Latest news with #Kerry-based
Irish Examiner
16-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
The Village bar in Cork's Douglas is braving the All-Ireland Final for a soft opening
Can you have a 'soft opening' of a bar, restaurant, and hotel business on a crazy Cork weekend of an All Ireland final? As she prepares to open her business venture The Village in Cork's suburban Douglas, Gillian McCarthy sweetly says she and her hospitality business partner Patrick Dillon hope so. It prompts the question as to what, exactly, would constitute a hard 'hitting the ground' running opening, as Cork flags (and possibly the odd Tipp one: the landlord is a Tipperary investor) may adorn the new-look suburban venture, on the site of the historic old Pipers' fairground in upmarket Douglas? Soft it is not going to be... The business pairing have taken over a previously trading hospitality premises, East Village on a 30-year lease, dropping 'East' from the rebrand to now trade as The Village Rooms Bar and Kitchen in the 20-year-old mixed-use development. Gillian McCarthy at The Village, Rooms, Bar & Kitchen in the East Douglas Village. Picture Dan Linehan Builders Kumry Construction finished up refurbishment works in the last few days and it's now final fit-out time for the bar and restaurant, each seating up to 120 patrons on the ground (bar) and first floor (restaurant) as well as outdoor and first floor terrace seating. The new opening is the most significant development at the overall East Douglas Village complex, created around a new street which include other restaurants and 16 apartments in red brick and cut limestone blocks, since it was acquired by Tipperary-based private investor in 2021 for €11m. Two other recent lettings, to Midleton-based Hs2 hair salon and to Regina Nails (also on Patrick Street in the city centre) bring the overall East Douglas Village complex to near-full occupancy, says letting agent Margaret Kelleher of Cohalan Downing who sold the East Douglas Village development in five blocks in '21, with a then rent roll of €760,000. At The Village, the primary focus this All Ireland weekend will be on the bar trade, with a midday Saturday opening planned. Taking over the kitchen and restaurant will be well-known Cork chef Brendan Cashman (Augustines, Ox Kinsale's opening set-up, etc), says Gillian McCarthy, who has a strong background in management and HR, with family connections to the hotel trade, as does business partner Kerry-based Patrick Dillon. She says their new venture 'which has been a long time coming, it's a dream,' will employ up to 20. The previous business in other operator hands ceased by January when The Village closed for a full overhaul, with interior design work done by architects Healy Butler Moffatt: the impact of the changes might be better seen in a week or so once red and white Cork flags go.
The Journal
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Seán Kelly has all but declared for the presidential election race
Muiris O'Cearbhaill reports from Brussels FINE GAEL MEP Seán Kelly has not ruled out a potential presidential bid and would like the candidacy to be contested within the party. The Kerry-based vote better said he has not made a final decision if he intends to seek his party's nomination. Kelly, the former President of the GAA who topped the poll in Ireland South last year and secured a fourth term at the European Parliament, wants there to be a hustings in Fine Gael, however. He said he has met with Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and executive John Carroll in recent weeks to discuss the election, and claims they would like to see a competition. 'Nominations have to close, I think, in a fortnight's time, and then you have to declare by 18 July. So I'll be making my mind up by then,' he said. Advertisement 'I have to think about it. It's a great honour, and somebody must do it,' he added, and laughed. Asked what is the biggest reason why he has not declared formally, Kelly insinuated he wasn't a fan of the seven-year term length. 'It's a deterrent. Seven years. I mean, it's crazy really when you look at it. Government has five years, councils have five years, MEPs have five years, Commission has five years, Trump has only four years – thank god.' He added: 'Seven is a long time. Especially when you're coming up in age.' 'One term would be more than enough. Well, Michael D [ Higgins] said the same, but then he got fond of it and wouldn't leave it.' Kelly said if Áras an Uachtaráin was located in Killarney, he would declare in the morning. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
No commitment to compensation for landowners affected by Roscommon fires
A delegation of local representatives, including Oireachtas members Michael Fitzmaurice TD (Independent Ireland), Claire Kerrane TD (Sinn Féin), Martin Daly TD (Fianna Fáil) and Senator Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael) met with the minister to discuss fires which burned over 500 acres in the Gorthaganny area alone. Turf banks, family farms, fencing and forestry investments were damaged by blazed which ripped through the area last month during a dry spell of weather. A large amount of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) containing a rich variety of flora and fauna was also burned. Minister Healy-Rae described the damage as 'a very serious situation that has impacted people's land, livelihoods and long-term environmental assets' but did not commit to providing state compensation. A well-attended public meeting in Gorthaganny heard that most of the land burned in the fires was not insured. There is currently no government compensation available for landowners who lose forestry to fire. Minister Healy-Rae said the Department of Agriculture would continue to engage closely on the matter. He also confirmed that district inspectors would be deployed to assess the damage on the ground. 'We have to learn lessons from this and take every step to ensure proper support, coordination, and prevention going forward. My department will continue to engage constructively, and I've asked our local forestry teams to prioritise inspections in the area,' said the Kerry-based TD. Speaking on Shannonside FM, Roscommon-Galway TD Martin Daly said there was 'no indication' that any compensation would be granted to landowners. 'In fairness to Minister Healy-Rae, he was honest with people there and I think the people who have suffered losses, which some of the representatives from Gorthaganny had, they understood what he was saying to them,' he said. 'Now, they may not have liked all the answers he gave them, but it was an honest conversation.' The National Parks and Wildlife Service have assessed the area and are preparing a remediation plan for the damage done to the SAC.
Irish Independent
12-06-2025
- Science
- Irish Independent
Kerry exhibition to show how old maps could help to restore Ireland's boglands
The temporary exhibition is part of the RePEAT (Rediscovering Ireland's Peatlands in Precarious Times) project, which seeks to identify ways to reduce the management intensity of peatlands. It has been running since Monday, June 10 and will be officially launched on Thursday, June 12 at 7pm. The launch will feature presentations from researchers and a Q&A session. The display demonstrates RePEAT's use and interpretation of the maps and reports of the early 19th century Bogs Commission and contemporary satellite and land use data. The Bogs Commission maps were created to enable the drainage of Ireland's peatlands to expand farming or industry. However, RePEAT scholars have used the maps to model the extent of peatlands in Ireland before drainage was carried out. The digitisation of the Bogs Commission maps, said to be 'astonishingly accurate', have been used alongside land-use data to help identify present-day agricultural areas located on peat soils. This will allow discussion to take place on possible avenues for restoration of the peatlands. Kerry-based artist Karen Hendy's work exploring changes within the natural environment is also on show at the exhibition. The RePEAT exhibition will run at Kerry County Museum until June 29. Those interested in finding out more can contact education@
Irish Independent
04-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Staff at Bord na Móna bin collection service to go on strike this month over planned sale
A Siptu spokesperson said its members have rejected a proposal brokered at the Workplace Relations Commission to resolve the dispute. The industrial action will begin with a one-day strike on Thursday June 19 and will ramp up to two days of stoppages the following week, and three days the week after that. Bord na Móna Recycling provides wheelie bin and waste collection services to up to 135,000 customers in Leinster and Munster. It has customers in Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. Bord na Móna has announced plans to sell the company to Kerry-based KWD Recycling. Siptu officials said it is the country's last publicly owned domestic waste-collection service and warned prices could rise if the number of operators shrinks. Siptu divisional organiser Adrian Kane said the workers' strike committee met last night and unanimously agreed to reinstate a notice of strike and industrial action. He said notice was served on the company today 'and our members are determined to see this through'. 'Our members don't want to be in this position but feel they have no choice,' he said. He said the primary reason they rejected the proposal was due to an alleged failure of the company to agree a Registered Employment Agreement. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Kane said this would guarantee the workers' terms and conditions were protected in the event of a sale. 'The fire sale of Bord na Móna Recycling is bad for workers, customers, and the environment,' he said. 'It makes no economic or environmental sense. 'Why privatise the last remaining publicly owned domestic waste provider?'
