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Owner supports Center Parcs

Brookfield Asset Management, the Canadian fund that owns Center Parcs, says it is prepared to prop up the holiday parks operator, if required, during the Covid-19 crisis.

Center Parcs has also announced it is extending the closure of its Irish facility in Co Longford.

Center Parcs hosted a conference call with bond investors on Tuesday, during which it outlined its liquidity position, including its ability to pay interest to noteholders while Britain and Ireland remain under effective lockdown.

Martin Dalby, the chief executive of the UK holiday park group, told investors that Longford Forest, which it had previously announced would close until March 29th, would now stay shuttered until Thursday, April 16th.

However, the news was subsequently overtaken later on Tuesday by the Government’s announcement of the extension of lockdown restrictions until Sunday, April 19th.

Fast Food Chains announce closures

Supermacs, Starbucks, Costa, Behoffs, Krispy Kreme and Subway are among the restaurant and fast-food chains which have followed McDonalds by announcing closure of all their outlets in Ireland.

Supermacs said today that it will close all of its restaurants by Thurday March 26 at 7pm.

In its notice, Starbucks said the health of its customers and staff was of the “highest priority” so the decision was made to close.

Supermacs said it is closing due to the ever changing challenges presented by the health crisis and in the interests of its staff and customers.

By delaying the closure until Thursday, it said this would allow the emergency services that are using the outlets for food to make alternative arrangements.

Supermacs added that all seating areas in its lobbies will close from last night and remain closed.

Earlier, Costa Coffee, Krispy Kreme and SubWay said they would close their Irish outlets amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Costa Coffee said it was temporarily closing all its cafes here and in the UK today.

Krispy Kreme also said it would close its shop in Blanchardstown in Dublin from 6pm yesterday. The doughnut chain is also closing all of its UK outlets.

Beshoff Bros said it would be closing its stores – including its Howth site – until further notice but that people could still order from it online.

“We hope that everyone stays safe and healthy and we hope to open our doors to you all very soon,” it said.

Galway 2020 under threat

Galway 2020 organisers will meet to-day to discuss the future of the project in light of the coronavirus outbreak. galway2020

There have been suggestions that the city's position as this year's European Capital of Culture will be postponed until 2021.

A number of events have already been cancelled or delayed due to the current crisis.

Galway Mayor Mike Cubbard says it has been a testing time for the project:

"We are in times where you can't predict the next turn of events," he said.

Train catering suspended

Iarnród Éireann says that, due to commercial issues arising from COVID-19, its catering providers Rail Gourmet (Rep of Ireland Intercity services) and Corporate Catering Services Limited (Enterprise) are suspending operations on services. As a result, catering services will not be available on its Intercity and Enterprise services until further notice.

Knock Airport to close

Operations at Ireland West Airport Knock are to be suspended next week, as a result of the impact of Covid-19 on air travel.

In a statement this afternoon, the airport's Managing Director said all staff would be temporarily laid off, from Monday next.

Joe Gilmore said there had been an unprecedented reduction in customer demand in recent weeks. He said the decision by Aer Lingus and Ryanair to suspend travel to and from Knock Airport in the coming days, meant the airport would have to close.

Mr Gilmore said he hoped the lay off would only be a short-term measure and that business could resume as soon as possible.