University College Cork researchers have unearthed some 200 volumes of centuries-old newsletters that shine a light on 16th and 17th-century life in Europe.

Nollaig na mBan. That’s the enchanting Irish name given to Women’s Little Christmas on January 6 — the feast of the Epiphany.

I have banged the drum loudly for Spanish white wines on this page in recent years but I admit I have focused more on the textured fragrant Albariño and Godello wines of Galicia, and rather neglected Spain’s most successful and equally fascinating white grape Verdejo from Rueda.

Captain Caitriona Bruton introduced the team at the Croke Park European Football Finals in Maastricht at the weekend with players from Spain, France, the United States, Italy, Germany, Serbia, Scotland and Portugal all lining out for the Shamrocks.

When we think of Port we often think of Christmas but this week I want to encourage you to think about this wonderful wine as an ‘anytime’ drink.

I was asked recently which wine region I would opt to live in given an endless budget and unlimited resources. After much deliberation I picked Piedmont in Northern Italy, home to the Slow Food movement, white truffles, hazelnuts, and wines made from Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, writes Leslie Williams

I wrote last week about the fact that Ireland is by far the most expensive place to buy wine in the EU with over 50% of a wine that costs €10 going to the government.

Valentine’s Day is in a few days so this week’s column offers some gift suggestions, both conventional and more unusual.

Need inspiration for your holidays in 2018? Ciara McDonnell has the best deals for families, couples, cruise seekers, adventurers, walkers, solo travellers - and everything in between.

January is a time to look ahead in hope and my main hope for 2018 is that independent, quality wine shops can stay in business. 

The Camino’s endpoint, Santiago de Compostela is also a great weekend break, says Michelle Darmody.            

Cork-born poet, Liam Ó Muirthile, was inspired by his journey along the Camino, writes Marjorie Brennan

I always feel I am tempting fate when I write about wines for summer in Ireland — I feel as if the weather gods are waiting to thwart me should I even mention the garden or the word barbecue.

Cork welterweight Noel Murphy will fight for his first title in the professional ranks at the National Stadium on Saturday, February 25, the Boxing Union of Ireland (BUI) confirmed.

This week is all about the Celtic Whiskey Shop in part to celebrate its new bar/restaurant/shop called the Irish Whiskey Experience on New Street (just off Main St) in Killarney, Co Kerry.

James Keoghan makes the discovery made by all pilgrims on the Camino — the more you walk the easier it gets.

A young Irish woman has died and Garda Ombudsman Commissioner Kieran Fitzgerald is in a critical condition after separate holiday accidents in Spain.

It’s lights, camera, action for the media mini-hub of Dungarvan as the West Waterford town gets set to stage the biggest Celtic Media Festival to date.

Despite all the words this page has expended on a myriad of wines, the reason we are interested is because they all have one thing in common — “the power to banish care”.

No one likes a show-off. You either love them or hate them.

Bastible, 111 South Circular Road, Dublin 8; tel: 01-4737409; www.bastible.com 

Recently I gave over my column to the joys of sherry and wrote about how well it goes with food. This week it is the turn of port. Port and sherry are drinks we wrongly associate with Christmas when in fact they work all year round.

OCTOPUSES, as I wrote in my August 24 column, are highly intelligent and learn quickly.

Six people have been killed and two others were seriously injured after a race car lost control during a rally in north-western Spain and crashed into onlookers.

Almost 30 years years after visiting Santiago de Compostela as a teenager Arlene Harris returned with her family to see if this corner of Spain was as special as she remembered.

According to some Canadian research, men find the scent of grilling meat more arousing than any perfume.

Nick Hornby said it best in Fever Pitch when he suggested that the natural state of the football fan is one of bitter disappointment, no matter what the score. Sitting in the Estadio Riazor last Sunday evening as more than 33,000 Deportivo La Coruña supporters shuffled out glumly onto the sun-speckled streets on the back of a 2-0 win over Levante spoke painfully for that.

This column is a massive fan of the wines of Spain. In my opinion, Spain currently offers the best value (price versus quality) of any wine-producing nation.

How Argentina’s men — coached energetically by Pat Spillane — had any emotions left after their extra-time victory in the international final is beyond me. But they did, and displayed the sort of joy you associate with their colourful soccer history.

Christmas is coming, but first things first – we are now in Game Season and we should start to see pheasant, partridges and wild ducks appearing in good butchers this month. 

ALMOST every culture around the world marks Halloween, the Day of the Dead or All Souls Day in it’s own magical way, but despite the differences, the basic idea behind all these customs is to honour, remember and appease the dead.

SUMMER 2014 seems to be getting better and better to the extent that eating outside seems to have become the norm in our house.

Take a walk with Liz O’ Brien to the literal end of the earth at Finisterre, on the rugged Atlantic coast of Galicia in Spain, where for centuries pilgrims have completed the Camino de Santiago.

The future for Ireland’s agri-food sector looks positive this year, according to a review of the sector conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

I RETURN to the wines of Spain again this week which I realise is starting to become a bit of a habit.

The first mow of grass and the ball is thrown in ahead of another long summer. This year’s championship will be successful for some and a let-down for others, but one thing on many people’s minds is the new TV deal.