Shannon Development welcomes Minister O’Keeffe’s announcement on
the EU decision to allow firms in mid-west to attract up to 10pc grant aid
Welcoming the funding announcement Dr. Vincent Cunnane, chief executive Shannon Development said, “Shannon Development is delighted with the approval of €1.2 million in funding for the expansion of Foynes Flying Boat Museum.
PigN’ Porter Festival Generates €500,000 in Visitor Spend for Limerick
Last weekend’s Pig n’ Porter festival in Limerick generated a visitor spend over €500,000 for Limerick which has been awarded European City of Sport status for 2011.
Bobby Kerr of RTE’s Dragon’s Den fame addressed a gathering last night (Monday 12th July 2010) of nearly 150 Offaly and Tipperary business people at a Shannon Development motivational evening entitled “From Lean to Green”. The special evening at Kinnity Castle included a presentation from Mr. Kerr where he encouraged greater business networking amongst local micro and small to medium enterprises.
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O'Keeffe TD, today [Friday] announced that a top US global financial security firm will create up to 117 new jobs in Clare over the next three years. Genworth Financial will create the jobs in the Shannon Free Zone with the support of the Government through Shannon Development.
Commenting on the Aer Lingus decision to suspend its Shannon Airport transatlantic services for a 11 week period in January-March 2011, Pat Daly, Tourism Division Manager, Shannon Development, said today (Tuesday, 15 June 2010), “We are very disappointed to learn of Aer Lingus’s decision to suspend its services from Shannon Airport to New York and Boston for an 11 week period next winter. Year round transatlantic services into Shannon Airport are vital for business and tourism on the West Coast”.
With over 10,000 visitors in Limerick for the Special Olympics, the event has undoubtedly had a major economic impact for the city and the region. To accurately measure the overall benefit of the Games for Limerick, Shannon Development and Special Olympics Ireland have jointly commissioned specialist local sports analysts from BDO Ireland, to undertake a detailed Socio Economic Study of the Games for Limerick. This study is expected to be complete by August.
Shannon Development is delighted to partner with InterTradeIreland to promote the InterTradeIreland All Ireland Seedcorn Business Competition 2010. Shannon Development is hosting an information workshop where InterTradeIreland’s equity advisors will talk about the benefits of entering the business plan competition which has a prize fund of €280,000. This insightful workshop for startup and expanding businesses will take place in Birr Technology Centre, on Tuesday, June 22 next at 6pm.
The Taoiseach Brian Cowen TD was in Scarriff, Co. Clare today (Friday 11th June 2010) to launch a number of new tourism projects. Among them two Shannon Development initiatives, a tourism website under the EU Cantata 2 programme and a new discount card which offers 25% discount off entry fees to a range of Shannon Region visitor attractions and activities.
There were celebrations in Limerick today (Friday 4th June 2010) as the City received news that it had been successful in its bid to become a European City of Sport for 2011.
Amid the doom and gloom around visitor numbers, one tourism company is fighting back. Shannon Heritage, one of Ireland’s longest established tourism companies, has added two new attractions to the calendar of special events it stages throughout the year for visitors to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in Co. Clare.
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, today (Thursday, 3rd June, 2010) offically opened a new €3.6 million building expansion at Shannon Development’s Tipperary Technology Park in Thurles.
Limerick City is in the running to become a ‘European City of Sport’ for 2011. A high level delegation from the European Capitals of Sports Association (ACES) based in Milan, Italy, has just arrived in Limerick and is being shown around the City’s sports facilities by Shannon Development today (Thursday 3rd June 2010).
Shannon Development has welcomed the announcement today (Tuesday 1st June 2010) by Batt O’Keeffe TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, of 55 new jobs in two companies at the Shannon Development Kerry Technology Park in Tralee.
Shannon Development is to undertake a marketing campaign around four new UK routes announced by Aer Arann and Aer Lingus for Shannon International Airport
A new US based business group has pledged to act as business ambassadors for Ireland and the Shannon Region.
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport Ms. Mary Hanafin, T.D. has launched the Birr International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Birr Castle Demesne. The four day festival is sponsored by Shannon Development.
Julian King, the British Ambassador to Ireland, was in Shannon, Co. Clare recently (Friday 21st May 2010) to meet with Shannon Development.
Shannon Development today (Wednesday 19th May 2010 ) congratulated Loop Tourism Group on their achievement in becoming a destination of excellence and winning the EU EDEN Programme (European Destinations of Excellence).
John Brennan, well known to television viewers as a presenter of RTE’s “At Your Service” along with his less famous but equally experienced elder brother Damien Brennan of Failte Ireland, will jointly host a meeting of tourism trade in Offaly this coming Monday 24th May. The event will take place in The Tullamore Court Hotel at 7.00pm.
A host of new events have been announced for Limerick’s 2010 Pig n’ Porter Festival, the world’s largest tag rugby competition which attracts thousands of visitors to the Mid-West every July.
Billy Kelleher TD, Minister for Trade and Commerce, today (Friday, 14 May 2010) turned the sod on a new €800,000 Community Enterprise Centre at the Kilmallock Business Park in Co. Limerick. The Minister also announced the doubling in size of the Shannon Development owned Kilmallock Business Park.
County Clare has again received plaudits in a new Lonely Planet Travel Guide publication just out called “Ireland’s Top 25 Experiences.” In this latest publication the county is commended for its traditional Irish music and its villages.
Shannon Development welcomes Delta decision to operate year round from Shannon to New York JFK
Shannon Development is calling for an extension of the Limerick city boundary and one governing organisation for Limerick City and County.
The attractivness of the Shannon Region as a business and leisure location was highlighted recently in Derry by Dr. Vincent Cunnane, Chief Execuitve, Shannon Development, who was a guest speaker at a recent North West Plenary session of the IBEC-Confederation of British Industry Joint Business Council.
Angling Cots, Gandelows, Currachs and Sand Cots took to the waters for the revival of the Great Limerick River Regatta yesterday (Monday 3rd May 2010).
Shannon Development steps up its home holiday promotion as 6 Northern Ireland radio stations broadcast live from the Shannon Region.
Festival organisers throughout the Shannon Region were among a group of over 30 major festival organisers from around the Shannon Region who took part in a one day business workshop (Wednesday 28th April 2010) designed to help them ‘creatively manage their festival for success’.
Shannon Development held a special tea party in their offices in the Granary Limerick City, as part of a national fund raising campaign for Special Olympics Irelands. RTE’s Des Cahill was on hand to lend his support.
Comedian Jon Kenny and Co. Limerick Cllr Mike Houlihan, will launch Ireland’s latest tourism attraction, the Kilmallock Cycle Hub, on Sunday 25th April 2010.
Shannon Development has today (Wednesday 14th April 2010) welcomes nomination by Minister John Gormley of the Burren region for the UN World Heritage List.
Tarbert in Co. Kerry is set to benefit from a new Shannon Development initiative to encourage entrepreneurs to locate in the town. Tarbert E-Town, a new €3 million live/work housing project initiated by Shannon Development, is being launched today (Monday 12th April 2010) by well known sports commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
Shannon Development has announced that Kilkee Tourist Information Office will open on the 18th of May for the coming tourist season. This follows discussions with Kilkee Town Council and Kilkee Chamber of Commerce.
Shannon Development the regional tourism authority for the Shannon Region has today (Wednesday 24th March 2010) reiterated its grave concern over the forecast lack of supply of adequate cars for the rental fleet during the coming tourism season.
A feast of family entertainment is planned at two top Co. Clare visitor attractions this Easter. To mark the end of the annual Lenten ‘chocolate famine’, Shannon Heritage has arranged for the Easter bunny to give out hundreds of Easter Eggs at their Craggaunowen visitor attraction near Quin in Co. Clare on Easter Sunday 4th April. They are also organising a spectacular Cartoon Capers event, with four live shows, at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on Easter Monday 5th April 2010.
RTE’s Ryan Tubridy was in the County Clare village of Cooraclare today (Wednesday 23rd March 2010) for an outside broadcast from Tubridy’s Bar and Restaurant.
Shannon Region to become Major Green Energy Hub with the launch of the Shannon Energy Valley Initiative
Tourism chiefs are predicting that the National Lottery Skyfest event in Limerick could generate as much as €20 million in revenue spend for the local economy.
A high profile delegation from the newly formed Mid Black Sea Development Agency in Turkey is in Ireland this week (8th-10th March 2010) on a fact finding mission to study the Irish experience of regional development.
Shannon Development, the tourism authority for the Shannon Region, is undertaking a major national and international tourism marketing promotion around the forthcoming St. Patrick’s Festival in Limerick which includes for the Skyfest extravaganza.
Over 5 million Austrians will be reading about reasons why they should holiday in the Shannon Region thanks to a major tourism promotion undertaken by Shannon Development, Austrian tour operator group Blaguss and Tourism Ireland.
In a reversal of his legendary feat of banishing snakes from Ireland in the 4th century, St. Patrick plans to reintroduce the feared reptiles to Ireland this March 17th.
In a major TV coup, North Clare and the Aran Islands will feature this Sunday 7th March on the popular RTE One TV travel show ‘No Frontiers’ at 7.30pm.
Shannon Development congratulates NUI Galway and UL on their Strategic Alliance
Shannon Development welcomes setting up of Limerick Local Government Committee
Shannon Development approved €15.5 million in financial supports to Shannon Free Zone companies in 2009. This support leveraged €57 million in investments, the largest of these was a €50 million R&D investment by Intel at Shannon Free Zone.
Shannon Development continuing to plan for the future
Representatives from Shannon Development, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland met with over 100 members of the Shannon Region Tourism Industry today (Thursday 11th February 2010) to outline achievements in 2009 and brief them on prospects for 2010.
A major new international cycling event valued at an estimated €2 million has been secured for County Clare by Shannon Development in partnership with in partnership with Clare County Council, Fáilte Ireland, and the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau.
Over 30 members of the Irish Tour Operators Association (ITOA) were in Limerick last weekend (5th - 7th February 2010), where they were briefed on new tourism attractions in the city and county by Shannon Development, the Shannon Region tourism authority.
Shannon Development, the Regional Tourism Authority for the Shannon Region counties of Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary and South Offaly, will unveil its 2010 tourism marketing plans at a special Tourism Industry Briefing shortly. The event is being organised in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland for members of the Shannon Region tourism industry and takes place on Thursday 11th February 2010 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick.
“We are delighted with the news that Limerick will be the location for the 2010 National Lottery Skyfest on the 13th March next. The Skyfest fireworks display is one of the largest and most spectacular events in the Irish outdoor event calendar."
Shannon Development today welcomes the announcement by Continental Airlines to increase its operation at Shannon Airport this summer by operating an additional four services to Newark Liberty International Airport in New York.
Special Olympics Ireland today (Thursday, 28th January 2010) launched its new Limerick Headquarters for the 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games which will take place in Limerick from 9-13th June 2010.
Dr Vincent Cunnane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, warmly welcomed the announcement by Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD, that the Irish and US governments have agreed to extend the pre-clearance facilities for US bound flights from Shannon Airport to include private aircraft.
“We are delighted with the news that Limerick will be the location for the 2010 National Lottery Skyfest on the 13th March next. The Skyfest fireworks display is one of the largest and most spectacular events in the Irish outdoor event calendar,“ says Pat Daly, Tourism and Marketing Manager, Shannon Development.
Shannon Region to benefit from home holiday drive.
Shannon Development to launch major home holiday campaign
Shannon Development today (Wednesday 19th May 2010 ) congratulated Loop Tourism Group on their achievement in becoming a destination of excellence and winning the EU EDEN Programme (European Destinations of Excellence) which is organised nationally by Fáilte Ireland and managed in the Shannon Region by Shannon Development.