News

First Trump Doonbeg profit

The Donald Trump-owned Trump Doonbeg resort in Co Clare has recorded its first operating profit since it was bought in 2014. doonbeg

Accounts show that the business recorded a modest operating profit of €2,939 as revenues increased by 7.5 per cent from €10.66 million to €11.47 million last year. This follows an operating loss of €330,030 in 2017.

However, the resort company TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd recorded a pre-tax loss of €1.49 million last year due to non-cash depreciation and amortisation costs of €1.487 million. this also includes interest costs of €14,943 last year.

The pre-tax loss of €1.49 million last year was 15.5 per cent down on the pre-tax loss of €1.7 million in 2017.

Bewleys café 'Unviable'

Johnny Ronan's property group has warned that the viability of the Bewley's Café building on Grafton Street is under threat from restrictive planning rules, according to a reprt in bewleys

the 'Irish Independent'.

Consultants for Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE) say the Dublin City Development Plan requirement that the entire building should remain as a café could be "ultimately detrimental to the future of the building".

RGRE, which owns the landmark café, failed to persuade Dublin City Council to amend its new policy on Grafton Street planning controls published in September.

Ireland scores in LGBT safety

Ireland has been named one of the safest countries in the world for LGBT tourists. pride21119

A new study of more than 150 countries ranked Norway as the safest country while Nigeria was rated the most dangerous.

Ireland was listed as the 15th safest country in the rankings.

Using international data, the study carried out by travel website Asher & Lyric created an LGBT danger index.

TLC may buy K Club

Nursing home operator TLC is reported to have struck a deal in the region of €55 million to acquire Michael Smurfit’s K Club, according to a report in the Sunday Business Post. kclub0718

Negotiations have been in train for several weeks over the five-star Kildare gold resort, placed on the market for €80 million.

Smurfit’s desire to retain ownership of his home on the grounds was understood to be a sticking point in negotiations, the report said. A spokesman for Smurfit said: “There are a lot interested parties and a refined sales process, but nothing definitive yet.”

Aer Lingus expands flights from Dublin

Aer Lingus will commence four new European routes and open up greater capacity on its transatlantic network from summer 2020. The airline announced its upcoming Dublin summer schedule with news that it will commence flying direct from Dublin to Italian cities Brindisi, Puglia and Alghero, Sardinia from next year. Last week, Aer Lingus also announced new direct routes from Shannon Airport to Paris and Barcelona, commencing March and May respectively.

Aer Lingus will also connect Ireland direct to Sardinia for the first time as it commences flying to Alghero in summer 2020.

Summer 2020 will see Aer Lingus’ best ever capacity to North America with 1.9 million seats on sale to transatlantic destinations. Orlando, Florida will move from a four flights per week service to six flights per week, the Miami service will increase from two to three flights per week and the Dublin to Seattle route will move to a daily service in summer 2020, increasing from five flights per week.