Get down to business at Cava

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

Cava Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar recently launched its new business and corporate lunch programme and is the perfect place to take clients or discuss tactics while tucking into the wonderful organic and local produce that is on offer.

Grants for going green

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

Q: I am very interested in running both my home and business in a more environmentally friendly way. Can you provide details of any schemes or grants available to me if I choose to “go green”?

Best Western Flannery's Hotel wins Best of the Best award

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

The Irish annual meeting of all Best Western hotels in Ireland was held in Best Western Flannery's Hotel in Galway last week when the host hotel was named the Best of the Best in terms of quality and customer service.

The Connacht Tribune, one hundred years

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

The first issue of the Connacht Tribune was published on May 22, 1909. The newspaper was housed in Market Street, originally known as North Street (the Tribune side was known as North Street West). We know from the 1651 map that the site it occupied was originally part of the Athy Castle, also the castle belonging to the French family and part of the convent occupied by the Poor Clares. There was an underground passage from the convent running under Market Street and branching underground to St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church. This enabled the nuns who were and are an enclosed order, to attend services in the church, and to use the tunnel as a hiding place in times of persecution.

More power to the gas people?

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

THOUSANDS of electricity customers have already made enquiries about switching electricity provider to Bord Gais since the option to switch became available from noon on Wednesday.

Screenway to host Ireland's largest media and publishing event in Galway

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

What has been described as the biggest media and publishing technology event ever to be held in the west will be held in Galway early next month.

Entrepreneurs must challenge business models to beat downturn

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

IRISH entrepreneurs will have to be more innovative in their thinking than ever before and challenge existing business models by differentiation and lower cost if they are to build successful businesses in the face of the global economic downturn.

Financial Solutions Skillnet’s training programme to beat ‘recessionary blues’

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

Financial Solutions Skillnet (FSS), which offers subsidised training and networking for West of Ireland financial services companies, has received funding of €136,500 from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to deliver its second year of training.

Kick-starting its 2009 programme, the FSS Network has announced a number of training courses over the coming months which will focus on beating those “recessionary blues”.

How to claim tax relief for R&D

Thu, Feb 19, 2009

Q. My company has incurred significant R&D expenditure during the past few years. The product is now ready to go to market and I hope to be profit-making within two years. Can I claim tax relief for the expenditure incurred to date and how do I claim it? Are there special rules for claiming R&D costs?

Grocery survey shows bigger price gap — but gap to discounts shrinks

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

The price gap on a basket of groceries between the three big supermarkets is widening and the gap between their prices and Aldi and Lidl is narrowing, the latest price survey from the National Consumer Agency shows.

Fall in love with your business again despite the downturn

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

With February being the month for love, it’s time to 'fall in love' with your business. Fall back in love and make amends. Say you're sorry when you've expected too much; acknowledge when you've been a little insensitive and promise to get realistic about expectations.

Think about what you love about your company. Remember the first buzz and novelty of when you first started, the dreams you had together. And when you're buzzing with love and the possibilities of what still can be, put pen to paper and find new and interesting ways to make your customers fall in love. Then take the time to imagine being your customer and what you would love to receive as your customer. Walk through each step from enquiry to purchase and payment.

Experienced hotelier appointed new general manager of the g

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

The luxurious and award winning g Hotel has recently appointed Damien O’ Riordan as general manager to one of Ireland’s most fashionable five star properties. Damien has built a career for himself working in a selection of the most renowned establishments across Ireland and the United States of America and now plans to draw on these experiences to create the ultimate hospitality experience for guests, both locally and internationally at the g hotel.

Receivers and liquidators

Thu, Feb 12, 2009

Q. I read your answer on liquidation and insolvency last week with interest. However, I have a different set of circumstances. I have a trading company with the trading premises held within the company and financed by a large bank loan. The lending bank has a fixed charge over the property and a floating charge over the other assets. I am not going to be able to keep the repayments going on the loan much longer. I have only been able to do so by increasing the period during which I can pay my creditors and I can’t do this much longer as the creditors have me under huge pressure. I have been told that the bank might appoint a receiver but your answer last week did not refer to this. What is a receiver and how is a receiver different from a liquidator?

One job lost every minute in Ireland in January

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

One job was lost every minute in Ireland during January, it was reported on Wednesday when the Central Statistics Office announced that 33,000 people signed on the Live Register.

One job lost every minute in Ireland in January

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

One job was lost every minute in Ireland during January, it was reported on Wednesday when the Central Statistics Office announced that 33,000 people signed on the Live Register.

Call to invest in science and technology

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

Ireland's Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Patrick Cunningham has said the Government and business should "hold their nerve" and continue to invest in science and technology despite the economic pressure to cut budgets.

Speaking at the Presidents' Research Awards in DCU, the Chief Scientific Adviser Prof Patrick Cunningham said such investment in the past decade had served us well.

Long-standing Galway linen company changes name

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

The long-standing Galway linen supply company known variously over the years as the Connaught Laundry; Connacht and Court; the Linen Supply of Ireland, and most recenty CWS-National Linen has changed its name.

From last Monday, the company textile rental and washroom hygiene solutions which has a massive plant at Knocknacarra and which formerly was based at Henry Street, will be known as CWS-boco.

Mayo native is named new dean of business, public policy and law

Thu, Feb 05, 2009

Mayo-native Dr Willie Golden has been appointed dean of the college of business, public policy and law at NUI Galway. He will have responsibility for the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, and the School of Law.

Liquidation and insolvency — the harsh reality

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Q. My wife and I are owners and directors of a trading company. The company has been badly hit by current economic conditions and we do not envisage our trade recovering. The company’s balance sheet position has deteriorated rapidly and assets only slightly exceed liabilities. Our main asset is the premises from which the company trades but which is owned by us personally. This is subject to a large mortgage which we are struggling to pay and we are currently in default. If we continue trading it is unlikely that we will be able to meet our liabilities. I was told that our creditors or the bank could liquidate the company. Is this true? If so what are our options and what does the liquidator do?

A. I strongly recommend that you seek professional advice before taking any course of action. I have summarised the major issues you should be aware of. More detailed information is available on the ODCE website www.odce.ie. In particular Information Book 7 examines this whole area.

Boost for Irish tourism as 72 per cent won't holiday abroad this year

Thu, Jan 29, 2009

Irish tourism could be set for a surprise boost this year with the revelation in a survey that, as the recession bites and workers fear for their jobs, 72 per cent will not be taking a holiday abroad this year.

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