Welcome to Cork - In the top 10 for 2010

AS winter closes in and as the consequence of excess begins to come to a head cheering news is indeed welcome.

And it came yesterday from influential international travel guide — The Lonely Planet — which told its worldwide audience that Cork is one of the top ten world destinations for 2010.

Putting the city and county in the same bracket as Abu Dhabi, Charleston, Istanbul, Kyoto and Vancouver, it celebrated the city’s “sophisticated, vibrant and diverse attractions, friendliness, relaxed charm and quick-fire wit”.