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Dublin Airport traffic falls

The number of passengers who used Dublin Airport declined in November compared to the same month last year, the first monthly drop seen since March 2014. t20118

More than 2.2 million passengers travelled through the State’s largest airport last month, a 1 per cent fall compared to November 2018.

Dublin Airport operator DAA said the fall was seen on all route sectors except Europe, which recorded a 2 per cent rise with almost 1.1 million passengers travelling to and from European destinations during the month.

The decline was attributed to airlines withdrawing their services or reducing capacity on existing routes during the typically quieter winter months.

Phoenix Park upgrade on track

Driverless shuttles, a train station and new visitor facilities are still on the cards for Dublin's Phoenix Park following public consultation on the park’s future. phoenix0519

The Office of Public Works (OPW) last March published a review of the park with proposals for new visitor attractions including a funicular railway, the redevelopment of the Ashtown visitor centre and the Magazine Fort, and new parking and retail facilities.

A report on the public consultation indicates the OPW should leave the park alone. “A high proportion of submissions expressed a desire for the park to be left largely untouched,” the report said.

Almost 20 per cent of submissions felt the proposals would result in “commercialisation” of the park with some “strong objections to retail opportunities in the park”.

Ceremony venue at Ballygarry

Ballygarry House Hotel and Spa is adding to its wedding offerings with the addition of “The Lodge at Ballygarry” – a venue which designed to hosti Civil, Spiritualist or Humanist ceremonies. TThe Lodge will feature a simplistic & rustic standalone building highlighting the backdrop of the Kerry Mountains with a large gable window behind th ballygarry1219

e altar and a loft conversion for musicians overlooking the main gallery.

Druids Glen profit rise

Pre-tax profits at the five-star Druids Glen Hotel and Resort climbed 51% to €1.48m last year.

Revenues increased 5% to €13.5m ahead of the resort being sold for €45m in June to the Neville Hotel Group.

The resort, which has hosted four Irish Open golf championships, was previously owned by three Irish families — the Lappins, the Hurleys, and the Flinns.

The Neville Hotel Group also owns and operates the Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire, the Tower Hotel in Waterford City, and the Kilkenny River Court Hotel.

According to the directors’ report for Obalus Hotel Company Ltd, the Druids Glen “traded strongly in 2018 reporting an operating profit of €1.5m”.It posted an after tax profit of €1.29m after paying corporation tax of €187,919.

'Open' worth €120m. to North

The148th Open golf championship at Royal Portrush this summer delivered almost €120 million of “economic benefit” for Northern Ireland, according to a report commissioned by irishopen1219

UK golf’s governing body, the Royal & Ancient .

Researchers at Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) found the championship, which was won by Shane Lowry, had directly injected £45 million into the North’s economy.

The SIRC report also suggested that Northern Ireland had benefited from an estimated £37 million in destination marketing benefit from the more than 5,400 hours of global television coverage.

Tourism NI, said it also estimated that Northern Ireland had further benefited from the equivalent of £23.7 million in advertising value from other media coverage in Ireland and internationally.