News

Most nightclub restrictions lifted

Nightclubs and most music venues will be able to operate at full capacity when they reopen tonight after 585 days of enforced closure with the Government last night making major concessions to the hospitality sector.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said hospitality businesses would need to strictly follow requirements to ask customers for vaccination certificates and contact details with the numbers going out set to increase.

Talks on the latest guidelines for the sector ran on into last night, with the Government opting to alter a number of requirements.

Nightclubs, shuttered since March 2020, will be able to open with 100 per cent capacity, essentially eliminating social distancing protocols but for when patrons are ordering drinks at the bar.

However, distancing requirements will remain in pubs and restaurants, with Adrian Cummins of the Restaurant Association of Ireland saying Government officials cited “a younger and lower risk demographic” attending nightclubs as the rationale for the distinction between the businesses.

Worldskills to offer career options

WorldSkills Ireland 2022 returns in March 2022 to promote skills and apprenticeship careers and opportunities for young people as they navigate future options following skills1021 secondary education.

Taking place from the 22nd – 24th March 2022, the expo will build upon the success of the inaugural event which took place in 2019 when over 12,000 visitors, including thousands of students and their parents, descended on the RDS Simmonscourt to see first-hand the wealth of career options available.

Announcing the return of the event in March 2022, Niall Collins TD, Minister of State for Skills and Further Education was joined by Megan Yates, a former freight forwarding and logistics competitor who represented Ireland at WorldSkills in Kazan in 2019, bringing home the gold medal.

Videos promote Irish golf in US

Tourism Ireland is teaming up with leading golf publisher Golf Digest in a new campaign to promote Ireland to golfers across the United States. golf

The partnership involves two videos fronted by Matt Ginella (former NBC Golf Channel travel expert), which showcase some of our great golf courses, as well as some of the many great experiences and attractions on offer here. The videos feature Matt reconnecting with family and friends and highlight some of our lesser-known ‘hidden gems’.

The first video highlighting golf in the South West. It features Ballybunion, Tralee, Waterville and Lahinch, as well as the Dingle Sea Safari, a GAA football match and the Tarbert to Killimer ferry.

Drive to Revive Golf Tourism

Tourism Ireland’s ‘drive’ to restart golf tourism to Ireland is under way this week – at the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) in Wales. golfgp1021

Pictured are Breifne O’Brien, Green Golf Ball; Maarit Karkkainen, Tourism Ireland; Jeff Fallon, The Royal Dublin Golf Club; Siobhán O' Sullivan, Mount Juliet Estate; Becca Kerr and George Diamondis, both Tourism NI; Charlene Lourens-Griffiths, Visit Derry; Michael Sheehan, The K Club; Jessica Boal, Galgorm; Jenny O’Reilly, Fáilte Ireland; Bernard O’Reilly, Joe O’Reilly Ireland Golf; Paul Collins, North & West Coast Links Golf Ireland; Brenda Johnston, Tourism Ireland; Tiernan Byrne, Club Choice Ireland; Terry Kelly, Killeavy Castle Estate; Gretta Doyle, Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort; John Eggleston, Ballybunion Golf Club; David Connellan, Tourism Ireland; and Sean Clancy, Carton House, at IGTM in Wales.

Protocols to clear weekend events

The Government is set to finalise protocols to-day to allow the re-opening of nightclubs and music venues as well as the holding of the Cork Jazz Festival this weekend. jazz0219

Senior Government sources have confirmed that socially distanced queues at bar counters are likely to be allowed in new guidelines to help bars deal with staffing issues.

No congregating at counters will be permitted as an emphasis on table service will continue.

Ahead of the Cork Jazz Festival, a fresh emphasis is being placed on the role of Covid certs and inspections are likely to take place.

Government sources have also confirmed that people will be able to book more than one table in bars and restaurants.