"Xanadu" has often been a word associated with strongholds, from the original centre of Kubla Khan’s empire to a media mogul’s imposing mansion in Orson Wells’ 1941 classic Citizen Kane.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was given his first reprieve from anti-water charge protesters last night after none turned up at a Fine Gael party meeting he was attending in Cork.

There are fears for the future of up to 100 jobs at pharma giant Novartis following confirmation that it has shed 70 jobs in recent weeks.

One of the largest, and best trading pubs on Cork city’s Northside, the 9,000 sq ft Groves in Blackpool, has been put to market by a receiver for €525,000, via agents Behan Irwin Gosling.

The shopping storm came after the calm when some of the winter sales kicked off yesterday morning.

A few weeks back, I rounded up a few new and interesting rosés for fear we might get a bit of sustained warm sunshine. Just in case, like.

Cork’s famous Shandon St was reopened last night after building inspectors gave the all-clear following a partial roof collapse.

Shoppers in a Cork city suburb got a bit of a surprise yesterday when an elephant decided to wander around a retail carpark before charging up to a traffic junction.

ON a recent visit to Fine Wines, I encountered two faces of Australian red wines: Rich, robust wines from Rutherglen, and exquisite upmarket numbers from the brilliantly inventive D’Arenberg winery.

Roscommon: The 62nd Boots store in Ireland was opened on Main Street, Roscommon, yesterday and will provide 14 jobs for the area.

THE main Irish arm of video game giant, Activison Blizzard doubled revenues and pre-tax profits in 2009, new figures show.

Cork: Boots will open its 60th Irish store at the Blackpool Retail Park on May 25.

DISCOUNT retail giant Aldi has blamed planning difficulties affecting its nationwide expansion plans for its decision to postpone the opening of a massive regional distribution centre in the south by two years.

A €100 MILLION redevelopment of one of Cork’s most iconic industrial sites got the green light last night.

A €22.5 million land deal is the sale of the half-century for a Munster livestock mart.

Forty new jobs have been announced for Cork city. Atlantic Homecare is to open a new store in Blackpool Retail Park as part of its regional expansion programme.