Water source: We start every September with good intentions of filling the school lunch boxes healthily, and, to begin with, those multipacks of cute mini bottles of water disappear off the supermarket shelves.
Now there's another good reason, or two, to stock up on Deep RiverRock's 330ml children's packs: some of the proceeds are going to Unicef Ireland's global water initiatives, and there's also a free lunch box with every pack, as modelled by Seán Óg Ó hAilpín. The packs will be on sale for €3.49 from August 21st. Marie-Claire Digby
Café society: The Ósta Cafe and Wine Bar opened in Sligo on Wednesday, with Bríd Torrades, who also runs the successful Atrium Cafe at the Model Arts and Niland Gallery, at the helm. Ósta, which overlooks the Garavogue river, beside Hyde Bridge, has trained baristas serving Java Republic coffee, which is roasted weekly by the small Dublin-based company, which promotes "coffee with a conscience". Hot chocolate is also a house speciality, as are pastries made in Bríd's bakery in Ballinafad. Her yummy breads will be served with Irish cheeses and charcuterie, and she has chosen a small selection of complementary wines. It is open from 8.30am to 10pm from Monday to Friday and noon at weekends, for brunch. Ósta Cafe and Wine Bar, Weirview House, Stephen Street, Sligo, 071-9144639. Patsey Murphy