Esther N McCarthy gets us winter ready.

The North's only representative in the search for The Restaurants Association of Ireland's Foodie Destination of the Year received a massive shot in the arm recently with ringing endorsements from a multi award winning Michelin starred chef and a Coronation Street favourite.

It’s summer holiday time for the children, who will be out and about and, hopefully, enjoying the natural world which comes alive at this time of year. And, given that so much is taught about nature and the environment in school, the rising generation may be able to teach their mums and dads a thing or two.

A group of influential media from Germany, Spain and the US are in Ireland this week to experience two of our country's best tourism and gastronomy destinations - The Burren and West Waterford.

It looks like Star Wars has already had an impact on Irish tourism, as Skellig Michael, which features in The Force Awakens, was named among the top ten attractions along the Wild Atlantic Way by tourists.

THE Cliffs of Moher and the Burren are internationally recognised as two the world’s natural wonders.

DROMORE WOOD LOOP, COUNTY CLARE

Esther N McCarthy relives her youth with a weekend in the Delphi Adventure Resort centre, this time with the family in tow.

MARCI Reardon sits at her desk in the offices of Countrywide Financial in Oak Park, California. It’s Friday morning, Jul 13, 2007, and she’s fighting this niggling feeling something’s not right. Michael. For the longest time she’s tended to receive this odd sensation whenever Michael’s been hurt, some kind of connection.

BALLYVAGHAN, THE BURREN, CO CLARE

Where to begin?

MANY years ago, I was working in The Burren, making a radio programme about botany for RTÉ.

Gregan’s Castle Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare, Tel: 065-7077005, gregans.ie

WE hear a lot of talk about Ireland’s priceless environment and heritage.

ONLY a handful of people ever get to see it in its full splendour but Newgrange still remains the country’s best-loved heritage site.

A FEW days ago I happened to be driving along a small road in the limestone uplands of north Cavan, close to the Fermanagh border.

THE Burren tops the list of our most favourite heritage sites in a survey commissioned to mark National Heritage Week 2010.

Minister for the Environment John Gormley has published a draft list of potential nominees to the World Heritage List.