News

Dromoland Castle and the Cliffs of Moher are among 12 Irish businesses touring New Zealand and Australia this week. During the eight-day sales blitz, they will meet hundreds of influential travel agents, tour operators and journalists, during specially tailored business-to-business workshop sessions and networking events – telling them all about what the island of Ireland has to offer holidaymakers. Tourism Ireland’s final overseas trade mission of 2014 takes in the cities of Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Jim Paul, Tourism Ireland’s head of Australia and developing markets, said: “Australia and New Zealand are important markets for tourism to the island of Ireland, delivering a record 206,000 visitors last year, representing growth of 16% over 2012. Visitors from these markets are important, as they tend to stay longer than other holidaymakers, typically six to eight nights, they travel right around the island and many of them come here in the off-season. According to the latest CSO figures, visitor numbers from …

Transport and business in the Mid-West are joining forces in an effort to establish the Limerick-Shannon Gateway as a strategic freight logistics hub, with direct connections to some of the world’s global logistics hubs. The new regional freight transport forum is the result of the EU co-funded Weastflows INTERREG IVB EU Project, which aims to improve and enhance freight logistics in North West Europe, as well as encourage a move from an overreliance on road haulage to the more sustainable modes of rail, short-sea shipping and river transportation. Limerick City and County Council, one of the 22 partners in the EU project, and Limerick and Shannon Chambers of Commerce hosted two sessions in The Strand Hotel in Limerick and Westpark, Shannon on the issue. The events saw freight and logistics providers, four infrastructure providers, public sector agencies and export generators sign up to the establishment of a new regional freight forum. The forum, the secretariat of which will be jointly …

The Government is well on target with its Action Plan for Jobs strategy, according to Taoiseach Enda Kenny. “We are on course to exceed our initial target of 100,000 new jobs by the end of next year, he said at Shannon Chamber’s annual president’s lunch in Dromoland Castle today (Monday). Another jobs announcement today in Ennis shows that new jobs are being created across the country and not just in Dublin. The recent budget was designed to secure recovery further – promoting new jobs and investment in the regions, working across the economy and across the country with businesses like those represented here today. I am confident that the growing recovery of Ireland’s economy will have a positive impact on the Shannon Region.” Welcoming the Government’s support for Shannon, particularly the decision to enable Shannon Airport operate as an independent entity, as part of the recently established Shannon Group, Chamber president, Kevin Thompstone said that the risk of doing so is …

UNRULY dogs are “an ongoing problem” in Coole Park, a representative of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has said. Signs erected in the reserve by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht state that there has been “an increasing number of complaints from members of the public about dogs”. “The problems experienced have included fractured bones, children knocked off bicycles, toddlers, older children and adults being terrified and joggers discommoded and injured as a result of the attentions of ‘friendly’ dogs,” the sign states. Enda Mooney, regional manager with NPWS, explained that dogs allowed off the leash by owners are causing a wide range of problems and on one occasion, he said, gardaí had to be called. “There has been a series of incidents, some more serious than others. There was an elderly woman who was knocked down when quite a big dog jumped on her and she fractured her wrist. Children are being knocked off bikes. …

Online national and county maps that identify the homes, businesses and schools where commercial providers will deliver high-speed broadband access by the end of 2016, have been published today (Monday). At the launch in Doolin, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White said that the State would invest in all the remaining areas to ensure that every home, school and business in Ireland has access to high-speed broadband, regardless of where it is located. The maps, which allow the public to identify their own premises to see whether their high-speed broadband will be provided by a commercial operator or through State intervention, can be accessed at www.broadband.gov.ie. The website also carries county-by-county statistics on planned broadband coverage. Minister White said, “The delivery of high quality broadband is about ensuring that our citizens in rural Ireland have the same life chances, and the same access to information, culture, ideas, social interaction and opportunity that people in urban areas can enjoy.” …

It could take anything from a couple of months to two years to appoint a new Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, once the selection process gets underway in the new year. While the Diocese of Killaloe is officially a “vacant diocese” following the appointment of Dr Kieran O’Reilly as the new Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, he remains as diocesan administrator until his installation on February 8 next. He succeeds Archbishop Dermot Clifford, whose resignation, having reached retirement age, was accepted by Pope Francis. Fr Brendan Quinlivan, diocesan communications officer, said putting a timescale on a new appointment was difficult at any time, but, in this instance, it was further complicated by the fact that there are several other diocese where there are vacancies to the filled. Everything in the diocese remains in abayance until the new appointment. Eight days after the formal installation of Archbishop O’Reilly, the diocese’s seven-man College of Consultants will meet to select an administrator from among …

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, on a visit to Clare today (Monday), is to formally announce the creation of 100 new jobs in Ennis and the significant investment in a Shannon-based company. TTM Healthcare, at Ballymaley Business Park in Ennis, is investing €5 million in its operations. The majority of its 100 new jobs will be located in Ennis. TTM is an Irish company, founded in County Clare in 2002. “Later, the Taoiseach will open the new Genworth Financial International Business Centre in Shannon which supports the needs of over three million customers around the globe and houses 400 staff, representing 17 countries and 16 languages. This represents a €15 million investment.” Local TD, Pat Breen, said the announcements are further evidence of economic recovery.

CLARE County Council was rewarded for promoting community endeavour with a national award, which was presented at the end of the Pride of Place gala ceremony. The local authority received the Council Community Engagement Award at the function that they hosted in conjunction with Cooperation Ireland, which runs the competition north and south of the border. In their citation, the judges noted that the council has been to the forefront of Pride of Place since the beginning and has been a driver of the awards, recognising the great value they are in motivating communities to work together. “In addition, this year despite managing the most significant changes ever in the history of local government and the extensive workload that entailed, the council still managed to organise with great attention to detail what I am sure you will all agree is one of the finest award ceremonies ever hosted,” the judges stated. The awards recognise cities, towns and communities that show …