Simon Delaney is one of the finalists on MasterChef Ireland tonight on TV3, alongside Niamh Kavanagh and Oisín McConville. Recent acting parts for the 46-year-old father-of-four from Raheny include The Conjuring 2 and Moone Boy.

Eibhlís Carcione lives in Cork city, and will be reading at the at the Ó Bhéal Winter Warmer Festival this weekend in the Kino. She won Duais Fhoras na Gaeilge in 2012. 

Fiona Collins is chairperson of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, which takes place this weekend. She’s originally from Bandon but has been living in Cork city for a number of years.

Alan Foley is the artistic director of Cork City Ballet, and also runs the Alan Foley Academy of Dance. He is directing the forthcoming production of Giselle at Cork Opera House, from November 10-12.

Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh is an Irish language poet from Tralee, Co Kerry. She co-presents arts show Imeall with Tristan Rosenstock on TG4 on Thursdays.

Radie Peat is a musician and singer from Artane, Dublin. 

Shane Casey is from Cork and stars in The Young Offenders, in cinemas from tomorrow, September 16. He has also been touring with God Bless The Child, finishing its current run tonight at the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire.

John Kelly is an artist. His father is from Cork, and mother from Bristol. The family emigrated to Australia in 1965, the year of John’s birth. Kelly has lived in all three countries and for the past decade has resided in West Cork. This week, his exhibition, John Kelly: A Group Show, will open at Uillinn in Skibbereen.

Cormac Ó hEadhra is from An Cheathrú Rua in the Conamara Gaeltacht. He broadcasts on current affairs programmes on RTE Radio 1, including Late Debate and Drivetime, and on RTE Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Sinéad Ní Uallacháin is from Baile an Éanaigh, in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. She presents the weekday morning radio show, Sinéad ar Maidin, on Raidió na Gaeltachta, (10.15-11am, Mon-Fri). 

Kieran McCarthy is a councillor in Cork city and is also heavily involved in the local musical theatre scene through Cork City Musical Society. He directs a production of Crazy for You from April 29 to May 1 in Firkin Crane, Cork.

In a study of over 6,000 blind tastings nobody could tell the difference between expensive and cheap wine.

Offaly native Edwin Sammon will be manning the news desk on the new series of Republic of Telly on RTÉ2 from Monday. He also plays Fr Gabriel in Bridget and Eamon.

Eleanor Shanley is from Leitrim but now lives in Ballinasloe, Co Galway. She sings with De Danann and also has a solo career that includes the recent release of an album, Forever Young. 

Mick Flannery, 32, is from Blarney, Co Cork. His upcoming gigs include Róisín Dubh, Galway, Dec 28; Dolans Warehouse, Limerick, Dec 29; and Cork Opera House, Dec 31.

Cork-born Cónal Creedon is a novelist, playwright and documentary film maker. His latest book, The Immortal Deed Of Michael O’Leary, is an account of a man from Inchigeelagh, Co Cork, who became a hero of the First World War.

David Lyttle from Co Down was the first ever Irish musician to be nominated for a Music of Black Origin Award (MOBO). The awards take place next Wednesday and will be broadcast on ITV2. Lyttle was nominated in the best jazz act on the back of his Faces album, which features collaborations with the likes of Talib Kweli and Duke Special.

Despite a stunning performance at the Isle of Wight that’s about to be released on DVD, Rory Gallagher had a mixed time in his seminal early band, writes Ed Power

Making plans for the week ahead? We’ve got you covered.

Cork-bound Alexander Balanescu was born in Romania but has lived in the UK for most of his life. He fronts the Balanescu Quartet, a group that broke through with their classically-tinged cover versions of tunes by Kraftwerk. 

UTV Ireland reporter Sarah O’Connor is from Banteer in north Cork. Her education includes arts, journalism and criminology.

Oliver Driver is a theatre director from New Zealand. He is the director of Live Live Cinema Little Shop of Horrors, where the performers lip-sync, play a new soundtrack and do all the foley effects live to the original Roger Corman film. It will be performed at Galway International Arts Festival on 21 & 22 July at 8pm and 23 July at 11pm in the Bailey Allen Hall, NUI Galway. This is a show for all the family to enjoy.

JOHN P Quinlan is from Macroom, and founded the Vangard Gallery in Cork in 1991. He is in the midst of a nine-month stint as guest curator at Triskel in Cork.