News

Arts Support Award for Flogas

Pictured are Paul Kenny, general manager, Flogas Energy and John Rooney, managing director, Flogas Ireland, with the 2021 Business to Arts Award trophy presented for Best flogasart Use of Creativity in the Community. It was won for the company’s energy partnership with the Galway International Arts Festival on John Gerrard’s stunning Mirror Pavilion in 2020. Flogas supplied 100% renewable electricity to power the extraordinary work by the renowned Irish artist. The Mirror Pavilion was commissioned by the Festival and unveiled as part of Galway International Arts Festival’s 2020 Autumn Edition. It was a flagship event in the Galway 2020, European Capital of Culture programme. Mirror Pavilion - Corn Work, at the Claddagh Quay, was seen by more than 120,000 people over the four weeks of its installation.

ITAA regrets Walsh closure

joewalsh

The Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) has noted with regret that as of yesterday, Tuesday 27th April 2021, Joe Walsh Tours has ceased trading.

Holidaymakers who have a holiday booking with Joe Walsh Tours and have concerns should contact the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR). As a licensed and bonded travel agent, customers may be eligible for a refund. Details on how to claim against the bond can be found on the CAR website (www.aviationreg.ie).

The Commission also operates a Refund Credit Note Scheme. Clients may be covered by this scheme if their holiday has been cancelled due to Covid-19 and they have yet to receive a refund from Joe Walsh Pilgrimtours Ltd.

Bankers Back Staycation Support

State-backed incentives for domestic tourism could unlock up to €6 billion for the domestic economy and aid the recovery of service-based small and medium enterprises , wawvan1811

according to a new report from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland .

The latest SME Monitor published by the BPFI, which is a lobby group for banks, lays out the severity of the challenges faced by the accommodation and food-services sector since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It shows that while the average fall in turnover across all SME sectors between March and October 2020 was 25 per cent, SMEs in hotels and restaurants experienced an average decline of 65 per cent in their turnover during the same period.

Senator urges Turing participation

Up to 800 Hotel and Tourism students could benefit from Ireland’s early participation in the UK’s planned Turing Exchange Programme, according to Fianna Fáil Further and malcolmbyrne0421 Higher Education Spokesperson, Senator Malcolm Byrne .

The UK has left the European Union’s Erasmus student exchange programme and under Erasmus, up to 800 students from Ireland would study each year in the UK. Senator Byrne has urged the Irish government to become an early partner in the Turing programme being planned by the British government for student exchange, so that these students would not lose out.

Senator Byrne commented, “Many students, especially in hotel and catering management, would have done an Erasmus year in a big London hotel and helped develop their skills. We need to move quickly to ensure that we avail of the new Turing scheme to allow this engagement to continue.”

Chef slates seating uncertainty

Galway chef and restaurateur JP McMahon has complained about the lack of clarity on takeaway eating, with some businesses being told to remove outdoor tables and chairs for jpmcmahon

takeaway customers while others are not.

The owner of three restaurants in Galway City, including the Michelin star Aniar, took to social media over the weekend to express his frustrations and the inconsistent approach being adopted by Gardai on the issue.

The good weather has seen several businesses, including fast-food outlets and filling stations, providing outdoor seating for takeaway customers, while some businesses are being advised they cannot facilitate outdoor eating.