Just when the ever-more hectic pace of the Celtic Tiger starts to get you down, along comes something to restore your faith in people's sense of balance.

The State's most successful agri-business group, Kerry, this week reported another set of glowing figures and looked forward to further major acquisitions in the year ahead as it looks to confirm its status as an international player.

It was the key corporate news event of the week but as the media waited for the figures, Kerry Group chief executive Denis Brosnan took time out before the meeting at a top Dublin hotel to take in the historic hat-trick success of Istabraq in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Kerry hopes to match its winning performance by becoming one of the key global players in food ingredients.