This four-bed, 2,000 sq ft bungalow at Coolmore, between Carrigaline and Currabinny in Cork’s harbour area, is a fine home for a family.

Argentina may have been converted to the joys and rewards of running rugby in the last three years, but the nation’s umbilical cord with physical forward play and their devotion to the scrum, in particular, remain embedded in the collective psyche.

WOODHILL HOUSE, and its wooded grounds a couple of miles from Cork city at Tivoli, is steeped in Irish and local Munster mercantile, artistic and political history, over several centuries.

Aidan O’Brien has hailed Australia as "unique" following the announcement that the three-year-old has been retired to stand at Coolmore stud.

As the Curragh prepares to stage the 100th running of the Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger, one famous horse can enjoy some down-time with his legacy secure for many more years to come.

A young man has been killed by a fallen tree in Co. Tipperary, in what is reported to be the first fatality of the stormy weather.

Frankel’s first foal has been born to Group Three-winning mare Chrysanthemum.

The racehorse training and bloodstock firm operated by the country’s most successful horse trainer, Aidan O’Brien last year enjoyed a bumper year recording profits of €1.269m.

A developer who was recently found not guilty of making corrupt payments to a Waterford councillor has hit the jackpot at the Goffs bloodstock sales.

Michael Lowry capped a fine week in the bloodstock business by bringing earnings in the sales ring to over €813,000 since Friday.

One of man’s sustaining joys, one of his anchors, is that, no matter how bleak things seem, if you look hard enough you will find magnificence all around you. No one will have to look too hard today.

After tribunal findings and a Revenue bill, Michael Lowry’s luck seems to be turning, as his mare stands to turn around his financial fortunes, writes investigative correspondent Conor Ryan

A Georgian wardrobe/linen press in original condition is a feature furniture lot at Lynes and Lynes sale in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, next Saturday (July 14) at noon.

A West Cork period home has been sold for about €4m after five years on the market.

THE first foal by Rip Van Winkle has arrived at Coolmore Stud.

ASCOT Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory will drop in both class and trip to have his next race in the Ballycullen Stakes at the Curragh on August 20.

So You Think is set to have his next start in the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 3.

The Queen put the seal on one of her most significant state visits with a spur-of-the-moment walkabout, before hinting at a return to Ireland.

I HAVE a confession to make. I am a British passport-carrying subject of Her Majesty and, for the first time ever, I am genuinely proud to put my hand up to it.

The Queen sets foot on Irish soil today for the start of a historic state visit which will herald a new era in relations between Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Security forces were on high alert tonight as the Queen prepared for her historic four-day trip to Ireland.

The British Queen’s visit will represent an extraordinary moment in the history of the island, President Mary McAleese has said.

Final preparations are under way for the British Queen’s historic four-day visit to the country which begins tomorrow.

Sadler’s Wells died yesterday evening, aged 30.

LEGENDARY sire Sadler’s Wells died last evening, aged 30.

The Queen should be asked to pay for “bed and breakfast” to cushion the cost of her State visit on hard-pressed Irish taxpayers, it has been claimed.

Johnny Murtagh has been retained to ride all of the Aga Khan’s Irish-trained horses in 2011.

KAUTO STAR is the surprise name among 66 possibles for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on November 27.

MICK KINANE yesterday dampened hopes of a first Irish winner of the Melbourne Cup for eight years, arguing that the trip could well prove beyond Dermot Weld’s star filly Profound Beauty.

Royal Ascot winner and European champion sprinter-elect Starspangledbanner has been retired to stud at Coolmore for the 2011 season.

Sarafina could stay in training next season following her luckless run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

A PROPERTY for sale at Coolmore, Churchtown, Co Cork, is attracting continuing interest.

There’s about 900 sq ft of space to play with at the No 5 cottage at Coolmore.

THE word in property circles is that the 94-acre Egmont House property at Churchtown, Co Cork is sold, but that has yet to be confirmed by its selling agent, John Paul Sheehan of Lisney.

JOHNNY MURTAGH was left counting the cost after bagging the Darley July Cup on Aidan O’Brien’s Starspangledbanner at Newmarket.

CHURCHTOWN is one of most horsy parts of north Cork, and a fine little equestrian property has hit the market there this spring.

A CHOICE of cottages, one city, one country, are new to market in Cork this month — the only thing they have in common is diminutive stature and good settings.

THESE are tough times for Killenaule’s Declan Fanning. An All-Star at full-back for Tipp two years ago, injury struck at the start of 2008 and Declan was forced to sit back and watch as Paul Curran, from the rival parish of Mullinahone, slotted in to make the position his own.

Tommy Barker visits an estate within an estate in classy Clonmel.

RACEHORSE trainer Aidan O’Brien has rejected claims from the promoters of a proposed animal byproducts plant that his horses weren’t affected by emissions from a former rendering plant in the vicinity.

South Tipperary County Council has rejected plans for a controversial biogas and biodiesel production facility near the world-renowned Ballydoyle and Coolmore equine establishments.