Purists may zealously argue the point that art and commerce cannot co-exist side by side. The fact of the matter is however that both entities, for all their apparent juxtapositions, have been willing cohorts for the vast duration of both of their existences. It is the issue of credibility that provides the real sticking point across the metaphorical dividing line.

Mary Crilly, Director of Cork's Sexual Violence Centre can only be described as the heart and soul of the Cork centre since she has stood firmly by it from it's early establishment in 1983.

First Minister of Northern Ireland and Veteran Politician and Church Leader Ian Richard Kyle Paisley was in Cork last Friday night to address the 50th Annual Dinner of the Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce at the Commodore Hotel.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Kathy Sinnott has been a regular contributor to the political debate in Cork for many years now.

This June people from across Cork will have their say on the Lisbon Treaty and will decide whether Ireland should accept or reject the document. With less than two months to go before Ireland casts its vote on the treaty, Mary O' Keeffe spoke to Cork based MEP Colm Burke to find out how he believes Ireland should vote in the upcoming referendum on the treaty and why.

For more than 30 years Robert Fisk has been reporting on the Middle East. Resident in Beirut the English journalist needs little introduction to those with even a passing interest in world affairs.

Kieran Kennedy, Director of Shine Ireland hasn’t stopped working in “plugging the gaps in service provision for autistic children left by the Government” since 2001 when he established what was then called the Irish Progressive Association for Autism (IPAA).

In a week where The Blackrock Castle Observatory won the prestigious Thea Science Award for 'Outstanding Achievement' the Cork Independent talked to Claire MacSweeney, facility manager at the Observatory to get more of an insight on the exciting work done at the newly redeveloped Blackrock Castle.