Latest news with #WildAtlanticWay
Travel Daily News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Shannon Airport: 60,000 passengers during June Bank Holidays
Shannon Airport expects over 60,000 travelers this June bank holiday, marking a 9% increase, driven by expanded transatlantic and European flight services. Over 60,000 people will travel through Shannon Airport this June bank holiday, a significant increase of 9% on the same period in 2024. With 36 services in operation, the airport will see passengers jetting off to a wide variety of destinations. This includes the much anticipated, recently returned Delta and United Airlines seasonal flights to New York-JFK and Chicago, with over 325,000 seats now available across five transatlantic routes until September, including Aer Lingus' year-round daily flight to Boston. Ryanair continues to offer extensive options for summer breaks, with their new twice-weekly service to the beautiful Portuguese island of Madeira proving hugely popular. Following the recent stretch of sunshine, passengers are eager for more, with busy flights also departing for sun-soaked destinations including Alicante, Beziers, Faro, Malaga, Naples and Porto. TUI's weekly services to Barcelona-Reus, Lanzarote and most recently, Palma de Mallorca, are also in full swing for the summer, with holiday packages on offer from Shannon. The new service to Palma runs weekly and provides an additional 6,800 seats from the airport across the summer season. Meanwhile, inbound tourists will be using Shannon Airport as a gateway to the west coast, combining the rural beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way with vibrant city breaks for the ultimate Irish experience. Commenting on the June Bank Holiday passenger numbers, Mary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, said 'Whether sending people off on their holidays with a smile, or proudly connecting them to all that the beautiful west coast of Ireland has to offer, the team here at Shannon Airport take huge pleasure in welcoming passengers and making it easy for them to travel across these busy periods. A 9% increase on this time last year shows that more and more people throughout the country are discovering the ease and enjoyment that comes from flying out of Shannon Airport, and how it makes for a stress-free start to any holiday. We would like to thank our passengers for choosing Shannon this June bank holiday and we look forward to seeing you all.' Shannon Airport has five convenient car parks to choose from, with walking distances to the terminal ranging from just 30 seconds to seven minutes. Once inside and through security – where passengers do not need to remove their 100ml liquids and electrical items from their baggage – shopping and dining are the order of the day. Travel treats abound with everything from luxury fragrances, designer sunglasses and the best of Irish beauty, living and wellness at the Curated by Shannon Duty Free section.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- The Sun
I drove the Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands along the way
IT'S Ireland's answer to Route 66 – only with jaw-dropping natural beauty instead of neon signs along its 1,500 miles of coastal roads. The Wild Atlantic Way hugs Ireland's western coast — and expect soaring cliffs, deserted golden beaches, brooding mountains, crystal-clear waters and mystical islands off the mainland. 5 5 5 The remote Aran Islands offer something truly different. The stunning scenery, deep culture and friendly people are a given — perhaps that's just the luck of the Irish. But Europe's edge — the last islands to the west before you reach America — are shrouded in legend, folklore and myth. It's no surprise they were used as the backdrop for various films including Oscar -nominated The Banshees of Inisherin, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Famed for wild landscapes, distinctive knitwear and pretty cottages, the Irish-speaking Aran Islands offer the chance to disconnect from the modern world. The rugged terrain has a softness to it, as do the locals. Hidden caves The isle of Inis Mor was our first stop — 12.5 miles off the coast of Co Galway. It is the largest of the three in the archipelago (8.7 miles long and 2.4 miles wide) and has a population of roughly 800. The natural elements created a chiselled coastline complete with a seal colony and rare birds which complement the ancient ruins, local cafés and buzzing nightlife. There are plenty of historical sites to see. The underrated city break destination with scenic beaches, £30 return flights and more than 120 festivals a year We took a tour with Aran Hiking and Biking which included Dún Aonghasa, an ancient stone fort perched on the cliff edge above the rolling waves of the Atlantic, and well worth the trek. We stopped by Teach Nan Phaidí for a hearty, homely lunch and one of the best fish pies I've ever had. Afterwards, we nosed around the knitwear shop before heading back on the road for an enjoyable afternoon of more tales and legends. At Aran Islands Goats Cheese, award-winning farmer and cheese-maker Gabriel plied us with doses of lactic decadence. The goat's cheese with seaweed may sound hit or miss but it was a very firm favourite, and kids would enjoy being on this relaxed farm. The ancient Black Fort, Na Seacht dTeampaíll (The Seven Churches), and The Round Tower were also worth the trip, and then it was back to base at the Aran Islands Hotel. 5 5 Every March, the hotel hosts The Friends of Ted Festival — an annual fan convention for the classic Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. For dinner we headed to Joe Watty's Bar & Restaurant for seafood and battled with the freshest crab claws. Our meal was washed down with local tipples accompanied by a live soundtrack of traditional Irish music complete with fiddle. After a ferry back to the mainland we drove north on the winding roads carved into the backdrop of the Connemara National Park. From the jetty at Cleggen we caught a 40-minute ferry to Inishbofin. Arriving was like something out of a pirate film — complete with turquoise waters, white sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs where Cromwell had his barracks and hidden caves were bases for pirates. The island is a sanctuary for bird- life and is much greener and lusher than the starker Inis Mor. After checking in to Inishbofin House Hotel, with views of the harbour, it was on with a wetsuit to go kayaking around the coves. Lunch was a sensationally simple lobster and chips slathered with garlic butter at the Beach Bar overlooking the beautiful bay. Lobster and chips There's a wide variety of activities including walking, hiking, cycling, birdwatching and sea fishing. Or try canoeing, sailing, snorkelling, windsurfing and waterskiing. The rocky coastline hosts a large variety of sealife and you can even pick edible seaweeds. But we opted for a slower-paced afternoon in the meandering lanes to ascend to the peak of Croc Mor with our guide, islander Tommy Burke — our efforts rewarded by the views from atop. Tommy pointed out the unique white face of An Earagail Mountain (Mount Errigal), and seascapes from Cnoc Fola (Bloody Foreland) to distant Toraigh (Tory Island), to the tip of Horn Head. Our evening was spent enjoying yet more excellent fresh seafood at Saltbox, a quirky food truck. In season, it has to be the crab claws or lobster rolls. Tummies full, what better way to end the night than by heading off on a pub crawl of the island's four drinking holes. We wound up gatecrashing a local wedding at Murray's Bar at the Doonmore Hotel only to be made honorary guests. We drank well into the wee hours enjoying Irish folk music, song, dance and, of course, great craic.
Forbes
17-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
What It Means To Be Wealthy In Ireland
The Wild Atlantic Way in County Clare is the in place to visit in Ireland in 2025. With its picturesque landscapes, and rich history and culture, Ireland has become a top destination for expats and travelers alike. But what does it mean being wealthy in Ireland? From average earnings and net worth to the cost of living and visa opportunities, understanding the Emerald Isle's wealth offers insight into its unique blend of tradition and modernity. After the last presidential election, internet searches by Americans for moving abroad surged, and many of these were on Ireland—unsurprising considering the strong links the U.S. has to the Emerald Isle. Ireland ranked number 23 in USA Today's ranking of the best countries in the world in 2024, primarily because of the friendliness of its people and its interesting Celtic heritage. Its quality of life and social purpose also ranks highly. Likewise, CNTraveler's readers adored the country in 2024, ranking it the 9th best country in the world, for its history, yes, but also for how it has embraced the tech giants in Dublin and opened the first new whiskey distillery in 125 years. Beyond the capital city, there are sceneries for every occasion from the Giant's Causeway to the Wild Atlantic Way, a 1600-mile drive down Ireland's western seaboard, that takes in Michelin-starred dining and eco hideaways alike. This western side of Ireland encompasses the coastline of County Clare. This place appears on CNTraveler's list of the best places to go in Europe in 2025 because it is reinventing itself as an eco-tourism destination. The Common Knowledge Center is a sprawling area of native forests and regenerative farmland where guests eat fresh bread from the sourdough bakery and munch on organic food prepared by an Ottolenghi-trained chef. Visitors can learn how to build furniture and drystone walls if they fancy. Then the only challenge is working out what to pack for the ever-changing weather, as delightful and atmospheric as the landscapes themselves. This Lonely Planet guide could help. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranks its 38 member states across various economic, social, and environmental factors and finds that in Ireland, the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is $29,488 a year, slightly lower than the OECD average of $30,490 a year. In the U.S., the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is $51,147 a year. A 2023 Euronews study compared earning averages for single people across the 27 EU member states and found that the average was $31,588 (€28,217) on a like-for-like basis, and for Ireland, the average annual net earnings for a single person without children was $48,306 (€43,151), higher than the EU average. As in many countries, it is also true that average earnings vary by region or county. Dublin has the highest median annual salaries, and in a report in 2024, the lowest salaries were in Donegal. The cost of living in Ireland is on a par with the U.S., the U.K., and Germany, but approximately 2.5% higher than in France. The cost for a single person per month, not including rent, is as follows: However, the situation is slightly different when you factor in rent because in Ireland, the rent is almost 100% higher than in France, but about the same as the average U.S. rent. Groceries, however, are more expensive in the U.S. at about 15% higher than in Ireland. Most of Ireland's top 1% of earners live in its capital, Dublin. The Household Finance and Consumption Survey, 2020, published in 2022, said that the top 10% of wealthy households have more than approximately $881,00 (€788,400) in net wealth. In contrast, the lowest 10% of households have around $111 (€100) in net wealth. The median gross wealth was just under €300,000 (€265,100). As the Washington Post says, it can be expensive and complicated going "full expat" in any country, and many people do a dummy run by visiting a country first, using a golden passport or digital nomad visa. If you want to live in Ireland, you must first secure a work permit to apply for either a short-term or long-term visa, and you will jump to the top of the queue if you work in specific fields in high demand, like healthcare and farming. In contrast, a general work permit is available for positions with a minimum salary of €30,000 (around $32,000), though this doesn't cover every type of job. Wealthy individuals and some retirees who meet income criteria can also pursue residency through other paths. Additionally, U.S. citizens who are students or recent graduates may qualify for a year-long working holiday in Ireland. You might be eligible for Irish citizenship if you have an Irish-born grandparent. Being wealthy in Ireland means more than financial stability; embracing a high quality of life, cultural richness, and a strong sense of community. With competitive salaries, a reasonable cost of living, and opportunities for expats through visas, Ireland offers a compelling lifestyle for those seeking to live abroad. Whether you're drawn by its stunning landscapes, thriving cities, or welcoming people, the Emerald Isle remains a destination worth exploring for those looking to redefine wealth and success.
Irish Examiner
04-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Crosshaven 'may miss out on tourism boost due to inadequate infrastructure'
Plans by Fáilte Ireland to boost Cork Harbour tourism could bypass a seaside town because it hasn't got the infrastructure to cope with increased visitor numbers. Senior members of the tourism authority will be told that Crosshaven could miss out on valuable revenue under plans to promote the harbour. The issue was raised at a meeting of the Carrigaline Municipal District Council by Fine Gael councillor Jack White. He said the lack of parking, proper road infrastructure, and limited wastewater capacity must be addressed in Crosshaven in the preparation of the introduction of the Cork Harbour Tourism Plan. Mr White suggested tourists could be brought in an out of the coastal village by water. Maurice Murphy, the most senior council official for the wider Carrigaline region, acknowledged that there is no land on the market which the local authority can purchase for extra car parking. He added that the next county development plan must ensure land is zoned for this. Rose Carroll, who leads the council's tourism unit, said the infrastructure deficits 'are being clearly communicated and considered as part of the plan's formulation, with a view to unlocking the area's full tourism potential'. Independent councillor Ben Dalton-O'Sullivan said Fáilte Ireland officials are due to address the council's tourism committee and the concerns raised by Mr White will be discussed with them. The Cork Harbour tourism plan comes under the auspices of the national strategy known as Ireland's Ancient East, but Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Donovan maintained that Crosshaven should be part of the Wild Atlantic Way. Mr Donovan asked when Camden Fort Meagher would open for tourists this year. Plans to open it in the spring were delayed because of damage caused by Storm Éowyn. Phillippa Deane, the attraction's acting manager, said repairs should be completed in mid-May and announced that in July and August it will open on a seven-day basis instead of five. She said new bilingual exhibitions telling Camden's fascinating story have been installed and additional parts of the fort will open to the public for the first time. New walkways are also to be opened. Ms Deane added: Fort management will be working throughout the season in collaboration with our new operator to ensure the highest quality offering, in our wonderfully scenic café space. Meanwhile, Mr Murphy said the council has submitted 'a very ambitious plan' to government for funding to upgrade facilities there, adding maintenance of the fort will also cost a considerable amount of money in the coming years. Mr Donovan welcome the news but maintained it should be open all year round and not just from April to September and should be used for corporate events.
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.
