Welcome to the next instalment of Irish Picks! We've been burning the turf at both ends this month, to find you a selection of Ireland's hottest new websites, all guaranteed to leave you a little happier, a little wiser. That's not to imply, of course, that we don't need your suggestions for websites we should take a look at. If you come across an Irish web site that's not to be missed, do drop us an e-mail. Click here if you only want to view this month's list of sites.

Need a car? A good children's book? A better sheep dip for those persistent parasites? Yeah, you had that look about you. Pull up a mouse and cosy into our October Picks for Ireland, a half-dozen new Irish websites that go beyond mere Usefullness to truly transcendent Coolness. Oh, and don't forget your wallet. You may spot a hot investment prospect along the way...

It's fledgling, but shiny new MotorWEB has the kind of ambition we like: it aims to act as a central resource for new and used car dealers in the Republic of Ireland. The used car database was under construction when we stopped by, but visitors can already search extensive lists of new car reviews and prices, as well as locate a selected dealer in their own area. We were also heard to utter, "Nice!" on catching sight of MotorWEB's finance calculator, which opens in a separate browser window to let visitors determine monthly repayments on a new car loan. It may be under construction, but it's worth a look -- instead of another shop flogging Arran sweaters to tourists, here's a facility gearing its merchandise to the local market. Definitely one to watch.

Speaking of watch, it's time for your reading lesson! All right, so maybe you already know how to read... if so, try showing this site to someone who doesn't, preferably in the age 4 to 6 range, and we can virtually guarantee a smile. Teacher's Pets, put together by special needs school-teacher Seaghan (that's "Shane") Moriarty, presents an ingenius method of teaching children to read -- a Shockwave book, featuring the adventures of Tara and Ben. Illustrated with the colourful drawings of traditional early-learning books, Tara and Ben's tale also includes sound. Children can follow along as Shockwave lights up each word, which are read aloud in the delightful voices of Moriarty's own young children: "This...is...Tara!" "This...is...Ben!" See also Moriarty's great collection of playground games from around the world.

When it comes to playing the game, indy Irish record label Treasure Island knows where it's at. Not only does this new web site have a killer design, full-length RealAudio singles from Treasure Island artists like Dr. Millar and Dempsey, it also makes a clever bid for funding. Check out the subtle hyperlink at the bottom of the artists' biographies: "Click above for information on investing." Behind the link are full details on how Irish people can invest in the artist under the country's Business Expansion Scheme, including an explanation of the record label's long-term marketing strategy for the artist. That, as they say, shows neck. We like it! Keep an eye on Treasure Island for upcoming webcasts and other events, including the Internet-only release of the debut single from its newest signed group, Hunny.

Music folks are no strangers to the Internet, but farmers are catching up quickly. The new site for the Avonmore Waterford Group's Agri Trading Division is a one-stop shop aimed at Ireland's sizeable population of farming folk. The herbicide guide lets farmers choose from a list of crop maladies -- including weeds like red deadnettle or diseases like mildew -- then displays the names and effectiveness ratings for several commercial chemicals. The site also includes constantly-updated farm headlines, form current milk prices to new tips on killing parasites, plus share prices for the Group. There's even an online calculator to let shareholders find the current worth of their investment. More features are on the way, including an online shopping facility for farm supplies.

Always a favourite with the farming community, the country's largest daily newspaper the Irish Independent is now online. It's still a poor cousin to its more established rival, The Irish Times web site, but the Independent is making a valiant effort, including news of sports, business, property, motoring and, as always, farming. There's also a great news headlines ticker that tops the site, with updated local and world stories. A distinct disadvantage, however, is the apparent lack of support of non Internet Explorer browsers -- it rebuffed our attempts to connect using Netscape Navigator. It also couldn't handle our smaller screen resolution of 640 x 480, even in Internet Explorer? Designers, take note...

Alas, we must go. It's dipping time and the sheep are getting restless. Don't forget to check back for November's Irish Picks...and keep those suggestions coming.

Sites featured in Irish Picks

• MotorWEB - find a new car, any new car
  
• Teacher's Pets - learn to read with Tara and Ben... and Shockwave
  
• Treasure Island Net - music happenings from this Irish independent record label
  
• Agri Trading Division - news, stock prices, herbicides and more for Irish farmers
  
• The Irish Independent - Ireland's largest daily paper goes online
  

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