Latest news with #FáilteIreland
Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Wexford's €1.2 million watersports centre will be first of its kind in Ireland
Last week, outgoing Fáilte Ireland CEO Paul Kelly was back in his home county to launch the Wexford Destination and Experience Development Plan ahead of this year's Fleadh August is set to be significant month for tourism for Wexford. Over the course of last year's eight day Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, an estimated 650,000 people travelled to Wexford for the biggest ever festival which generated in the region €60 million for the local economy. When the Fleadh returns this year between August 3 and August 10, it is expected to be even bigger and in addition, a world – class water sports adventure centre will open at Curracloe, one of Ireland's best beaches following a €1.2 million collaboration between Fáilte Ireland and Wexford County Council.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Donegal and Kerry showcase football's Wild Atlantic Way
Eleven years ago, the same year both Donegal and Kerry previously contested an All-Ireland final, the Wild Atlantic Way route was launched. On a comparatively shoestring budget, Fáilte Ireland had to come up with an initiative to rebrand the splendour of the west coast in the hope of boosting a tourism industry still reeling from the economic crisis. Then chief executive Shaun Quinn went back to his homeplace in Raphoe in Donegal and conjured up the phrase. The wave-shaped acronym that became the logo followed and after that it was a case of agreeing on the route. Launched in April 2014, it was initially deemed gimmicky. The rusty stop signs were maligned as eyesores and the new road signs dismissed as the proverbial lick of paint. By the time Donegal and Kerry faced off that September, the sneering and cynicism was on the wane. Hotels in counties like Donegal were reporting bookings up by as much as 40%. Last year, it was revealed the Wild Atlantic Way has led to a 58% increase in revenue, which now totals €3 billion per annum. Not bad for giving a new name to something that was already there. Finn MacDonnell, owner of the famous Dick Mack's pub in Dingle, told this newspaper last year its creator should 'be given a trophy'. Aisling Arnold-Kelly, owner of Arnolds Hotel in Dunfanaghy reported the promotion was transformational for her business. 'We were opening on St Patrick's Day and closing after Halloween,' she told the Irish Times. 'As a result of the Wild Atlantic Way, we are now open six months full-time and five days a week in the off-season, from November to February…' A lot of what the Football Review Committee (FRC) started 10 years on from Fáilte Ireland's great marketing campaign can be likened to the Wild Atlantic Way. The product is still the product, football remains football as FRC chairman Jim Gavin had intended, but the packaging is a damn sight better. In almost every GAA field in the country, the FRC's lick of paint has amounted to two partly-elliptical arcs and a dotted halfway line. The skill of a long-range point has been flagged literally and figuratively. The quick free is quicker in the form of the solo-and-go. If the 2,500km route from Kinsale to Malin Head fuels nostalgia for ex-pats and second and third generation Irish about the old sod, the four back, three up restrictions is a nod to how the game used to be played. Like the paintings of Paul Henry and postcards of John Hinde that sold the idea of Ireland as a destination in the early half of the 20th century, there is romance to the rules. The allure of empty space as portrayed by those artists is what the FRC have advertised to footballers. Gavin may be a self-proclaimed fan of 'east coast football' but within the parameters he and his group have set, the west are this year's winners. The tropes about Donegal being too wedded to their running game because of their geography and their management's allegiance to it has been disproven by their progress under these new game conditions because they have excellent kickers. To a lesser extent, Kerry's presence in this final is notable when they seemed for a large part of the season to be slower than most to catch the hang of two-pointers, a point Jim McGuinness referenced after Donegal's All-Ireland semi-final. Both have moved with the times. The aggregate 27 points, the 2-21, the pair accumulated between themselves in the 2014 All-Ireland final could be matched or surpassed by half-time on Sunday. It's inflation but, unlike what those holidaying in Ireland are experiencing, it's the good kind. Just as the ruggedness of the west has been re-imagined, the GAA have realised that when you rebrand it, they will come. Novelty or not, attendances were up 21% for this year's group stages compared to last. Crowds for the 13 knock-out matches will exceed 430,000 and could be as much as 23% higher than 2024. That's not to say the fare from the preliminary quarter-finals has been great. It's been pretty underwhelming, in fact, after some electric group matches. The average winning margin has been 7.8 points compared to the group stages where the average gap was 5.6. Consequently, there is some pressure on Sunday's final to showcase all the good that the FRC has brought to the game before the permanency of the rules are voted on in early October, but finals are often fraught affairs and it's been six years since a stone-cold classic was delivered on this stage. But it doesn't need to be wonderful to establish that the tweaks have been a success. As those living in the Donegal and Kerry beauty spots on the Wild Atlantic Way can testify, a shower is never too far away.
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Crown Square Development is a ‘priority investment' as Galway City Council approves €60m loan
Galway City Council members have approved seeking a historic €60 million loan to finance a variety of capital projects – including the new civic offices in Crown Square. At the July council plenary meeting, elected members discussed the allocation of this money into key investments throughout the city but some felt that it didn't meet the imminent needs of Galwegians. Investment of the €60 million will enable works cross-departmentally in all areas of the city, and will focus on priority projects laid out by the council for their five-year term including: Masterplans at Kingston, South Park and Renmore Woodquay Park redevelopment Pitches at Millers Lane New multi-use game area at Renmore Pitch drainage and skate park in Doughiska Redevelopment of the Galway City Museum with Fáilte Ireland Upgrades to cultural facilities Public lighting upgrades, following damage from Storm Éowyn Mayor of the City of Galway Cllr Mike Cubbard said that the loan 'represents the belief and positivity' of Galway. He added: 'This is a young, vibrant, educated, artistic, Gaeltacht city, with a long tradition as an outward-looking trading port, over more than 800 years of history. This decision is an investment in our future - starting the enabling works for ground-breaking projects including the sports masterplans.' Exact cost breakdown for each project is unavailable as the council remains in the procurement process for the fit-out of the Crown Square development. It 'remains a priority investment.' Finance Director Helen Kilroy said. This loan comes shortly after the Irish Independent attended a special meeting and site visit to Crown Square where chief executive of Galway City Council Leonard Cleary said any other options but moving council offices into the new development would be 'fiscal folly'. To date, Crown Square has cost the council more than €1.5 million. The building itself has depreciated €8m since it was acquired in 2022 but is estimated to increase in value in it's 40-year life cycle. Part of the loan agreed upon will be designated to completing the fit out of the building. Most elected members said the funding would keep priority projects moving with minimal delays and expand the budget for community investment. However, some councillors expressed concern that the loan, and the focus on the Crown Square development, does not address the city's most pressing needs. Cllr Eibhlín Seoigthe said that though the projects listed are important to the city it does not 'address the biggest and most pressing need: housing.' 'I can't vote for this loan because I don't believe it reflects the people we serve.' To explain, she added: 'The project list kept changing. The costs were kept deliberately vague. And not all councillors were properly briefed. That's not democratic. That's not transparent. And it's certainly not inclusive.' Cllr Seoigthe's Social Democrat counterpart, Alan Curran, asked for a deferment due to a lack of adequate time to consider the magnitude of this proposal, as it is one of the largest loans the council has taken. The repayment term for the loan is projected to be 30 years with an annual repayment of €3.1m. Repayments will be calculated based on the amounts drawn down over the term. Now, Galway City Council will seek formal sanction from the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage and discuss the terms of the loan and drawdown. The formal application will be processed when the 2026 budget planning commences for the city. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
BreakingNews.ie
02-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Tourism sector warns of US risks, price pressures and staff shortages
Fáilte Ireland has warned of growing concerns around Ireland's dependence on US visitors, as 'unorthodox policy decisions' in the United States fuel international uncertainty. Its April 2024 industry outlook report, designed to offer a 360-degree view of the sector, predicts 2025 to be a 'solid year' for Irish tourism, with room for further growth in 2026 and beyond. Advertisement However, the report flagged growing price sensitivity among tourists, tight profit margins for operators, and staffing shortages as major concerns facing the industry. It said: 'Consumers are becoming more value conscious as household saving rates are ticking upwards. We're seeing this in tourism via the declining length of stay witnessed in Ireland and elsewhere.' The research highlighted broader economic uncertainty, particularly due to political developments in the US. It said global growth was becoming more sluggish, while the outlook for the Irish economy remained 'modest, but positive'. Feedback from accommodation providers and visitor attractions pointed to value-for-money concerns among tourists, especially those from overseas. Many operators are operating on tight margins and are wary of passing on rising costs to customers. Advertisement 'Price resistance remains a challenge, with margins under pressure as cost increases can't be fully passed on to the end user,' the report said. 'Any price increases are likely to be in line with inflation.' Some hotels were said to be adjusting their rates downward after losing business due to high prices. Rising costs were cited by hoteliers as a growing issue. Operators also raised the issue of staffing shortages, particularly around retention and the increasing reliance on casual or part-time workers. Advertisement Investment in facilities and sustainability projects such as solar panels or space modernisation was being delayed by 'slow returns on investment and financial constraints', the report noted. 'Businesses face financial challenges, including high operational costs, VAT, and electricity expenses. Weather dependency and the impact of external factors on visitor numbers are also concerns,' it said. The report described a 'mixed' picture for accommodation providers, with some enjoying strong bookings while others struggled with 'low occupancy'. Nonetheless, there was strong capital investment last year, with an estimated €950 million worth of hotel and hostel transactions in 2023, a 170 per cent increase on the previous year. About 7,200 hotel, aparthotel and hostel bed spaces were under construction at the end of the year. The research said Dublin commanded a significantly higher 'price per key' with a room valued at €360,000 at one upmarket hotel in the capital compared to €134,000 for a similar hotel in Co Cavan. The DAA, which runs Dublin Airport, expected seat capacity to rise by 5 per cent this summer. Aer Lingus reported steady short-haul bookings and 10 per cent growth in long-haul traffic. Fáilte Ireland said it had no further comment to add to the report.
The Journal
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Golf tourists a major boost to Ireland's economy - spending three times more than the average
GOLF TOURISTS AND golf tourism is a major driver of growth for the Irish economy, AIB has said, with over 220,000 people visiting Ireland for the purpose annually – and spending an average of three times that of the non-golfing tourist. AIB has today published its Coach and Golf Tourism Outlook, which highlights the economic contribution of coach operators and golf tourism in Ireland. Golf tourism brings in an estimated €300m annually to the Irish economy, according to Fáilte Ireland. The 220,000 visitors have over 400 courses to choose from, it noted, as well as numerous high profile events on the horizon destined to bring in additional visitors. Advertisement The AIB report linked golf and coach tourism, as golf tourists from the US tend to favour 'extended trips and premium accommodation, often relying on coach access and pre-arranged group tours', it noted. The standard 'golf tourist' spends around three times that of the 'leisure tourist' on average, the report stated, citing Fáilte Ireland. Most of the spend is funnelled into local economies on non-golf related expenditure, such as accommodation, food, and beverages. Coach tourism was also reported to be on the up, with coach and bus registrations increasing by 70% in 2024. AIB said that the sector was still catching up on the slowdown caused by the pandemic and there were constraints on supply. It said that sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor for coach operators 'looking to futureproof their fleet'. In the final quarter of last year, electric buses outsold diesel for the first time across Europe. Coach operators in Ireland are currently working towards alternatively powered vehicles and those with less emissions. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
