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State to pay for student quarantine

Irish Erasmus students working in the five EU member states currently on the Government's mandatory hotel quarantine list may not have to pay for the service. erasmus

RTÉ News reports that Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris is working on an initiative whereby the Government would pick up the tab.

It is estimated that around 500 Erasmus students are affected by the introduction of quarantine here - but some may return home before it comes into operation later this week, while others could delay until the summer when rules could be different.

RTÉ News understands that the talks on the new plan are at an advanced stage,.

It is believed that the cost of the initiative could amount to €1 million.

Bid to open Fitzwilliam Park

Fitzwilliam Square park, the only one of Dublin city’s five Georgian parks in private ownership, could be opened to be public for the first time under a Dublin City Council plan. fitzwillia park

For more than 200 years the Dublin 2 park has been accessible only to keyholders, mostly the residents and owners of the 69 houses on the square, some of whom pay almost €1,000 a year for the privilege.

However, the council says it will seek public access to the park, and it plans to open talks with the Fitzwilliam Square Association with a view to opening the facility to more of the city’s population.

While the parks in Georgian squares at St Stephen’s Green, Merrion Square, Mountjoy Square and the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square are all open to the public,

Take-Away Pints are Back

Gardaí and the Government have confirmed there will be no prohibition on bars or restaurants serving alcohol to customers outdoors as licensed businesses begin pulling pints pints0520

for people once again from today.

A gradual easing of restrictions today means that two households can meet outdoors for social or leisure activities – however, people are asked not to meet in each other’s gardens.

People can also now travel within their county or within 20km of their home if it crosses a county boundary.

Meanwhile, all first to fourth-year secondary school pupils will return to the classroom today.

Takeaway pints were never officially banned under Covid-19 restrictions but Taoiseach Micheál Martin called for them to stop being sold at the beginning of the current lockdown.

Pub and restaurant representative groups also asked their members to refrain from selling on-street alcohol when the country was put under Level 5 lockdown in December.

Lockdown restrictions will be eased in Northern Ireland today for the first time this year.

Hotelier celebrates Grand National win

A Co Tipperary hotelier, who once owned Grand National winner Minella Times, was celebrating again at the weekend. rachel

John Nallen (58), co-owner of the Minella Hotel in Clonmel, specialises in buying what he calls “rough diamonds” and turning them into winning horses.

Last month, one of his former charges, Minella Indo, won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Now he has done the double after Minella Times won the Aintree Grand National with Rachael Blackmore on board.

Both of the horses are called after the hotel he co-owns with his sister, Liz Bowen.

“We're very proud of the hotel and it's good to promote it, and we have some fun thinking of the names,” said Mr Nallen.

Galgorm adds Old Inn

Galgorm Collection has acquired the four-star hotel The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn.. galgorm

Pictured celebrating the announcement are The Old Inn project team; Charlotte McClean, Andy Johnston and Colin Johnston.

The investment by Galgorm Collection, which owns the Galgorm Spa & Golf Resort and a number of other properties across Belfast and Antrim, includes £1 million in further development and extension plans to the property.

The company has also confirmed that all existing team members will be retained across the North Down property which is currently preparing to safely reopen its doors as soon as hospitality restrictions are lifted.