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The Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Mairead McGuinness first to enter Áras race as she's confirmed as Fine Gael's candidate
FORMER EU COMMISSIONER Mairead McGuinness has officially been nominated to contest the Presidential election this year for Fine Gael. McGuinness, who had been named on a number of occasions in recent weeks as a potential candidate, was the only person to contest the party's nomination. McGuinness's name will now go forward to for ratification at a party event in September, which will mark the start of the Fine Gael presidential election campaign. Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said McGuinness has 'secured the support of the parliamentary party and the wider Fine Gael organisation'. Harris said he 'looks forward to working with her over the coming months'. 'Presidential elections are always an important point for the country,' said Harris. 'I believe Mairead possess all the attributes to bring our nation together at this important time.' McGuinness represented Fine Gael and Ireland in the EU for ten years, where she served as a MEP for six years, including a term as a vice president of the European Parliament, and as the European Financial Services Commissioner for four years in that time. Advertisement Fine Gael opened its nomination process for anyone seeking the party's candidacy for the upcoming presidential election earlier last week. Nominations closed at 4pm today. To be nominated, a candidate needs the nomination of 20 members of the parliamentary party, 25 Fine Gael councillors and five members of the executive council. It had been expected that a ballot would take place internally, but McGuinness was the only candidate who sought her party's nomination after MEP Seán Kelly ruled himself out of the race last week. Harris told The Journal in March that he would've preferred that a competition for the candidacy take place. Party sources had stated that McGuinness was 'everywhere ' in order to drum up support from inside Fine Gael. McGuinness was appointed as Ireland's European Commissioner in 2020, selected to replace Phil Hogan as Ireland's EU Commissioner, after he resigned from his role as Trade Commissioner in the wake of the Golfgate scandal . After being elected to the European Parliament first in 2014, the former RTÉ and farming journalist later topped the poll upon her reelection, receiving 134,630 votes. She previously contested the Fine Gael Presidential nomination in 2011, losing out to former TD and junior minister Gay Mitchell, who had snapped up support from local councillors and the parliamentary party. Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly announced last week that she intends to contest the Presidential election this year, launching her campaign this week. She has already received the backing from a number of left-wing parties . 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


Irish Independent
24-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Golfgate is now ‘more a curiosity than anything else' as profits rise at Clifden Station House Hotel
Today at 21:30 A director of the firm that operates the Clifden Station House hotel in Connemara has said some hotel guests still mention the Golfgate controversy, 'but it's more a curiosity now than anything else'. Company director Frank Ford made his remark when commenting on new accounts showing that hotel operator Western Railway Operations Ltd recorded a 54pc increase in post-tax profits to €676,006 in the 12 months to the end of last May as revenues increased by more than 10pc. The 2024 fiscal year profits followed post-tax profits of €437,972 in the prior year. The Co Galway hotel was the location of the Golfgate controversy in August 2020 during the early stages of the pandemic. It resulted in two political figures, Phil Hogan and Dara Calleary, resigning from senior posts. Asked if guests still mention the controversy, Mr Ford said: 'Yes, some people still mention the event but thankfully people have moved on from blame and it's more a curiosity now than anything else. 'The hotel was found to have acted in accordance with all guidelines and laws, and at this point it does not negatively impact our business.' There are international uncertainties which will impact later in the season Two directors of the firm, hotel owner John Sweeney and his son, James Sweeney, were two of the four defendants in a criminal prosecution concerning the staging of the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner on August 19, 2020. All Covid-19 breach restrictions charges against the four were dismissed by a judge in February 2022. The hotel has recently undergone a €2.5m renovation. 'Bar some final touches, the complete refurbishment of the public areas on the ground floor was finished two weeks ago,' said Mr Ford. 'The previous fit-out was 28 years old and the next generation of the family, with James Sweeney as general manager, was keen to elevate the standards of the hotel. 'We have increased the size of the restaurant and provided much improved entrance, reception, bar and lounge areas by utilising space previously given over to conference and banqueting facilities. ADVERTISEMENT 'The design and construction team, led by Studio Duffy and Carey Developments, has given the hotel a fantastic new look. With high-quality design and materials throughout, we are hopeful it will prove to be a landmark and lasting improvement of the hotel. It was a significant investment of just over €2.5m – but in the life-cycle of the building, we feel it is an appropriate investment.' Numbers employed at the hotel increased from 49 to 53 and the director was bullish about prospects for the current year. 'We are satisfied with the business on our books – but we are mindful that there are international uncertainties which will impact later in the season and possibly into the next number of years.' Asked about the driving factors behind the increased profit, Mr Ford said: 'We managed to increase our rate and occupancy, primarily in the shoulder season.' Accumulated profits totalled €2m. The company's cash funds increased from €672,437 to €950,259. The profit takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of €272,393.


BreakingNews.ie
23-04-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Profits surge at Connemara hotel at centre of Golfgate controversy
A director of the firm that operates the Clifden Station House hotel in Connemara has said some guests still mention the Golfgate controversy but see it as "more of a curiosity than anything else". Frank Ford made the remark on Wednesday after new accounts showed Western Railway Operations Ltd recorded a 54 per cent increase in post-tax profits to €676,006 in the 12 months to the end of May, as revenues increased by more than 10 per cent. Advertisement The fiscal 2024 profits followed post-tax profits of €437,972 in the prior year. The hotel was the location of the Golfgate controversy in August 2020 during the early stages of the pandemic that resulted in two public figures, Phil Hogan and Dara Calleary, resigning from their senior posts. Asked if some guests still mention Golfgate, Mr Ford said: "Yes, some people still mention the event but thankfully people have moved on from blame and it is more of a curiosity than anything else." "The hotel was found to have acted in accordance with all guidelines and laws and at this point it does not negatively impact our business." Advertisement Two directors of the firm, hotel owner John Sweeney and his son James Sweeney, were two of the four defendants in a criminal prosecution concerning the staging of the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner on August 19th, 2020. All Covid-19 restrictions breach charges against the four were dismissed by a judge in February 2022. The hotel has just undergone a €2.5 million revamp, with the complete refurbishment of the public areas on the ground floor finished two weeks ago. Mr Ford said: "The previous fit-out was 28 years old and the next generation of the family, with James Sweeney as general manager, was keen to elevate the standards of the hotel." Advertisement He added: "We have increased the size of the restaurant and provided much improved entrance, reception, bar and lounge areas by utilising space previously given over to conference and banqueting facilities.' "It was a significant investment of just over €2.5 million but in the life-cycle of the building, we feel it is an appropriate investment.' The numbers employed at the hotel increased from 49 to 53 last year. On business prospects for the current year, Mr Ford said: "We are satisfied with the business on our books but are mindful that there are international uncertainties which will impact later in the season and possibly into the next number of years. Ireland Golfgate: Charges against all four defendants dism... Read More "Our domestic, UK and European income is strong, and the continued success of the Wild Atlantic Way marketing campaign is a great boost to the Clifden Station House and, we hope, other regional properties. Advertisement Asked about the driving factors behind the increased profit, Mr Ford said: "We managed to increase our rate and occupancy, primarily in the shoulder season." "We continue to invest significantly in the marketing of the Clifden Station House, and the events of Clifden and the wider Connemara region. Clifden is certainly providing a better year-round experience to visitors and this has improved our occupancy in the shoulder season." At the end of last May, the hotel firm had accumulated profits of €2 million. The company's cash funds increased from €672,437 to €950,259. The profit for fiscal 2024 takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of €272,393 and interest costs of €104,642.