News

'King of Beaujolais' passes away

Georges Duboeuf, who has died aged 86, was known as "le roi du Beaujolais" and was credited with turning Beaujolais Nouveau, a drink once handed out for nothing on village georges

streets, into a major product.

In the 1970s, Duboeuf, who had set up his own production company, Les Vins Georges Duboeuf, in 1964, was looking for a new idea to steal a march on his rivals. He noticed how villages in Beaujolais had taken to celebrating each new harvest by sploshing raw wine into the goblets of vineyard workers and passers-by.

The merriment of the occasion made up for the new wine's shortcomings, and the practice spread to the streets of Lyon and even to Paris, where from the 1950s there was an annual race among restaurateurs to get their hands on the first bottles.

Flogas offers carbon offsets

Amidst increased pressure on the commercial sector to take more responsibility for their carbon footprint by driving down carbon emissions, Flogas has launched a carbon offsetting solution for its commercial customers. It will allow them to offset 100% of their own carbon emissions by providing critical support for projects directly benefiting the environment.

John Rooney, managing director, Flogas Ireland is pictured with brand ambassador Neven Maguire at the launch of the initiative.

Flogas has offset its own carbon emissions and that of Flogas brand ambassador Neven Maguire’s restaurant and home. Collectively, they have now compensated for over 3,500 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2019, achieved by investing in climate protection projects via South Pole, a provider of carbon offsetting projects all over the world.

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Man charged with hotel bill 'deception'

A man has been charged with racking up thousands of euro in hotel bills and then leaving without paying in a number of locations in Cork and Kerry.

Andrei Deleanu, who faces a total of 11 charges involving alleged theft or deception, appeared before Bantry District Court.

Mr Deleanu, aged 45, and with previous addresses at 5 the Vee, Cork Rd in Waterford and 112 Cluain Dara, Clonard Rd in Wexford, had already appeared before a sitting of the District Court last Saturday, when he faced seven charges. A further four charges were levelled against him in Bantry yesterday.

Happy New Year for Ryanair

Ryanair has raised its full-year profit after tax guidance to between €950m - €1bn, following a “stronger than expected Christmas and New Year travel period.” ryanair1217

It expects to finish close to the mid-point of this new range.

The aviation giant had previously said it expects to report profit after tax of €800m - €900m for the year.

Forward bookings for the period January to April are running 1pc ahead of this time last year, and Ryanair believes this will result in “slightly better” than expected average fares in its fourth quarter, it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, full year group traffic will grow to 154million passengers. It had previously guided at 153 million.

Cork Park Plan

A design competition, which has been launched for the redevelopment of Cork's Bishop Lucey Park between Grand Parade and South Main Street comes with a €30,000 prize luceypark

fund.

It is being promoted by Cork City Council and is being organised by the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland.

The council says the redevelopment of the park for the 21st century is a key element in the development of the city’s core.

It said they hope the competition will improve the park’s functionality and usability as a “soft space” while at the same time respecting its history and heritage. The park includes the exposed remains of the medieval city wall.