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Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin TD and Minister of State for the Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, announced that the Global Irish Festival Series will take place along the Wild Atlantic Way in Mayo, Donegal, Limerick and Kerry this year.

A joint initiative between Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Global Irish Festival Series aims to encourage diaspora to return home to visit Ireland and provides funding and support through Local Authorities for events that tap into international diaspora networks.

The annual Global Irish Festival Series was initially launched in 2018, supporting events in Donegal and Limerick. With an investment of up to €300,000, the series returns after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic with two additional locations, Mayo and Kerry.

Race and Stay, a horse racing tour company, signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Punchestown Racecourse which will see national hunt flat race going to post under its new title, The Race and Stay at Punchestown Champion Bumper.

This new multi-year sponsorship deal kicks off on day two of the 2022 Punchestown Festival, Wednesday 27th of April. Up to 130,000 racegoers are expected to descend on the Kildare track during the festival with thousands of people expected to visit from the UK alone.

Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa has appointed Eamonn Casey as general manager.

Eamonn is a graduate of Shannon College of Hotel Management, with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in International Hospitality Management & Business Studies. Prior to graduating from Shannon College, he was selected to join the Marriott Graduate Development programme in 2003. After completing his college training, he began his hotel career working at various Marriott properties in London, climbing the managerial ladder within the Food & Beverage division. In 2007, his talent was recognised with a Caterer & Hotelkeeper "Acorn Award".

A major rise in prices could lead to racks of lamb, crab claws and fillet steaks vanishing from restaurant menus, according to Gina Murphy, owner of Hugo's restaurant in Dublin's Merrion Row.

Ms Murphy said that the last five to six weeks have seen "massive, massive price increases" across the industry. She also said that restaurants are doing everything in their power to keep prices down. However, she acknowledged that at some point the increases will have to be passed on to customers. 

"We have had massive price increases from all our suppliers over the last five or six weeks," she told Newstalk Breakfast. "Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine has really impacted everything and the cost of goods has just shot up — I mean we have experienced price increases along the lines of about 30% on most of the goods we are taking in at the moment.