You wouldn’t normally associate Clare’s Cratloe Woods with the sun-soaked Costa del Sol but as David Moriarty watched the Tipperary footballers go through their paces, he was filled with a renewed sense of hope.

The country’s seafood industry will have much to celebrate and many challenges to ponder in Galway this coming weekend when Bord Iascaigh Mhara holds its second maritime festival.

Limerick Macra na Feirme officially launched the biggest event of the Macra calendar last night.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today.

Irish rallying reaches a watershed this weekend with the Acesigns Signmakers Cork “20” International Rally that begins tomorrow.

It’s billed as one of the social events of the year in Cork — and one of the worthiest causes.

Instead of providing answers on the Football Association of Ireland’s financial outlook, Saturday’s AGM in Arklow only served to raise further questions on the matter.

Garry Hynes co-founded Druid in the 1970s, and is not going to stop and rest on her laurels yet.

The Government has unveiled a series of one-stop-shop events for existing and potential entrepreneurs called ‘Taking Care of Business’.

The Indian community in the West put on a spectacular show of their traditional culture at the annual Diwali Festival in Galway.

MANY Irish businesses are adopting new interactive digital technologies which are saving them money, enhancing their business offering and opening access to new markets.

Leading food, craft and tourism companies in Cork are pooling their energies to promote companies in the south and east of the county.

They’re going to have to win their places at the final the hard way — but all you’ll have to do is don a tux and bid for them.

Due to demand, new colours for baby girls include grey, mint and silver.

At the Cottage Door, an 1875 watercolour by Cork born artist William Magrath (1838-1918) is at Adams in Dublin next Wednesday. The estimate is €1,000-€2,000.

China-based founder and chief executive of PCH International, Liam Casey, will be among the speakers at the Cork Chamber of Commerce 2012 business conference.

The National Roads Authority and Cork County Council have jointly lodged an application with An Bord Pleanála for a €80m upgrade of the Jack Lynch Tunnel/Dunkettle interchange.

Food and tourism businesses figure strongly in the latest round of funds allocated by the South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD).

An emotional Westmeath woman bought back a house for her brother which had been repossessed by the bank.

THE much-coveted Macra na Feirme club of the year award was won by Freemount, Co Cork, at the organisation’s annual rally in Little Island over the Bank Holiday weekend.

YOUNG farmers are to be trained on how to become future leaders in the €3 billion Irish dairy industry.

DEPRESSION, dental decay and the threat to health from alcohol and drug use feature heavily among homeless people, almost half of whom suffer from both physical and mental ill health, according to a report.

Dublin: The Small Firms Association has launched its “Business Bytes” series of free management training events for small business owners.

TWO separate protests greeted Fine Gael TDs, senators and MEPs as they arrived at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Galway yesterday for the beginning of their “think-in” prior to the start of the new Dáil term.

WINE fans may seem to have an odd attitude to sweetness, dismissing some popular wines as being far too sugary, while exulting at many of the far sweeter ‘dessert’ wines.

THE impending closure of Newbridge cast a gloom over the Irish greyhound industry this week but there is strong reason to hope it can rise from the ruins of this development.

A GLITZY fashion show featuring the creations of Irish and international designers will be held in Cork on November 4 to raise money for research into ovarian and cervical cancer.

THE Bon Secours Hospital in Cork has won the top safety award for the Medical Services Sector in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

AEROPHOBIA, or fear of flying, affects thousands of people in Ireland and it can develop very suddenly.