While much of the talk in the press of late has been about a stagnant agricultural land market in Munster, Thomas V Ryan Auctioneers in Thurles seem to be managing to buck the trend somewhat.

Got a big family or group of friends looking to spend Christmas or New Year together? Pooling the cost of a big house could be the best gift of all, says Pól Ó Conghaile

A coroner yesterday called for stronger safety warnings about an area on Valentia Island where upwards of five people have drowned in recent years after falling from rocks into the sea.