Record year in finance raised for WestBIC start-ups

Fri, Mar 25, 2016

"The Innovation eco-system in the Western Region keeps getting better and better" according to Dr. Chris Coughlan, WestBIC Chair. ‘Timely access to capital, and particularly smart capital, is now more crucial than ever before to anchor our innovative client start-ups here in our own region and allow them to flourish and create higher value jobs,’ he added.

Record year in finance raised for WestBIC start-ups

Fri, Mar 25, 2016

The Lodge at Ashford Castle wins Best Exclusive Wedding Venue in Ireland

Fri, Mar 25, 2016

The Lodge at Ashford Castle was delighted to be announced as the winner of the Best Exclusive Wedding Venue in Ireland category at the weddingsonline Awards 2016. A chic and elegant sanctuary, The Lodge at Ashford Castle is one of Ireland’s leading wedding venues. Beautiful views of Lough Corrib and the rugged winter landscape of the Ashford estate provide a stunning backdrop for a fairytale wedding. The weddingsonline Awards 2016 winners were announced recently at The Grand Hotel Malahide, during a glamorous black tie gala ceremony.

The country’s finest wedding businesses and services gathered at the prestigious event to celebrate the winners of Ireland’s most coveted annual wedding awards. More than 35,000 couples voted for their favourite suppliers and venues in a range of categories, which were then judged by a panel of digital marketing professionals and wedding industry experts. Judges this year were Sara Kennedy, sales and marketing specialist and wedding blogger for IrishWeddingBlog.ie; Gareth Dunlop, CEO at Fathom, a user experience consultancy; Mark Richardson, Ireland’s leading sales and communication skills expert and founder of www.irishmysteryshopping.com; and Ken Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Digital Marketing Institute. The 36 categories in the weddingsonline Awards 2016 include a range of wedding services offered to engaged couples nationwide, from venues to photographer, to planners and flowers.

Musgrave MarketPlace launches new brochure

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

Musgrave MarketPlace marked the launch of its new Foodservice Brochure with a special culinary event at the Breaffy House Hotel in Castlebar last week. The event consisted of a bespoke five course menu presented by the Musgrave MarketPlace chefs and featured speeches from Noel Keeley (Musgrave Wholesale Partners Managing Director), Clément Pavie, (Musgrave MarketPlace Business Development Chef), Jean Smullen (wine consultant) and John McGinnity, (Musgrave MarketPlace Meat Specialist).

Hodson Bay Hotel Group wins Deloitte Platinum Award

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

One of the few remaining Irish family-owned hotel groups received special recognition when it was awarded the Deloitte special platinum award in the Convention Centre on Friday evening.

Four Mayo retailers in hunt for Green Angel Challenge

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

Four Mayo retail outlets are seeking the public’s vote to help them win the Go Green with Green Angel Skincare Challenge – a nationwide search to find Ireland’s most creative shop window. Molloy’s Lifestyle Pharmacy, Bunree Rd, Ballina; Bourke’s Pharmacy, Main St, Castlebar; Curley’s Totalhealth Pharmacy, Main St, Ballyhaunis; Lavelles Pharmacy, Main St, Belmullet, are registered for the public vote, which closes on March 14.

The Guaranteed Irish-backed competition challenges Green Angel stockists to produce the country’s best St Patrick’s Day-themed window featuring the successful Irish skincare brand. The competition was launched by former Miss Ireland Aoife Walsh and Gerhard Scully, who was the iconic window dresser at Clerys department store for 25 years.

Mr Price weighs in on bargains for Ballina

Fri, Feb 19, 2016

The discount retailer Mr Price has announced plans to open the new store in Ballina and has been delighted with the reaction to Mr Price coming to Ballina and the huge amount of interest from customers looking to shop in Mr Price.

Mayo’s charities to benefit from Aldi support

Fri, Feb 19, 2016

Aldi Ireland recently announced a new programme to support local charities and not-for-profit organisations in Mayo as part of its 2016 community support programme. Each of Aldi’s two stores in Mayo has been provided with a bursary fund to be allocated annually to charities and not-for-profit community organisations operating within the local communities served by each store.

Mayo hoteliers call for decisive action to support tourism

Fri, Feb 19, 2016

Hoteliers in Mayo have called on local candidates in the General Election to commit to decisive action in support of continued recovery in Irish tourism. Michael Lennon, chair of the Mayo Branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), said that while tourism has made significant progress in recent years, continued growth cannot be taken for granted.

Commenting at the launch of the IHF’s national tourism policy document for the General Election – A Strategy for Job Creation and Economic Growth – Mr Lennon stated that tourism currently supports 5,200 jobs in Mayo and contributes some €175m to the local economy annually. He said that while the sector has benefited from a number of pro-tourism measures, such as the nine per cent tourism VAT rate, conditions within the industry remain challenging. A lot more needs to be done over the next five years before Irish tourism reaches its full potential for growth and job creation.

Ballina worker awarded as Employee of the Year

Fri, Feb 12, 2016

Anna Wroblewska from Ballina was among 100 workers honoured for their dedication in the 2016 GEM Awards, (Going the Extra Mile), presented late last week by ISS, a major provider of outsourced business services which employs more than 3,500 people. GEM Awards recognise the valuable contribution of employees involved in business supports such as cleaning, catering, security, M&E, pest control and property services.

Glen Keen Farm wins Best Tour Feature in CIE Tours International Awards

Fri, Feb 05, 2016

Glen Keen Farm on the Wild Atlantic Way near Louisburgh has been voted as the Best Tour Feature in the prestigious CIE Tours International awards presented in Dublin Castle last night. Ashford Castle in Cong was voted the best visited hotel in Connacht while Hotel Westport also won a top award.