrespective of the punitive 9% stamp duty.