From a distance, the standout feature on this lacustrine island in Lady’s Island Lake, Co Wexford, is of a solitary Monterey pine tree which dominates the character of the island.

The threat of bacterial epidemics is something that threatens all countries, island or not.

For people strolling Lapp’s Quay and Albert Quay in Cork the long boats knifing through the water, crews paddling furiously, are a familiar sight.

Even small spots like Rossnagoose, on the edge of Skibbereen in West Cork by Abbeystrewery, can look out on wider global horizons than their elevated physical setting might normally allow.

May is many people’s favourite month, as we witness nature and new life burst forth in all their glory, writes Donal Hickey.

Small, perfectly formed and even more perfectly sited, is Lakeview — a pint-sized property with a recent price drop, on an acre, by reed-fringed Loughalla lake and tidal Lough Hyne in deep and delightful West Cork.

THIS has been an intense year for West Cork musician Jessie Kennedy, writes Aisling Meath. 

Joe Mahon’s TV show explores the fascinating history of Lough Hyne, says Richard Fitzpatrick

ONE of the most studied — and special — marine environments is on the doorstep of this West Cork home called Lough Hyne, Cottage on 2.5 acres. 

Mark Graham completed his 2,500km cycle in Kinsale, Co Cork, yesterday with a visit to Charles Fort and a pint in The Bulman pub, where the Waterford man announced his intention to continue cycling as far as his own front door.

Want to feel invigorated, madly alive and have great conversation. Get thee to an outdoor sauna where you can run from 100 degree temperatures to an icy lake or sea, writes Emer Sexton

A gem of an extended house in an extraordinary coastal setting is set to make a splash both here and abroad, says Tommy Barker.

MY COLUMN of February 16 discussed the mysterious moss balls photographed on a west Cork strand by M Didier Le Goff, a Breton visitor. 

<B>Tommy Barker </b>says you can really get away from it all in splendorous isolation overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Munster’s property market has kicked off the new year with an €18m apartment complex sale in Cork City, bought by UCC, along with a €1.35m coastal house sale in West Cork.

People have been shocked at how the US Black Friday concept suddenly entered the Irish lexicon this year. It’s didn’t surprise German, Mareike Graepel who still can’t believe why we embraced US-style Sunday shopping.

We love GoPro cameras!

OUR trailhead is Howe Strand, where a few cars can park but space is limited. The beach looks out onto Courtmacsherry Bay and beyond it, the open ocean. Westward are the Seven Heads, and to the east, the Old Head of Kinsale.

SKIBBEREEN/BALTIMORE: LOUGH HYNE

GET the point? It might cost you a bit, but West Cork’s €1.5m Drishane Point is a sort of place apart, while also anchored to a Special Area of Conservation, near famed marine lake Lough Hyne.

WHAT an outstandingly beautiful day was April 28.

It took mere seconds yesterday to send messages all around the world from a spectacular island outpost off the south-west coast — in sharp contrast to an historic event in the area 156 years ago.

Following the recent theft of tens of thousands of euro worth of outboard motors, gardaí in Co Cork are advising boat-owners to remove the expensive machinery when their vessels are not in use.

IT’S 8am.

Endurance athletes will push themselves to the limit as one of the country’s toughest adventure races comes to West Cork.

DOUGLAS, CORK €330,000

The beautiful West Cork village has an air of France about it, discovers Conor Power.

SILENCE, the movie by Cork-born film-maker Pat Collins, is in the cinemas at present.

Approx. 5km. west of Kinsale town on the R600 cross Duggan’s Bridge and turn left immediately afterwards. Park outside the Dock Pub.

BAILE na nGall means the foreigners’ town, referring to a 9th century Viking settlement at Smerwick, a Norse name meaning the butter harbour.

Hero swimmer Steve Redmond flies out to Japan later this week in a determined attempt to make sporting history.

Marathon swimmer Steve Redmond certainly looks like a fish out of water as he gets suited and booted for his upcoming Late, Late Show appearance tomorrow.

MY visit to the National Aquarium of Ireland, the Galway Atlantaquaria, in October was enlightening and memorable.

WOULD that the marine biologists working on eradicating Sargassum, an invasive brown weed, at Lough Hyne in west Cork, found a way to eliminate the green weed plaguing shallow bays all over Ireland.

COILLTE have found themselves on a collision path with locals in west Cork objecting to the felling of trees around Europe’s first marine nature reserve.

THEY are known as the One-o-clock Nudes – bare-arsed aficionados of nude bathing who descend on Irish beaches during the summer to let it all hang out.

A DIVER sets out tonight to become the first West Cork man to swim the English Channel — and, in the process, make €10,000 for various worthy causes.

NOBODY builds small houses any more in west Cork —big is now the new standard, very much the US super-size me sort of way.