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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. 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 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.

ITIC has called onthe  Government to release tourism’s ‘no deal’ Brexit fund to support the industry

At the “Let’s Talk Tourism” conference Ruth Andrews, chairperson of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC),  called on the Government to release some of the ‘no deal’ Brexit fund that has been set aside for tourism. 

Pictured are Jane Stacey - Head of Tourism Unit, OECD; Margaret Cahill - Chairperson National Tourism Forum; Olivia O'Leary - Moderator at Conference; Conor Pope - Irish Times and Ruth Andrews - Chairperson, ITIC

TV presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have been highlighting our spectacular scenery and various locations around Ireland on ITV.

A two-part documentary, called Ant and Dec’s DNA Journey, aired earlier this week. It showed the pair’s investigation into their ancestors – which took them to Drumkeeran in Co Leitrim, Desertmartin and Slieve Gallion in the Sperrins, as well as to Fermoy in Co Cork and Castle Ward in Co Down – meeting relatives and discovering old family connections via DNA matching.