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Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre opens

Exactly 26 years after the ‘Archaeological ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne or Brú na Bóinne’ was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, bru

Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Flood Relief and Brendan Griffin TD, Minister of State for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport opened a new Visitor Experience at the Brú na Bóinne centre.

This follows a major investment of €4.5m by the strategic partners of Fáilte Ireland, OPW and Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Fáilte Ireland provided a grant of €2.6million under the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 strategy with the aim of driving sustainable growth in the Irish tourism sector and higher revenue and job creation around Ireland.

The building on the banks of the Boyne River, near Donore in Co. Meath, has become famous as the entry point for the renowned Neolithic Passage Tomb complexes of Newgrange and Knowth.

The new immersive visitor experience will showcase the archaeological and historical heritage of Brú na Bóinne in a way that is evocative, absorbing and entertaining for visitors while increasing the capacity of visitors to the site and monuments.

Awards for 'Route Millenia' attractions

Fáilte Ireland awarded six visitor attractions located on the Route Millenia Mayo, with a Service Excellence Programme Business Award. This award means that these businesse mayo

s have all put the visitor experience at the heart of what they do; the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life at Turlough Park, Castlebar, Ceide Fields, Ballycastle, the Michael Davitt Museum, Straide, Foxford Woollen Mills, the Belleek Visitor Centre at Belleek Castle and the Jackie Clarke Collection, Ballina.

A spectacular driving and touring route, Route Millenia Mayo links these six unique visitor experiences.

Fáilte Ireland’s Service Excellence Programme prepares tourism businesses to reach and maintain the highest standards in customer service excellence, encourage positive recommendations, gain additional repeat business and ultimately drive greater visitor numbers to their area and increase visitor spend.

Speaking at the presentation of the award at the Jackie Clarke Collection, Ballina, Martina Bromley, Head of Enterprise & Hospitality Development at Fáilte Ireland said:

CIT builds US links

Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) is delighted to continue its partnership with Endicott College, USA, which facilitates the exchange of students and faculty. During the academic cit2019

year 2017/2018, Ireland attracted close to 12,000 Study Abroad students and today Ireland ranks as sixth most popular global destination for US students. CIT launched its US Study Abroad Programme in November 2018, and to date has welcomed close to 50 students through its partnership with Endicott College.

This week, Mayo man and chef, Dr Brendan Cronin, Assistant Professor in Hospitality Management at Endicott College, visited the Department of Tourism & Hospitality at CIT, to engage with both students and lecturers. Dr Cronin said “it is fantastic to be back on the home ground to engage with Irish students and staff for skills development and knowledge exchange. The similarities between both institutions are clearly visible across a broad spectrum of courses, departments, and community outreach efforts on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Adare, Westbury make 'Gold List'

Adare Manor and the Westbury are included in Condé Nast Traveller Gold List of the'all time favourite' hotels in the world for 2020. adarem1219

The Gold List features over 100 global hotels, ranging from Bastide de Gordes in Provence to Robert DeNiro’s The Greenwich Hotel in New York.

Unlike its Readers' Choice Awards, which this year saw Adare Manor and Dromoland Castle named as Europe's top two resorts, the Gold List is curated by Condé Nast Traveller’s writers under Editor-in-Chief Melinda Stevens.

Restaurant operator posts loss

The group which operates the two Marco Pierre White restaurants in Dublin posted a loss of €262,577 for 2018.

D & D Premier Ltd, operates the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill at Dawson Street and the Marco Pierre White Courtyard Bar & Grill at Donnybrook.

The business is ultimately controlled by the Fitzers Restaurant Group, while much of last year’s deficit was attributable to higher management charges paid to Fitzers Holdings Ltd.

The accounts show that last year’s loss came in spite of revenues increasing by almost a quarter to €4 million. It followed a more modest loss of close to €3,000 in 2017.