Cost pressures, skills shortages and a potential ‘Brexit’ are among the chief risks Irish exporters currently face, according to the head of their representative body.

Lebanon has rarely been out of the news since the 1970s but through all the years of political turmoil and refugee crises, there has always been one annual event to celebrate: the arrival of the new vintage of Chateau Musar.

Many moons ago, The Menu took great pleasure in regularly visiting a wonderful old period home, Lettercollum House, in Timoleague, Co Cork, enjoying splendid meals based around organic produce grown on site afore heading upstairs for blissful repose in the collectively-run guesthouse. 

AH SPAIN. Is there any wonder so many of us go there on holidays every year.

A GIRLS’ weekend away was on the cards for months. Time for me (and a willing buddy) to ditch the husbands and the childers, hit the motorway, fork out for the tolls and head to the big smoke. Our check list: shoe shopping, a concert in the O2, plenty of pubs and lots of lie ins. Dublin, here we come.

TAKE some time to relax with a nice glass of wine in our bar or restaurant and enjoy a delicious pre-show dinner”, says the advertisement for a hotel package I’m led to when I try to book for Four Angry Men at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on Nov 27th.

THE National Roads Authority (NRA) has said it will announce its preferred option for a multi-million euro upgrade of the Jack Lynch Tunnel /Dunkettle roundabout junction by the new year or early January.

FIFTEEN clubs have been named as the elite group of semi-finalists in the AIB Club of the Year competition.

A TOP hotel has been named Cork business of the year for its high level of service and for creating vibrancy in the city’s docklands area.