News

Haulbowline Dump Becomes Park

One of the biggest remediation projects ever undertaken in this country, which has transformed a toxic waste steel dump into a large public park at Cork Harbour, is now being haulbowline used as a template across Europe as the way forward in reconstructing challenging sites with an industrial past.

The former East Tip on the old Irish Steel site at Haulbowline has been converted into a 22 acre amenity and recreational site, with 4km of fully accessible walkways, a jogging route, wildflower meadows, picnic sites, over 200 native trees, and seating areas which look out on majestic views of Cork Harbour.

Haulbowline, which is the home headquarters of the Irish Naval service, was also the location for Ireland's only steelworks from 1939 until its closure in 2001.

Ballina welcomes 'Super Loos'

The first upmarket, commercial toilets in the country have opened in Clifden, Co Galway. toilets

The six premium public toilets are located in a converted retail unit on Courthouse Square in the centre of town.

It costs €3.50 per visit .

Entrepreneur John Nagle said :

'The 'U-Luu’ pods are premium public-access restrooms. They are contactless, fully automated and overseen by nine full time staff from 9am to 7am seven days a week."

There are also two large showers and three make-up areas for people wanting to spend up to half an hour or more in the pods.

Users will be charged €15 to €20 for access to individual and family shower facilities.

Mr Nagle said his primary market was women as they were more inclined to stay longer and avail of the additional facilities on offer.

The restrooms are wheelchair accessible and parent and child friendly with breast feeding facilities.

On-Line B.Sc from TU Dublin

TU Dublin has launched a new Level 8 BSc in Hospitality Management (part-time & online). TUDublin

Applications are now open for a new 1-year add-on level 8 BSc Hospitality Management programme. This is a great opportunity for those currently working in the industry to upskill to a level 8 BSc in Hospitality Management.

The programme will be delivered in a blended format as follows:

Cuba joins Quarantine List

Cuba has been added to the mandatory hotel quarantine list for travellers arriving in to Ireland, while 34 countries have been removed. cuba

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, announced that Cuba would be added to the list, meaning people arriving to Ireland having been in, or transited through, the Caribbean state in the previous 14 days must enter mandatory hotel quarantine.

Mr Donnelly has also today removed 34 states from the list of designated countries for mandatory hotel quarantine, with immediate effect.

The states are: Afghanistan; Angola; Bahrain; Burundi; Cape Verde; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Eritrea; Ethiopia; French Guiana; Guyana; Haiti; Kenya; Kyrgyzstan; Lesotho; Malawi; Maldives; Mongolia; Nepal; Oman; Panama; The Philippines; Qatar; Rwanda; Somalia; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Tanzania; Turkey; United Arab Emirates; Venezuela; Zambia.

The Government has also announced revised travel policies to take effect from July 19, in keeping with the EU Digital Covid Certificate.

'Golfgate' hoteliers face Court hearing

Two politicians and two hoteliers are due to appear in court next week on charges related to the organisation of the controversial Oireachtas Golf Society dinner last August.

Independent TD Noel Grealish (55), former Fianna Fáil senator Donie Cassidy (75), hotelier John Sweeney (60) and his son James Sweeney (32) are all listed to appear at a sitting of Clifden District Court in Co Galway next Thursday.

Each will face a single charge of organising or causing to organise an event in contravention of Section 31A of the Health Act 1947, as amended to limit the spread of Covid-19.

The offences are alleged to have taken place at the Station House Hotel in Clifden last August 19 when 81 people attended an Oireachtas Golf Society dinner.

Charges were directed in the matter after gardaí sent a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The penalties for breaches of the regulations are fines of up to €2,500 and up to six months in prison.