A former Cork city-centre hotel, with a 207-year pedigree on St Patrick’s St, is to be partly demolished and redeveloped for high-end shops use, possibly with an appeal to the likes of Zara.

Investment property activity is continuing through to year’s end in and around Cork city centre streets by the Penneys site, which is expected to go forward for planning permission next month for a major redevelopment, after a two-year site assembly

Billed as Cork City’s "last great retail site of note", a plot of more than half an acre on St Patrick’s St and Grand Parade — including the Capitol Cinema site and Central Shoe Stores — goes for sale next week.

This Regency Carlton House Desk made 85,000 at Mealy's-Christie's sale in Mount Congreve.