News

Irish Ferries reports upswing

Irish Continental Group has seen its revenue improve, helped by the easing of travel restrictions across the European Union in mid-July. Irish Ferries

The company, which operates Irish Ferries, has reported revenue of €279.7m for the year to date to November 20, up 22pc compared to last year.

The improved performance was partially offset by an increase in costs, primarily fuel, which increased 60pc versus 2020 due to increased sailings and higher global prices, according to a trading update from the group.

The Ferries Division has seen improved trading conditions in its passenger business following the easing of travel restrictions with the introduction of the EU Digital Covid Certificate.

While Brexit negatively impacted freight volumes in this division, it positively impacting freight revenue as more freight customers take the longer direct route to France, the company said.

Call to restore PUP for musicians

On RTÉ's Drivetime, Matt McGranaghan called for the immediate reinstatement of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, or an equivalent support, for those in the music mcgranaghan1121

industry who were forced off the payments in the past couple of months.

"We're directly appealing to an Taoiseach to intervene, to give us support and show us leadership for the industry, to help save the industry and especially to help to save Christmas for a lot of people because that is a major concern at the moment for a huge amount of workers," he said.

He said the industry has seen "a flooding of cancellations in the past week" since the new restrictions were introduced, including the cancellation of corporate events and Christmas parties.

Mr McGranaghan said a survey of its members found that three quarters of them have had their gigs cancelled, with some reporting that their gigs for entire month of December have been wiped out.

Insurer cushions Kylemore income fall

A €1.5 million insurance payout for business interruption during lockdown helped Kylemore Abbey and Gardens in Connemara,cushion the blow of a decrease close to 75% in its kylemore1219

revenues last year.

Visitor numbers at Kylemore, which is also home to a community of Benedictine nuns, fell to 100,000 in 2020 from around 530,000 in 2019, when it was ranked in the top 10 attractions in terms of numbers.

However,Kylemore bounced back in 2021 by more than trebling the number of Irish visitors as domestic tourism grew, according to its executive director, Conor Coyne.

Kylemore is also targeting a surge in British visitors after it features in a primetime BBC series that will be broadcast over Christmas.

Fáilte Ireland Targets 'Ultraluxe' visitors

Over the next four days more than 1500 one-to-one sales appointments have been scheduled between 155 Irish leisure and UltraLuxe tourism suppliers, Irish-based tour

operators and destination management companies (DMCs), to help drive demand for Ireland among international visitors in both the leisure and the UltraLuxe markets.

These meetings, which will take place virtually over the next four days, represent tens of thousands of possible visitors and hundreds of millions in revenue for Ireland, as Irish tourism attractions and activities across the country try to influence the travel itineraries of these high-profile tour operators and DMCs, for 2022 and beyond.

The workshops offer the leisure and ultraluxe suppliers who are based in Dublin, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and the Wild Atlantic Way, the chance to connect and pitch their offering to 24 Irish tour operators and DMCs. These operators represent some of the most influential high-end tour operators in Ireland who have expressed an interest in growing their leisure and ultraluxe business into Ireland.

Green Light for Dursey Cable Car

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for a multi million euro upgrade of the cable car to Dursey Island on the Beara Peninsula. dursey0220

It is the country's only cable car service.

Cork County Council has welcomed the Board's decision, saying it will now consult with its project partners, Fáilte Ireland, and following this a decision will be reached as to how best to fund and advance the project.

An estimated cost of €7 million was invested in the project in 2019 when plans were first submitted.

Local Fianna Fail TD Christopher O'Sullivan described the project as "a massive tourism win for west Cork", saying it will boost tourism in the region.