According to the Lonely Planet’s latest Ireland edition, “everything good about Ireland can be found in County Cork”. Truth or just wishful thinking? We sent Rob O’Donnell, an American living in deepest West Cork, out to play tourist for a day and give his verdict.

Gardaí have been warning the public about parking restrictions this week ahead of the Munster quarter-final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

THIS year it wasn’t difficult to find great food gifts for under €10. 

Got an issue? Ask Audrey...

Three major exhibitions are to be held in Cork this week dealing with the potential for flooding in a number of areas and what measures can be taken to mitigate against it.

Finding good Irish-made gifts under €20 for the page today was easy. 

THIS year’s trawl of the shops and markets unearthed a few new mince pies which I’m delighted to report were worth the journey.

I’M FLYING to London at 9.30pm.

There’s a crisp, clean interior to the three-storey townhouse right on Main Street, Innishannon — and the price guide is just as appealing.

A fascination with old houses, and the lives lived within their walls, prompted artist Avril McDermott to paint the towns and villages of west Cork.

ONE night recently, as I drove my daughter and her husband west from Cork airport, they spotted a pine marten with its bushy tail and white bib loping into the woodland skirting the Bandon River near Inishannon.

Surface water and spot floods are causing problems for motorists this morning.

There is speculation that around 100 jobs are to be lost at Merck Sharp and Dohme in Brinny in Co Cork.

This weekend must rank as just about the busiest of the year, with five major finals for decision and 21 Irish dogs in action in the Williamhill.com English Derby at Wimbledon.

DAVY RUSSELL worked his magic on the hitherto disappointing Bootlegger, carrying the Cork Constitution rugby colours, in the Scarragh Maiden Hurdle at Cork last night.

AFTER the dry weeks it’s suddenly the rainy season.

A ambulance driver is dead following an ambulance crash in County Cork.

A reported 150 jobs are to be created in the pharmaceutical sector in Cork over the next year with the construction of a €70m facility.

Mary Harney has said she regrets the loss of 170 jobs at the Schering-Plough facility at Inishannon, Co Cork.

THERE weren’t too many happy campers at Cork University Hospital’s crowded A&E department yesterday.

Gardaí in Munster are currently searching for two armed gangs who held up a shop in Limerick and a bank in Co Cork this morning.