Category Archives: Ireland travel

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.

 

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 .

Fire Dublin Restaurant Open on Good Friday


It’s an age old tradition that licensed restaurants in Ireland shut their doors on 2 days per year; Christmas Day and Good Friday.

While the Christmas day tradition travels far and wide, the Good Friday closure is fairly unique to Ireland, often causing confusion and distress for tourists.

However, Fire, the restaurant at Dublin’s Mansion House have announced that they are bucking that trend this year and are going to throw their doors open to tourists and locals alike on Good Friday.

The lounge is open from midday, and the restaurant opens an hour later  until late. FIRE has announced a special menu of non-alcoholic cocktails, and carefully sourced non-alcoholic wines to complement the new, exciting menus.

Commenting on the initiative, Padraic O’Kane of Fire said “Tourism is enormously important to Ireland, Dublin and our business. We’ve a hard won reputation for a Céad Míle Fáilte, yet each year for one night, at the start of the vital tourist season, restaurants and bars are shuttered. We decided that this would be the year that we’d buck the trend, and throw open our doors.”

Read all about it here: www.mansionhouse.ie/fire-restaurant/good–friday-and-easter

Cork Airport announces new route to Cardiff


Cork Airport has announced that Flybe will operate a new all year round twice weekly service between Cork and Cardiff, starting June 6th 2015.

The service will operate on a 118 seat Embraer 195 and will be Flybe’s first route from Cork Airport.

Aer Arann previously operated this route until its discontinuation several years ago. Its reinstatement by Flybe was welcomed by Cork Airport managing director, Niall MacCarthy; “This Cardiff route will be a significant boost to the local economy and provide a new destination for local businessmen and holidaymakers. At Cork Airport we have all been working extremely hard to provide our passengers with routes that will be beneficial for all.”

“This announcement is an exciting development for Cork Airport and we look forward to working closely with Flybe to develop our relationship and seek out further routes.”

 

Cork Airport’s leaky roof?


The aptly named Dublin Airport Authority, who still run Cork Airport, is taking legal action against two firms who were involved in the construction of the new terminal building in Cork.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has filed papers in the High Court against BAM Contractors (a Dutch Company) and Jacobs Engineering (An Americal company), both of whom were contracted to work on the terminal, which was completed in 2006.

According to the Irish Examiner is understood that the legal action has been triggered now before a 10-year warranty on the building expires at the end of the year.

The terminal is estimated to have cost in the region of €120million. The legal action, which relates to an alleged breach of contract, is understood to be focused only on structural issues with the terminal’s roof as leaks are among several problems which have affected the roof over the years.

The new terminal was built during Ireland’s property bubble, at the same time as scandals like the building of Priory Hall took place.

 

Heineken Cup semi final for Aviva Stadium?


In what could be a huge, and largely unexpected, boost for hotels near Dublin’s Aviva stadium, it has been revealed today that this year’s Heineken Cup final venue could also play host to a semi-Final if Ulster overcome Saracens in the last 8.

Toulon or Leicester Tigers will play the winners of this weekend’s quarter final with home advantage going to either Ulster or Saracens. Ulster have confirmed that if they have home advantage the game will be played at the Aviva.

Security Investment at Cork Airport


Southern Ireland’s Cork Airport is to spend €2.4m (approx $3m) on upgrading its luggage security screening system to meet new standards from the European Union.

Work on the upgrade will begin in February 2013 with full installation expected to be complete by May. Global specialist luggage systems company, Logan Teleflex, has secured the contract and the new equipment is due on site in February.

“This project is about Cork Airport’s compliance with the highest international security standards for hold baggage,” said Niall MacCarthy, a director at the airport. “The long term view is important in the airport business and significant planning is required to ensure that the airport’s systems are safe, secure and provide the best possible service to the thousands of passengers who use our terminal every day.”

Cork Airport’s luggage system catered for over 1.2 million bags last year (excluding carry-on luggage) and the airport said it expects modest growth in 2013.

RyanAir credit card charges to be more transparent


Ireland’s largest and most successful airline, Ryanair, has been given until August 1 2012 to start showing payment card surcharges in its headline prices. It is not clear yet how the ruling by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in the UK will be implemented in other markets but given the common booking platform on their website it is likely it will be applied across the board.

Ryanair is just one of many airlines operating in the UK who have agreed to the new procedure. Other airlines include: Thomas Cook, Thomson, Aer Lingus, Eastern Airways, easyJet, Flybe, German Wings, Jet2, Lufthansa, BMI Baby, and Wizz Air

Ireland have almost full squad for England Match


Scrum-half, Eoin Reddan is the only injury worry for Declan Kidney’s Ireland ahead of next Saturday’s clash with England at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Reddan played less than a minute of the 6 point defeat to Wales in Cardiff last Saturday after getting a blow to the face from the ball as he cblocked down a clearance kick from Lee Byrne of Wales.

Reddan suffered concussion as a result of the blow and was replaced immediately by Peter Stringer. Reddan is being monitoried by the Irish medical team his week and will see a neurologist as part of the injury management process.

The starting line-up for the final game of the Six Nations will be named by Declan Kidney tomorrow afternoon and Reddan is still officially in contention for a place.

The game takes on a special role as, although an Irish Triple Crown is now out of reach, Ireland have the motivation to deny England their first Grand Slam since they were victorious at the same venue (albeit the old stadium) 8 years ago.

Dublin hotels are almost sold out for weeks in advance of the game, however the historic nature of the occasion for England has seen a surge of enquiries to hotels near the aviva stadium in recent days, particularly from English fans.

While hotels nearby are almost certainly full, don’t rule out the option of staying in a hotel on the periphery, particularly a hotel near a tram stop like Moran’s Red Cow hotel.

Lynch Hotels placed in Receivership


Some of the 500 jobs at Lynch Hotels may be at risk after receivers were appointed today to two of the seven hotels within the hotel Group.

The two hotels are The Clare Inn in Dromoland, Co Clare and Breaffy House Hotel in Co Mayo.

The group employs as total of 500 people at the chain of hotels which also includes the West County Hotel in Ennis and  The Ocean Cove in Kilkee in County Clare, The George Boutique Hotel  and  The South Court in Limerick. These other hotels in the group are not affected by the appointment of a receiver to the Clare Inn and Breaffy House Hotel.

It is understood that the appointment of a receiver to the two hotels was prompted due to difficulties in securing working capital since the decision of Bank of Scotland Ireland to withdraw from the Irish market.

In a statement to Clare FM , managing director Michael B Lynch said that he will work with the receivers and banks to ensure that the jobs are protected and that the two affected hotels remain trading.

“We had a duty to move to protect the 500 employees’ jobs in our seven properties and do right by their families in these harsh economic times,” said Lynch .

“‘It is with great regret that we have had to make this decision but I am happy that in our discussions with the bank and receiver we have secured a position where the properties will remain open and continue to trade.”

Lough Eske Castle is best Luxury Country Hotel in the world…again


Lough Eske Castle, County Donegal’s only 5 Star hotel, has, for the second successive year, received the prestigious international recognition being named the World’s best Luxury Country Hotel by the World Luxury Hotel Awards (WLHA).

The World Luxury Hotel Awards are accepted as the pinnacle of achievement for 5 Star Hotels worldwide and were established to celebrate ultimate achievement in the hotel industry. Nominations for the awards are made by both members of the travel industry and by guests. The judging panel for these awards is made up of 50 leading tour operators and travel industry consultants from around the world.
Lough Eske Castle, was chosen for the award after being shortlisted among 200 hotels worldwide and is the only Irish winner of a World Luxury Hotel Award this year.

Winning the award two years in-a-row is a massive acknowledgment of what has been achieved at the Luxury castle hotel which offers a wonderful family atmosphere and a warm Donegal welcome and friendliness that all our guests are instantly taken with. The stunning location, on the shores of Lough Eske, at the foothills of the Bluestack Mountains, and the fact that the castle has been so beautifully restored, really is a winning formula.

Lough Eske Castle is one of the most popular hotels among myguideIreland Guests and receives one of the highest rates of requests for repeat visits. We are very lucky in Ireland to have a selection of some of the finest Castle Hotels in the entire world and are always proud to sell Lough Eske among our portfolio of great 5 Star castle hotels. Congratulations!!!

Inter Milan to play at the Aviva Stadium


2010 European champions Internazionale Milan are set to be the first high profile team confirmed for a pre-season tournament due to take place at Dublin’s new Aviva Stadium next Summer.

According to the FAI, Inter will take on an Airtricity League 11 along with several other top European sides when the event gets underway in Late July/Early August 2011.

The tournament, which will be the first venture in a ten-year agreement between the FAI and media company Endemol Sport, is certain to bring supporters flocking to hotels near the Aviva Stadium creating huge demand for hotel rooms.

“Inter Milan start the exciting line up of participating clubs and we look forward to unveiling more top sides in the coming weeks,” said chief executive of the FAI , John Delaney.

Aer Arann Blow for Cork Airport


Cork Airport suffered a major setback today with the announcement that Aer Arann is to abandon two routes from the Airport on September 1st.

The routes to Cork & Belfast face the axe as Aer Arann claims it has a fleet capacity issue.

While the Cork-Dublin route is currently also served by Ryanair, the Belfast route will be left without a carrier.

The move is also a blow to passengers who travel from Cork to Derry airport as Aer Arann operated a link via Dublin to the Northern city. Passengers traveling to Derry will now have to take the much less convenient Ryanair-AerArann connection in Dublin.

New Cork Airport Flights


Aer Lingus Regional, in partnership with Aer Arann, has announced an increased service at Cork Airport. The increased schedule will see visitors come to the Southern Irish airport from Manchester and Birmingham airports in the UK. The new schedule will be operated from october of this year.

Aer Lingus Regional is a franchise brand used for commuter and regional flights operated by Aer Arann on behalf of Aer Lingus. The partnership was first announced in January 2010 and since then has been adding routes.