In today's highly competitive world, the Margin is used to coming across a range of less than mainstream contests designed to find the best at this, that and the other. But even by these standards, the latest such release to cross the desk broke new ground.

Aspiring baristas are taking part in a series of regional heats leading to the the All-Ireland barista of the year competition, and then to the European grand final in Milan. And what, I hear you say, might a barista be. S/he is one who makes coffee. Apparently, there are now more coffee shops per capita in the republic that anywhere else in Europe, with more opening every day.

According to the sponsors of the contest, Robert Roberts: "There's a hot new career in coffee-making that requires creativity, expertise and a certain amount of flair." Quite. Now if only we had all-Ireland finals for hyperbole, the contest organisers would have a winner.