The first time I joined others to protest for the safety of the planet was back in 1979 when I participated in an anti-nuclear rally at Carnsore Point in County Wexford. I travelled down from Dublin and camped with the other protestors.

The Limerick Milk Market was buzzing on Saturday morning with throngs of eager customers on a mission to fill their shopping bags with goodies from the more than 70 stalls tucked into the market square, protected from the elements by an elegant canvas canopy.

Patrick Bergin is back in Cork with an almost- forgotten play he discovered by the brother of one of the 1916 leaders, writes Esther McCarthy.

All your arts and music news.

We were on our way to Ennistymon to eat at Little Fox, a newly opened, super cool café on a corner of Main Street.

Rose Martin look at a new scheme that allows commercial suppliers of clean electricity to sell to the grid.

Stage one of the 2018 Rás Tailteann began under dry skies yesterday in Drogheda with the ceremonial start taking place from St Peter’s Church.

The Menu is readying himself once more for yet another trip to Cloughjordan, this time for a weekend conference (May 26/27), Feeding Ourselves: Rural Revitalisation through a Cooperative Approach to Farming and Food, an annual gathering of small farmers, community food advocates and anyone with an interest in good food, farming and rural revitalisation.

Welcome to Part I of The Munchies 2017, in which The Menu salutes some of the heroes and achievements of the culinary calendar. (Next week, Part II.)

Looking for gift ideas for food lovers? Strap yourselves in for a Christmas shopping spree with The Menu.

Catch up on this morning's headlines...

The amphitheatre at Cloughjordan eco-village is just like its ancient predecessors, says Ellie O’Byrne

Patrick Bergin plays the part of Jim Tierney on TV3’s Red Rock.

Any fundraising initiative supporting the ISPCC and Childline will always have The Menu’s support but one that introduces a spot of baking to the equation is especially commendable. 

An ancient Gaelic festival is the perfect antidote to the frenzy and commercialism of other feast days, writes Nuala Woulfe.

Your letters, your views...

Intercity services, Dublin and Cork commuter services, and the Dart line may be the only rail routes to remain under radical options proposed to bring Irish Rail’s funding crisis to a halt.

Your letters, your views...

More than 50,000 music fans will this weekend converge on Laois village Stradbally for Electric Picnic, the 13th outing of the music and arts festival.

In light of the pesticide and herbicide restrictions being imposed on conventional horticulture and tillage, as well as the ongoing need to manage weeds on an organic farm, this column has spent the last number of weeks looking at different ways to weed without chemicals.

They are a trial, to be fair.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

One Irish man’s very funny struggle with his Sat Nav is going viral after being shared on Facebook.

The Irish Food Writers’ Guild announced the annual selection of the best of Irish producers and food heroes.

Wexford got their league campaign off to a winning start, with a 0-13 to 0-9 victory over Tipperary at Cloughjordan.

A trip to Athlone, the geographical heart of Ireland, left Eoin Edwards able to indulge his passion for all things historical.

TWO birds we remember from days in the bog, many years ago, we rarely see now. 

For the €25 or whatever Fergie is asking, you could learn about leadership this week from a man who has done it all and may never stop cashing in. Or you could have saved a few bob and pulled into a field in Ardcroney, six miles outside Nenagh.

Members of a community-owned farm are “gutted” after a gang stole some €8,000 worth of farming equipment.

The Menu gets greatly exercised about food security — ready access to delicious and nutritious food is a fundamental right. 

As part of her annual Spring clean, Nuala Woulfe swapped chemical cleaning agents for natural ingredients. Did they work as well or was it just a lot of hassle so she could feel good about herself?