Irish government gives green light to reopening of indoor hospitality

The Irish government has approved a plan to will allow indoor hospitality to reopen next week.

The plan will allow people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or can prove they have recently recovered from the virus (in the previous 9 months) to eat and drink indoors at bars, cafes and restaurants for the first time this year.

Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, said it is planned that the enabling legislation will come into effect next week, but it will not later than July 26th.

Ministers, government officials and representatives from the hospitality industry met last weekend and agreed a plan that will see proof of vaccination required on entry to indoor venues.
Proof will either be on paper or via the EU digital Covid certificate.

Those who have recovered from Covid-19 but are not vaccinated can apply for a certificate of recovery from a dedicated helpline.

Dublin to Host World Steak Challenge 2019

The World Steak Challenge will take place in Dublin this July.

The World Steak Challenge, launched in 2015, delivers a recognised stamp of quality supporting world-class steak production on a global platform. The challenge gives steak producers a unique platform to benchmark product quality, breed credentials and processing standards on the international stage. Twenty two separate countries have participated since the inception of the awards in 2015.

This year’s awards will take place at The Mansion House in Dublin, home to Fire Restaurant, already famed for the best steak in Dublin where the judging will take place, and the iconic Round Room where the awards will be presented.

Judging takes place on July 9th with the awards being presented on July 10th.

The event is sponsored & officially hosted by Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board

 

Dublin & Cork Airports Increase in Popularity while Shannon Declines

Cork Airport and Dublin Airports recorded increases in traffic in February 2019 while Shannon Airport saw traffic decline.

Our favourite Irish Airport, Cork Airport, had 151,000 passengers up 14,000 on February last year an increase of over 10%.

Dublin Airport set a new February record with more than 2 million passengers flying through the airport, a 9% increase on the same time last year.

Shannon saw passenger numbers drop in February. A spokesperson for Shannon Airport, when contacted by the Clare Echo, attributed this reduction largely to the loss of the Kuwait Airlines transit flights which first began in 2016 as a temporary service and ended in January 2019.

Best Cup of Coffee in Ireland

Always renowned for its great tea rivalry between Barrys Irish Tea and Lyons Tea, the conversation around coffee in Ireland is less prominent.

However, Ireland will be sending a representative to the World Barista Championships in April 2019. Wojciech Tysler won the title of Avonmore Irish Barista Champion at Catex in the RDS. The competition was organised by the Speciality Coffee Association and sponsored by Avonmore.

Each of the finalists had 15 minutes to make four espresso coffees, four cappuccinos and four speciality drinks made with coffee and other ingredients. The rules for the “other ingredients” specifically exclude alcohol so unfortunately the traditional “Irish Coffee” will not be winning at the world championships.

Wojciech Tysler is originally from Poland but has been living in Ireland for almost a decade and a half. Wojciech has been training baristas for nine years for his empoyer Bewleys and his chosen coffee for the event was Cerro Axul which comes from a farm in Colombia.

We wish Wojciech every success in the world championships.

Read more in the Irish Times:

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/who-makes-the-best-cup-of-coffee-in-ireland-the-results-are-in-1.3810961

 

Clayton Hotel opens new hotel in London City

Irish Hotel company Dalata Hotel Group officially opened the doors of its newest hotel, Clayton Hotel City of London, today.

The new four star hotel’s design was inspired by its location among victorian textile warehouses and reflects the neighbourhood’s fascinating fusion of East End tradition and contemporary creativity.

The hotel is the Irish chain’s third hotel in London and joins the Clayton Hotel in Chiswick and the Clayton Crown Hotel in Cricklewood both of which it acquired from another Irish hotel chain the Moran Hotel Group in 2014

Christmas 2017

As Paul McCartney phrased it perfectly:

“The party’s on
The feelin’s here
That only comes
This time of year
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time…”

Soon it is the time of year again when everyone is celebrating Christmas with their family and closest friends. When people get together to share meals, to laugh, talk and reflect on the year.

Cards are being sent, gifts are being exchanged, good food is being prepared and everything slows down. We all take time to spend quality time with our families and be at home. And then the parties and nights out in the run up (and including) New Years eve.

As every year Christmas 2017 will be no exception!

Cork Outsourcing Business Voxpro Sold in Multi Million Deal

Cork call centre business counting Google and Airbnb among its customers, Voxpro, has been sold in a multi million euro deal, rumoured to be in the region of €1.5M.

The buyer, Canadian call centre giant Telus International, is a global provider of business process outsourcing, IT outsourcing, and contact center outsourcing solutions. Following this deal, they will eploy approximately 28,000 people, working in more than 35 languages worldwide.

Voxpro is the latest in a number of Irish BPO Companies to fall into foreign ownership with another Cork company, Southwestern, being taken over by Capita for €35m in 2014

 

Chambers to Fight for Cork Limerick Motorway

Cork and Limerick Chambers are to join Forces to campaign for the n20 between Cork & Limerick to be upgraded to a Motorway and become the M20.

The n20 is a highly significant commercial route linking the cities of Limerick and Cork and facilitating connectivity along the wider Atlantic Corridor.

While there have been repetitive discussions about upgrading the road to motorway status, all plans were shelved following the economic collapse of 2008 -2010.

In 2017, however, the new Government committed €1m in funding for Transport Infrastructure Ireland to re-start the planning process for the M20 motorway.

Seeing this development as a an opportunity to push for additional funding in the upcoming mid-term review of the national Capital Investment Plan, Cork and Limerick Chambers have joined forces and commissioned Indecon Economic Consultants and RedC research to assess the socio-economic benefits of upgrading the N20.

 

Ireland to significantly increase beef exports to the USA

Ireland will be able to significantly increase its beef exports to the USA following an agreement between the two countries that could be worth millions of euro annually to the Irish agriculture industry

Exports of Irish beef to the USA last year were estimated at over €14m and US authorities have agreed to allow Ireland become the first EU member state in more than 15 years to export manufacturing beef there.

This is beef that is typically used in burgers and processed foods, and almost one million tonnes of it is imported by the US every year.

This opens up the prospect of food chains like McDonalds using Irish Beef in the USA, something they have been doing for a long time in Europe, buying beef from 18,000 Irish family farms

This will be a huge boost to Irish farming.

 

Donegal & Kerry top Blue Flag Beaches list 2016

Donegal and Kerry have come out on top of the 2016 list of Blue Flag beaches in Ireland for 2016.

The full list (below) sees Donegal and Kerry achieving 13 Blue Flags each followed by Mayo with 11.

County	Beach/Marina
Clare	Ballycuggeran
Clare	Kilkee
Clare	Whitestrand, Doonbeg
Clare	Mountshannon
Clare	Cappa
Clare	Fanore
Clare	Lahinch
Clare	Spanish Point
Clare	Miltown Malbay
Cork	Garrylucas
Cork	Inchydoney
Cork	Owenahincha
Cork	Barleycove
Cork	Tragumna
Donegal	Bundoran
Donegal	Culdaff
Donegal	Fintra
Donegal	Downings
Donegal	Killahoey
Donegal	Marblehill
Donegal	Lisfannon
Donegal	Murvagh
Donegal	Naran
Donegal	Magherawarden
Donegal	Shroove
Donegal	Rossnowlagh
Donegal	Carrickfinn
Dublin	Balcarrick, Donabate
Dublin	Portmarnock
Dublin	Killiney
Dublin	SeaPoint
Galway	Traught
Galway	Cill Mhuirbhigh
Galway	Loughrea
Galway	Tra an Doilin
Galway	Tra Mhor, Indreabhan
Galway	Salthill
Galway	Silverstrand
Kerry	Ballinskelligs
Kerry	Ballybunion North
Kerry	Ballybunion South
Kerry	Ballyheigue
Kerry	Banna
Kerry	Derrynane
Kerry	Fenit
Kerry	Inch
Kerry	Kells
Kerry	Maherabeg
Kerry	Ventry
Kerry	White Strand
Kerry	Rossbeigh
Louth	Port
Louth	Templetown
Louth	Clogherhead
Mayo	Dooega
Mayo	Carrowmore
Mayo	Clare Island
Mayo	Mulranny
Mayo	Golden Strand
Mayo	Mullaghroe
Mayo	Silverstrand, Dugort
Mayo	Keel
Mayo	Elly Bay
Mayo	Keem
Mayo	Bertra
Sligo	Rosses Point
Waterford	Clonea
Waterford	Councellors Stand
Waterford	Dunmore Strand
Waterford	Tramore
Wexford	Curracloe
Wexford	Courtown
Wexford	Morriscastle
Wexford	Rosslare Strand
Wexford	Ballinesker
Wexford	(new) Ballymoney North Beach
Wicklow	(new) Brittas Bay North
Wicklow	Brittas Bay South
Wicklow	Greystones South Beach
Cork	The Royal Cork Yacht Club Marina
Cork	Kinsale Yacht Club Marina
Kerry	(new) Fenit Marina
Westmeath	Killinure Point Marina
Wexford	Kilmore Quay Marina
Wexford	New Ross Marina

Paul O’Connell retires from Rugby :(

The IRFU have this morning announced that Ireland’s heroic leader Paul O’Connell has retired from all rugby.

He had struggled to recover from the hamstring injury that had ended his international career during the Rugby World Cup in France last autumn but was contracted to play with French side Toulon. In the end it was a move that he could not complete.

The Munster great released the following statement through the IRFU: “It is with deep regret that I have decided to retire from professional rugby following medical advice. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all at Rugby Club Toulonnais for their understanding and support over the past few months.”

Former teammate and predecessor as Irish captain.  Brian O’Driscoll made one the first of what will be many tributes paid to the Limerick man as news of his retirement spreads this morning:

 

Really disappointing to see @Paul_OConnell having to retire. Sensational career in Red & Green. Simply irreplaceable.

— Brian O’Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) February 9, 2016

 

Apple in Cork evacuated

The press are reporting that 4000 employees of Apple in Cork have been evacuated due to a security threat.

Gardai are at the scene in Hollyhill and have confirmed that three plants have been evacuated.

Initial reports indicate that the threat may have been sent via email.

It is understood that the firm’s premises on Lavitts Quay, Hollyhill and Model Farm Road are those affected by the evacuations.

independent.ie are reporting that the EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team are on standby.

Read more on indepenent.ie: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/4000-apple-employees-evacuated-amid-possible-security-threat-in-cork-34373462.html

Transatlantic Flights from Cork Airport to launch in 2016?

The Irish Examiner are running a front page story this morning, (September 25th) which was broken by journalist Eoin English on twitter last night, regarding the impending announcement by Cork Airport of Transatlantic flights to launch in 2016.

If the story is accurate, the flights will be between Cork and Boston and will be operated by Norweigan Air.

This would be a major boost for Cork Airport coming hot on the heels of an announcement by CityJet of a new route between Cork and London City Airport.

Cork Airport is widely regarded as one of the most passenger friendly in the world and with EMC, a major employer in the region having its HQ in Boston, we expect the service will be widely supported.

The development will bring to 4 the number of airports to which you can fly to Ireland directly from the USA .

Whitegate Oil refinery Sale still on the cards.

The possible sale of Ireland’s only oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork is back on the table despite parent company, Phillips 66,  appearing to pull the plug on the sales process last year.

The US multinational energy company recently confirmed to Irish Newspaper, The Irish Examiner, that it is considering selling the refinery, which employs 300 people in East Cork, but again reiterating that that, longer-term, it expects that the “asset will be challenged”.

The ageing refinery’s  future has been shrouded in uncertainty for a considerable period of time with little progress being made in terms of securing its longer-term future.

Phillips 66 are under a contractual obligation to the Irish Government to operate the facility until July 2016.

 

Read more about this story:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/whitegate-refinery-sale-is-still-on-342389.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/loss-making-refinery-faces-uncertain-future-342609.html

 

Cork City to Challenge Merger plans with county

Cork City Council decided last night to seek a judicial review of “the administrative actions” of the Cork Local Government Review Group which has recommended a merger of Cork city and county councils.

This is also expected to be the first challenge to the constitutionality of government policy in relation to combining local authority areas.

Tonight’s council meeting was addressed by former Cork Local Government Review (CLGR) member Dr Theresa Reidy, following which it was agreed to mount the legal challenge.

She co-authored a “minority report” with fellow group member, Prof Dermot Keogh, opposing the merger recommendation which was presented to Environment Minister Alan Kelly last week.

Dr Reidy told councillors that it was clear from the review process that cities are engines of regional growth and “must have independent autonomous governance to drive economic development”.

A merged council would take decision making one step further from citizens, she said, although she did not elaborate on how this would be the case.

Business groups are divided over the proposal, with Cork Chamber of Commerce and Cork Business Association members taking opposing stands on the report.