Tag Archives: Shannon Heritage

Shannon Group plc recorded another positive year of trading in 2016, as turnover hit €67.2 million, up by over 2% on 2015.  In its second full year of trading, the group, the parent company of Shannon Airport, Shannon Commercial Properties and Shannon Heritage, recorded EBITDA of €7.6 million, reflecting a solid performance and a 10% increase on 2015. Announcing his first annual results as CEO of Shannon Group, Matthew Thomas said that a continuation of the company’s improving financial performance is necessary to enable it to undertake critical investments across its business units. “The Shannon Group has a unique mix of complementary businesses that, more than any other commercial entity in the region, gives it the potential to positively influence economic development. Sixteen companies who announced new or expanded operations in 2016 in the Mid-West, which was the fastest growing region outside of Dublin last year, cited the global connectivity at Shannon Airport as a key influencer in their decision to …

Tourism Ireland in Germany kicked off its busy programme of promotions for 2017 with a strong presence at this week’s CMT (Caravan, Motor & Tourism Fair) in Stuttgart. Tourism Ireland is joined at CMT by 14 Irish tourism businesses, including Shannon Heritage. The nine-day travel fair, which attracted 220,000 visitors in 2016, provides a valuable opportunity for the participating Irish companies to showcase and sell their product and to communicate what is unique about Clare, the Shannon Region and Ireland as a great holiday destination for German travellers.

EXPLORER Tim Severin is to visit Craggaunowen this Saturday as part of a weekend celebration to mark 40 years since the legendary Brendan Voyage. The explorer, adventurer, historian and writer will make a rare visit back to the boat’s home in Craggaunowen to mark the anniversary. In 1976, Tim and four crew undertook an epic journey from Bandon, County Kerry, to re-enact the voyage of St Brendan and prove that the saint and his monks could have discovered America 500 years before Columbus. Tim and his crew sailed across the Atlantic in a leather boat, which was constructed using only the material available to the sixth-century saint and successfully completed the voyage in just over a year. After an eventful and difficult 4,500 mile (7,200km) crossing via the Aran Islands, Iona, Hebrides, Faroes, Iceland and Greenland, they finally landed in Peckford Island, Newfoundland on June 26, 1977. The success of his voyage later led to composer Shaun Davey’s Brendan Voyage suite, for …

SHANNON Group and Origin Enterprises chairman Rose Hynes has been chosen as one of Ireland’s most powerful female business leaders of the year at the annual WXN Women’s Executive Network awards. The awards celebrate the accomplishments of women in business in Ireland and were celebrated at the Network’s Leadership Summit and Awards Gala in Dublin on Thursday. Ms Hynes was one of four Davy Business Leaders award winners in the ‘Most Powerful Women Top 25 Award Winners for 2016’. The New Quay native, who lives in Limerick, played a central role in the separation of Shannon Airport from the State airport’s group in 2013, as she headed up the Aviation Business Development Task Force to report into the Government Steering Group on the future direction of the airport and Shannon Development. She was then appointed chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority to oversee the running of the airport as an independent entity until it became part of Shannon Group when it was …

Representatives from the world of online travel arrived in Dublin today (Wednesday) to meet with over 50 Irish tourism businesses. Among those at Evolve Ireland in Croke Park are Shannon Heritage and Trump International Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg. This is a Fáilte Ireland event tailored to improve online marketing. The operators at the event include representatives from big players in the market such as Booking.com, Expedia and Lastminute.com. The European online tourism market continues to grow year on year and is expected to be worth over €126bn this year. Research has highlighted that Ireland lags behind other markets in terms of fully exploiting digital sales strategies and indicated that knowledge of online platforms needed to improve.

Six prominent Clare companies pitched their businesses to a group of 20 top Canadian travel agents who are in Ireland to attend the Fáilte Ireland’s autumn sales workshop. Representatives from the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience; Trump International Hotel & Golf Links, Doonbeg; Secret Ireland Escapes; Shannon Heritage; Dromoland Castle and Doolin Ferry Company attended the Canadian Destination Expo in Barbarstown Castle, Co Kildare. The workshop, which was organised by Fáilte Ireland in conjunction with Tourism Ireland, was the last in a series of six sales workshops which were organised to focus on attracting more overseas visitors from key markets including the North American market. Irish tourism businesses engaged in almost 8,500 one-to-one sales meetings with approximately 275 major travel agents and overseas buyers during the past weeks. Speaking at the workshop, Ciara Sugrue, Head of Publicity, Trade and Promotions, Fáilte Ireland said: “The North American market is an important market for Ireland and we are delighted to be welcoming …

Shannon Heritage, Ireland’s largest operator of tourist attractions and part of Shannon Group plc, has announced a strong performance in the first three quarters of 2015 with visitors number at one of its flagship attractions, Bunratty Castle up by 14%. To the end of September 2015, key attractions in the Shannon Heritage portfolio showed an increase in visitor numbers. Bunratty Folk Park visits were up 14% on 2014, with King John’s Castle experiencing growth of 8%. In Dublin, the Shannon Heritage run Malahide Castle and Gardens saw a 15% increase in visits. Market research indicates that visitors from the US and Europe were up on 2014, whilst there was also significant increase in the amount of corporate events held in Shannon Heritage locations compared to last year. Speaking about the figures, Shannon Heritage CEO John Ruddle was delighted with the performance so far this year. “With 2014 having been the strongest year since 2007, the challenge was to keep the …

The business community in County Clare hosted one of the busiest job shadow events in the country last week. The job shadow initiative promotes inclusive workplaces and equal employment opportunities for people with a disability or illness. A week of activities allows jobseekers to experience different work environments by spending a day working with managers and staff. Helen McQuillan, team leader with EmployAbility Clare was delighted with the way local businesses embraced Job Shadow 2015. “This year, we focused on businesses and work environments that would provide participants with a really good insight into a typical working day and make them feel welcome. The people who took part this year are all active jobseekers, so the job shadow experience is matched to their particular skills and interests,” she explained. First to sign up was TTM Healthcare, an international health and social care recruitment company. Pádraic Hayes spent the day in the company’s busy head office in Ballymaley Business Park in …