A “lovely, lucky lady” from Wexford has won the weekend Lotto jackpot of almost €8 million

Sympathetic glances on February 14 aside, being a singleton has many advantages, not least the huge amount of ‘me time’, says Louise O’Neill.

An east Cork parish has compiled its entire history on three DVDs.

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

A lucky British car mechanic who scooped a staggering £107.9m (€129m) Euromillions jackpot was named today as Neil Trotter.

Below-cost selling and the rise of the discounters is hitting family retailers hard, writes Kyran FitzGerald.

A judge yesterday warned a teenage father of one with alcohol and substance abuse problems to take responsibility for his own life and “stop the rot” of violence and criminality.

It’s Nov 1, the traditional day for quitting bad habits, but e-cigs, which look real but are harmless, may soon be banned, says Jason Walsh

Arrabawn is predicting a milk price of 28cpl this year, a projection likely to see other co-ops rapidly follow its 1.95c March price cut to 32.5c per litre.

THERE was an embarrassment of riches at the annual New Zealand wine fair last week.

A Tipperary farmer looking for diversification ideas has cornered 2% of the Irish market and built up an estimated €1.5m in sales just two years after embarking on a hand-made crisp enterprise using his own potatoes, writes Trish Dromey

EUROPE’S biggest ever lottery winners have been revealed as a middle-aged couple from Scotland.

A DUBLIN chef who was the getaway driver in two robberies has been given a two-year suspended sentence by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Two masked raiders armed with a handgun smashed their way into a post office today and fled with cash.

RETAILERS don’t expect the economy to grow again until the second quarter of 2011, according to an ADM Londis survey.

I DON’T usually do this, but that was one strange week, and I wanted to tell you about it.

PROFOUND BEAUTY gets the nap to land what has the makings of a cracking six-runner Listed Challenge Stakes at Leopardstown tonight.

A pensioner was found dead in his home in Kilbeggan last year after he was tied up and beaten, having received “blows, punches and kicks” to the face and head, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Gardaí investigating a supermarket robbery have arrested five people and seized guns.

IRISH pork finally made a welcome, if somewhat limited return, to supermarket shelves yesterday following the resumption of processing across the country.

JUST around the corner, a modern two-bedroom apartment in Bellair Close has made about €340,000: that sort of sum would see a purchase and partial renovation of an adjacent older style three-bedroomed terraced house.

JUST around the corner, a modern two-bedroom apartment in Bellair Close has made about €340,000: that sort of sum would see a purchase and partial renovation of an adjacent older style three-bedroomed terraced house.

A car resembling the one belonging to a woman whose husband is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for her murder was seen travelling away from the Quays in Waterford in the early hours of the day she was reported missing.

The first incident happened at Londis in Prosperous yesterday afternoon when a person entered the shop wielding a knife and threatened staff before making off with a sum of money.

Cash and internet payment firm PayPoint celebrated strong growth across the business with forecast-beating profits today.

Over 350 delegates from Londis stores throughout the country, who attended the independent retailers annual conference, heard that despite the recent abolition of the Groceries Order, the convenience market is performing strongly.

CONVENIENCE retailer Londis’ 2006 financial year got off to a buoyant start following a 62% growth in company profits last year.

DO THE TRICK can do just that in the Terry Casey Memorial Maiden Hurdle at Sligo this evening.

Ian Guider

Gardaí are investigating a robbery at a food store in Dublin's inner city this morning.

A LUCKY Lotto winner had a ticket for over €3.2 million in his pocket but didn't know about his good fortune.

The Apple Farm, Moorstown, Cahir, Co Tipperary are now selling Jonagored eating apples and Bramley cookers; apple juice and apple jelly; farm-made cider vinegar and strawberry and plum jams.

MUSGRAVE has made the list of the world’s largest private companies, the only Irish firm do so.

Residents in the village of Slane are relaxed ahead of this year’s huge open air concert with Madonna’s performance guaranteed to draw both parents and children alike.

NEARLY 2,000 shopkeepers in Britain's Londis convenience store chain were yesterday looking forward to a €47,000 payout after they voted overwhelmingly in favour of a €94 million takeover.

Nearly 2,000 shopkeepers in the Londis convenience store chain were tonight each looking forward to a £31,000 (€46,633) payout after they voted overwhelmingly in favour of a £60m (€90m) takeover.

Londis shopkeepers were today due to give their verdict on a £60m (€90m) takeover bid for the convenience store business from Irish retail giant Musgrave.

THE Musgrave Group bid for Britain's Londis outlets looks almost certain to be successful after a potential rival yesterday pulled out of the race.

CORK-BASED Musgrave Group would make no comment yesterday on the prospect of another rival bid emerging for the British Londis group.

Franchising has played little part in the Irish DIY sector, until now. Agribusiness Correspondent RAY RYAN reports on the man trying to mix the best of traditional hardware stores with the range and choice offered by big business.

A RIVAL bid to Musgrave's £60 million (€90m) offer for Britain's Londis chain of 2,000 convenience shops may be launched as early as today.

British food retailer the Big Food Group (BFG) said yesterday it was still interested in British grocery supplier Londis, but would study Musgrave’s offer before making a decision on whether to bid.

MUSGRAVE’S bid for the British Londis chain of convenience stores may be derailed for a second time.