Tag Archives: economy

WHOEVER was left in charge of the Dublin Airport Twitter account last week may have done Shannon an entirely unintended favour. Many thousands of people in Clare and indeed Limerick feel strongly about the success of the airport upon which the region’s economy depends and when Dublin Airport posted a ridiculous, self-regarding tweet about being the key gateway for the 2026 Ryder Cup in Adare, it really jarred. It has helped bring attention to the plight of our struggling airport and the fallout will show local politicians that they must take action to arrest its decline. The term fake news is derided because Donald Trump coined it and has aimed it at some of the most reputable media organisations in the world. Yet the depressing reality is that fake news is often widely believed nowadays, with ease of access to publication through social media and weak deterrents meaning that people are merrily spreading lies all around the world, every single …

THERE was a sense of hope and excitement in Kildysart this week, with news that €1.8 million has been allocated for the development of maritime and cruise liner-related training facilities at the disused school and convent in Cahercon. It is expected that a facility will be developed offering training in all sorts of activities related to marine industries, from piloting cruise liners to catering to mechanics for ships. Ultimately, it’s expected that private sector interests will develop the facility in the next couple of years, while a statement from Clare Deputy Pat Breen this week said that the National Maritime College of Ireland, which is based in Cork, will be central to providing the training. When it finally does open, it will bring a certain amount of new jobs and, presumably, a significant number of trainees and students to the nearby village. Such a development will be a major boost for Kildysart, the likes of which  it has not enjoyed …

AROUND 40 jobs are being shed from Digital river in Shannon, as the work is being transferred to Bulgaria. Laura May, vice-president of global delivery and commerce operations with the company, this week said, “We recently made a strategic decision to transition a part of our customer service business to an existing third-party provider, which resulted in a reduction of staff in our Shannon office. Digital river’s Shannon office continues to be a vital part of our global business and remains our largest European office, with no plans to relocate the remaining operations. “We have just concluded a consultation process within our Shannon office, where employee representatives were consulted with and came to agreement on several items related to the transition, including the redundancy package. “We are currently in the process of individual consultation with the at-risk employees and are committed to providing as much support as possible.” Minister of State Pat Breen said around 60 jobs will remain in …

US company Edwards Lifesciences Corportation has announced plans to employ 600 people in the Mid West, with 60 to be hired this year in Shannon. A global leader in medical innovations for structural heart disease and surgical monitoring, the company has chosen the Mid West as the site for a new plant to manufacture delivery components for its transcatheter heart valve therapies. It expects to begin hiring new employees in Shannon by June, in roles such as production staff, engineering and professional management. The company plans to have completed a new purpose built manufacturing facility in the Mid West in 2020. Once operational 600 people are to be employed. “On behalf of everyone in the Mid West I would like to warmly welcome Edwards Lifesciences to the region. Their presence here serves to highlight the attractiveness of the region as a destination for progressive, innovation-driven companies,” said Minister of State Pat Breen.

IDA IRELAND has announced the highest level of employment in its client companies in its history. Total employment in overseas companies, according to the Government agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), now stands at 199,877 people.   IDA client companies created just under 19,000 (18,627) jobs on the ground during the year across a range of sectors, with every region of Ireland posting net gains in jobs. THE IDA has completed two years of its five year strategy, Winning: Foreign Direct Investment 2015-2019 – with the latest results indicating a strong performance by the organisation towards delivering its 2019 target of 80,000 new jobs and 900 investments. The performance was produced against a background of unprecedented geopolitical changes, an underperforming European economy and intense competition from other jurisdictions for foreign direct investment. A record number of investments secured during the year rose to 244 from 213 in the previous year. The number of new name investments went to …

In a week dominated by aviation-related headlines, Shannon Chamber hosted a luncheon seminar where two key players in the tourism and travel sectors – Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland and Suzanne Boda, senior vice president Asia, Canada, Europe and Cargo, American Airlines – were guest speakers. The lunch, sponsored by American Airlines, was held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick and attended by representatives from the business, tourism and hospitality sectors. Chamber president Kevin Thompstone said in his introductory remarks that access and connectivity is the key to increasing visitor numbers to the West of Ireland. “With just over 5% of international traffic to Ireland, Shannon delivers 15% of the West’s, 37% of Shannon’s and 12% of the South-West’s overseas holidaymaker bed nights. This demonstrates the link between access to Shannon and tourism activity in Shannon and the surrounding regions. The West has the product and the amenities and is proactively creating awareness, through Tourism Ireland, in international …

THE East Clare economy soared by an extra €500,000 last year, thanks to the lure of the first successful breeding pair of white-tailed sea eagles in the country in over a century. Clare County Council, which funds the popular White Tailed Sea Eagle Viewing and Information Point at Mountshannon Pier, confirmed the facility generated more than €500,000 for the local economy in 2014. A visitor survey conducted last year found that 43% of people reported the attraction of the sea eagles was the primary factor influencing their decision to visit Mountshannon. More than 10,000 people flocked to the shores of Lough Derg between mid-July and September 2014 to catch a glimpse of the eagles which had nested on Bushy Island, off Mountshannon Bay. A person from Northern Ireland on a sabbatical completed a visitor survey of those attending the viewing and information point. Dr Allan Mee of the Golden Eagle Trust acknowledged that some day trippers visiting Mountshannon last year …

Signs of economic green shoots may be showing in the big cities and larger urban towns but in East Clare, the recovery is not yet being felt and locals here are doing their best to make ends meet by thinking outside of the box. One such family-run business, which was set up during the recession, is expanding nicely. Based on the Mountshannon Road in Scariff, Padraig and Anne Giblin set up Derg Isle Team Building Centre in January 2013 with two part-time staff. Now, however, it has between five to 10 part-time staff on its books and has created spin-off employment in construction, as well as business for local eateries and hostels. With over 50 groups already through its doors since opening, Derg Isle has been attracting visitors from across the island of Ireland but it is now looking towards the global market. Padraig Giblin outlined to The Clare Champion how the idea came about and his hopes for the …