Five lucky Limerick residents were given an early Christmas present today (Wednesday 6th December ’06) when the Mayor of Limerick Cllr. Joe Leddin presented them with a weekend break for two to one of five different European cities.
Shannon Development hosted a lunch to mark the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of Elsevier Ireland Ltd at the Shannon Free Zone. The lunch was attended by Tony Killeen TD, Minister for Labour Affairs, Senior Representatives from Elsevier Ireland together with Shannon Development Executives.
Shannon Development has announced the appointment of eleven leading business figures from around the Region to the company’s new Shannon Region Tourism Development Board. The new board held its first meeting on Thursday 7th December at Shannon Development’s head office in the Town Centre, Shannon.
Shannon Development has announced the appointment of Bernie Leonard as the company’s new Tourism Officer for North Tipperary and South Offaly. Ms. Leonard will be based in the Shannon Development Birr Technology Centre, and will also be working out of the Tipperary Technology Park in Thurles and Shannon Development’s Nenagh office. Ms. Leonard has been an employee of Shannon Development for the past 17 years and has extensive experience in the tourism sector.
Shannon Development has announced the appointment of Siobhan King as the company’s new Clare Tourism Officer. Ms. King will be based in Ennis in Shannon Development’s Ennis Information Age Park.
“Shannon Development is the economic development agency for the Shannon Region and its ambition for the Region is that it will become a recognised world class location in which to live, work and invest. In order to deliver on this vision Shannon Development believes Limerick will play a central role in this process.
“Limerick is a superb tourism destination with many strengths including easy access by road and air. With Ryanair establishing Shannon International Airport as one of its major international hubs, there are now 26 direct routes from the UK and Europe into the Shannon Region from this airline alone. This combined with direct routes from Aer Aran and Aer Lingus, and many transatlantic services we have, gives us a marvellous marketing platform from which to attract additional international visitors.
“A new report due out shortly from the UK Department of Trade and Industry has revealed that 41% of all UK businesses are now home based. Homeworking in the UK has doubled between 1991 and 2001, today over 2.1 million UK residents now work from home, and 55% of these are self employed. In Ireland homeworking is in its infancy, and I am delighted to see it being pioneered in this unique way by Shannon Development in rural communities”, says top UK Live/Work consultant Tim Dwelly speaking at the Shannon Development National E-Towns Conference in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.
In a major tourism promotional initiative, Shannon Development tourism representatives have just returned (November 9th ‘06) from a very successful media and travel trade blitz in the Basque area of France and Spain where they were working to entice visitors to the Shannon Region.
A tribute was paid to the tremendous success of Kerry Entrepreneurs at a special celebration held in the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee recently. Hosted by Ernst and Young and Shannon Development the event was organised to pay tribute to the tremendous success of Kerry natives who have been award winners in the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
Shannon Development strongly promoted the Shannon Region at the prestigious World Travel Market held in London this week. Speaking at the show in London, John King, Director Heritage and Tourism, Shannon Development, said “The World Travel Market is a hugely important event, it attracts key tourism industry organisers world wide, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to promote the tourism products and accommodation of the Shannon Region to such an influential audience”.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin T.D., today (9th November 2006) announced in Shannon, Co Clare, that Digital River, Inc., a global leader in e-commerce outsourcing, established a new European headquarters at the Shannon Free Zone to support the operations of its subsidiary, Digital River Ireland Ltd. The Irish subsidiary is expected to create 350 new jobs over the next five years with the support of Shannon Development.
Tidy Town’s Committees throughout the Shannon Region were honoured today (Thursday 26th October ‘06) for their tireless commitment to enhancing the environment, when they were officially presented with a total of 32 Tidy Towns Awards, by Mr Batt O’ Keeffe T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, SuperValu Director, John O’ Callaghan, the overall competition sponsor, and Liam McElligott, Chairman, Shannon Development.
With daily commute time to and from work eating up quality of life Shannon Development has come up with an initiative that will allow stressed out commuters find a Live/Work balance.
Speaking at a function to mark the start of construction work on Ireland’s first E-Town development in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare, Tony Killeen TD., Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment said, “I want to congratulate Shannon Development on this initiative, which represents a €4 million investment by them in Miltown Malbay. The town was selected by Shannon Development as the demonstrator location for its first E-Towns project, working with Clare County Council and the local Miltown Malbay community, through the iBrickane Network, Shannon Development has brought the project to the stage where we are today celebrating construction being underway on the E-Towns ‘Courtyard’ in Miltown Malbay.”
As part of its regional tourism development role, Shannon Development plans to forge links with a number of tourism authorities in key countries where new and existing Ryanair routes have emerged.
Shannon Heritage is promising all ‘ghastly ghouls’, ‘grisly gremlins’, ‘scary fairies’, ‘wicked witches’ ‘devilish demons’ and ‘hair-raising warlocks’ a wicked Halloween event at Bunratty Castle, and Folk Park, Co. Clare, this Bank Holiday Monday (30th October, 2006)
Over four hundred people with an interest in entrepreneurship have attended Shannon Development’s VentureStart programmes since they were introduced in 2001. This is a clear sign that the programme is considered a great asset to the business start-up community.
An exclusive competition which offers residents of Limerick city and county an opportunity to win five weekend trips to European destinations has just been launched by Shannon Development and Limerick City Council in association with the Limerick Leader newspaper.
Mr Zeng Peiyan, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, visited Shannon on Sunday, 24th September 2006, as part of a three day official visit to Ireland. The Vice Premier visited the Shannon Free Zone and Dromoland Castle, where he was given a detailed briefing by Mr Eugene Brennan, Executive Director, Shannon Development, on the Company’s regional economic development activities. Shannon Development hosted an Irish dinner and entertainment for the Vice Premier and his officials at Bunratty Folk Park on Sunday evening. Pictured greeting Vice Premier Zeng is Mr Eugene Brennan, watched by Mr Zhang Xinsen, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Ireland.
“FreeFlow is the second Kerry Technology Park company in a row to have won the “emerging” category award in the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Last year’s winner, Jerry Kennelly of Stockbyte, went on to sell his company for $131m” says Eugene Brennan , Executive Director, Shannon Development. Kerry Technology Park (KTP) is part of the Shannon Development knowledge network of high technology business parks.
“FreeFlow is the second company based at Kerry Technology Park to be short listed for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. We congratulate Alan Scroope and his team at FreeFlow software for reaching the finals of these prestigious Awards. We wish the team every success in this week’s finals”, says Mr. Eugene Brennan, executive director, Shannon Development. Kerry Technology Park is part of the Shannon Development Knowledge Network of high technology business parks.
Shannon Development is ploughing ahead with plans to undertake a major tourism promotion at the World Ploughing Championships in Carlow from 27th to 30th September ‘06 . Pictured here lending a hand with preparations for the event is three year old Conor O'Callaghan from Shannon . Pictured looking on are from left: Aisling McMahon , Shannon Development Tourism Marketing Executive and Miriam Smyth, Mid-Ireland Tourism.
Speaking at the launch of the Atlantic Gateways Report, in Galway today, 14th September 2006, Mr Liam McElligott, Chairman, Shannon Development, said that “Working in partnership will be the key to the future. Achieving regional competitiveness is about bringing together the diverse range of private and public interests to carryout programmes of actions to create a world-class region. The Atlantic Gateways initiative is a classic example of this partnership in practice” .
Kevin Thompstone, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, warmly welcomed the announcement by Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, today (7 September 2006), that Northern Trust Ireland is to create 300 new jobs at the National Technology Park in Limerick.
Shannon Development, the regional tourism agency, warmly welcomed the announcement today (Monday 4th September 06) that the Shannon Region has won a range of awards in this year’s National Tidy Towns Competition including two National Awards (Birdhill, Co. Tipperary - Ireland's Tidiest Village, and Ennis, Co. Clare - Ireland's Tidiest Large Urban Centre, a new category introduced for towns with a population of over 15,000).
Shannon Development welcomes the announcement today (29 August 2006) by Minister for Arts Sports and Tourism, John O’Donoghue TD, of the appointment of Chairpersons for five new Regional Tourism Development Boards. This further development in the establishment of new regional tourism structures follows on the Minister’s announcement in November 2005 that Shannon Development would continue in its role as the Regional Tourism Development Agency for the Shannon Region. Shannon Development is in discussions with the Shannon Region tourism trade regarding appropriate tourism arrangements that will focus on the particular challenges and opportunities for tourism in this region. Shannon Development looks forward to working closely with the tourism trade in the region, and with Fáilte Ireland, to ensure that tourism will continue to be a key driver of regional economic development in the Shannon Region.
School holidays can be a stressful time for parents, children and teenagers. Finding something enjoyable for all the family to do can be a problem. Shannon Heritage, the Shannon Development tourism subsidiary may have a solution. They are organising a family fun day at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on Sunday 27th August from 2.00pm until 5.30pm.
Over 350 competitors in the forthcoming World Down Syndrome Swimming Championships have been invited by Shannon Development, and their tourism subsidiary company Shannon Heritage, to experience a taste of Irish culture, heritage and fun at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, County Clare on Wednesday 6th September ‘06.
Representatives from Shannon Development, the Shannon Region Tourism Industry, the Mayor of Clare, and local authorities in Co. Clare, are gearing up this week to promote the Shannon Region as a tourist destination at the 20th annual US Milwaukee Irish Fest which runs from 17th to 20th August ‘06.
The largest cruise ship to ever sail into the Shannon Estuary docked in Foynes Port, Co. Limerick, on Friday 28th July 2006. The cruise ship “Black Watch” called en route from Greenland to Europe. The ship is 205 metres long and carrying some 950 passengers and 250 crew.
“Shannon Development is delighted with the Ryanair announcement of two new services for Shannon Airport which will open up the Shannon Region to two new direct markets. Since establishing their Shannon Airport base, Shannon Development has worked closely with Ryanair to stimulate traffic on all their routes into Shannon and will do so for these additional air services. We will shortly be launching a new tourism marketing campaign for the winter season which will incorporate these two new routes. We were delighted to contribute to the Shannon Airport’s record breaking year last year and will continue to work with other tourism agencies to stimulate further growth into the future”, says John King, Director Heritage and Tourism, Shannon Development.
Shannon Development welcomes this report which highlights the potential impact of Open Skies and sets out a frame work policy to ensure the future growth of Shannon International Airport and the west of Ireland .
A new website featuring a collection of over 450 items of medieval furniture and artifacts housed at Bunratty Castle in Co Clare has just been published on-line today (Wednesday 19th July 06) at www.bunrattycollection.com by Shannon Heritage, the tourism subsidiary of Shannon Development.
“Acceleration of growth and economic activity in the Shannon Region and along the Atlantic Corridor is critical if we are to achieve the national goal of balanced regional development” said Kevin Thompstone, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, when launching the Company’s 2005 Annual Report in Limerick today (Tuesday, 4th July 2006).
Mr Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, today (Wednesday 28th June 2006) announced expansions by two international companies at Shannon Free Zone that will generate up to 285 new jobs over the next five years. Minister Martin made the announcement from Japan where he is accompanying 30 Irish companies on an Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission
Medieval Warriors will invade Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Co. Clare, on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd July ‘06 for what promises to be a Medieval Festival of mayhem and fun. Fighting is expected to be hot and heavy but unlike historic battles of yesteryear there will be no blood spilt.
Shannon Heritage, the Shannon Development tourism subsidiary, is reopening the Crannóg at their Craggaunowen visitor attraction near Quin in Co. Clare. The Crannóg was burnt down two years ago and work on reconstruction has now been completed at a cost of €230,000.
Shannon Development welcomed the announcement today (14th June 2006) by Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin TD, that Enterprise Ireland had approved grants totalling €1.6m for 6 Community Enterprise Centre projects in the Shannon Region. 25% of the projects approved nationally are located in the Shannon Region.
"Over 290 million viewers’ world wide watch the Irish Open and Shannon Development welcomes the announcement that this prestigious competition has been secured by Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort for the next three years. Following on Munster Rugby triumph, and the yet to be held Ryder cup, this is a major boost for Adare and regional tourism. It will stimulate additional golf tourism business and also general leisure tourism for Limerick and the Shannon Region. We would like to congratulate Adare Manor , and we look forward to working with them to maximise the tourism opportunity", says Mr. John King, Heritage and Tourism Director, Shannon Development.
Shannon Development fully endorses the call by ITIC for a major regional conference centre for the Shannon/Limerick area. The ITIC proposal is in alignment with the Shannon Development’s regional tourism strategy, an important element of which is the undertaking of a feasibility study for such a regional conference centre. Shannon Development is currently working on the feasibility of this proposal in conjunction with key tourism trade partners in the Shannon Region. The study will determine the viability of this project and whether or not it can become a sustainable proposal”, says John King, Heritage and Tourism Director, Shannon Development
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin TD has today (22nd May 2006) announced that Shannon Development, the regional development agency, has entered into an ‘option-to-purchase’ agreement with Shannon LNG, in relation to 281 acres of the 600-acre Shannon Development owned land bank between Tarbert and Ballylongford, County Kerry. The site, which has been designated by Shannon Development for deep-water projects, is about 25 km from the national gas pipeline grid.
Shannon Development welcomes the Shannon Foynes Port Company initiative of seeking expressions of interest from developers in the redevelopment of Limerick Docklands. The Limerick Docklands area has the potential to be one of the primary economic drivers for Limerick and the region, and Shannon Development has worked closely with Shannon Foynes Port Company and Limerick City Council to explore development opportunities for the Docklands area that would drive the economic regeneration of this important urban area in Limerick City.
Welcoming the completion of phase one of the lodge and suites accommodation at the Doonbeg Golf Club, Kevin Thompstone, Shannon Development chief executive said, “This project is the single largest tourism project ever to have been undertaken in the west of Ireland. The Doonbeg project is the equivalent of getting a major international industry such as Intel or Dell to set up in West Clare and Shannon Development is delighted to have played its part in bringing this about. It represents an investment of €150 million in the area, which will generate the same again in additional indirect tourism investment, giving an estimated total tourism investment of up to €300 million along the West Clare coast and surrounding area.”
Shannon Development, and its partners in Western Regions Tourism, have just completed a series of flying visits to the Regions for top Ryanair staff based in markets across Europe. The key Ryanair staffs were invited to the Regions to learn more about the Shannon and Galway Regions as top international leisure destinations.
Shannon Heritage is opening its Craggaunowen visitor attraction with an ‘egg-citing’ Easter event. Craggaunowen near Quin in Co. Clare tells the story of the arrival of the Celts in Ireland. To make the start of the tourist season Shannon Heritage has arranged for the Easter Bunny to make a special guest appearance there on Easter Sunday, 16th April 06.
Kevin Thompstone, chief executive, Shannon Development, described the announcement yesterday (6th April 2006) of the sale of Stockbyte, the stock photography company based in the Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, as a positive endorsement for the Kerry Technology Park business strategy.
A major tourism promotional hat trick was scored for the Shannon Region recently when three major US radio stations broadcast live from Limerick and Dublin Cities from Monday 13th to Friday 17th March inclusive. The initiative was being organised by Tourism Ireland’s US team, Delta Airlines, Failte Ireland, and Shannon Development, and thanks to it almost 20 million US radio listeners will have an opportunity to hear about Ireland as a tourist destination.
Italian holidaymakers have been targeted by Shannon Development in their latest tourism marketing promotion. In a bid to lure them to the Shannon Region the Development Company recently ( 7th – 9th March ‘06) organised a familiarisation tour in association with Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland for ten top Italian travel writers.
Limerick tourism industry members were among 70 Shannon Region tourism industry representatives who accepted an invitation from Shannon Development recently (13th March 06) to find out about major E-marketing opportunities available to them. In a bid to support the tourism trade’s marketing efforts, the Shannon Region Tourism authority organised a special seminar at the Radisson Hotel, Limerick, to give Shannon region tourism product operators an opportunity to capitalise on a range of E-marketing initiatives.
“The announcement today that Vistakon, a key resident at the National Technology Park Limerick, is to increase its employment level by 120 is a great economic boost for the Park and for Limerick generally,” said Kevin Thompstone, chief executive, Shannon Development.
The Minister for Communications, Marine & Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey T.D., today announced that 29 rural broadband projects, involving 80 communities have been approved under the Group Broadband Scheme (GBS) in the Shannon region. Thirteen of these networks are now live and operational; three have been deployed and are at test stage, with the balance at service provider selection stage.
Fairytale Knappogue Castle near Quin in Co. Clare will be the setting for a fashion show extravaganza next week (7.30 pm Thursday March 2nd ‘06). Themed “passion for fashion” the show is being organised as a fundraising event for Clonmoney National School, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare. The event is being organised in conjunction with Shannon Heritage, the Shannon Development tourism subsidiary who manage Knappogue castle and a range of visitor attractions and evening entertainment in the Shannon Region.
Shannon Development has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Mr. John O’Donoghue T.D., of up to €1 million to drive new strategic tourism marketing initiatives for Ireland’s Western Regions. The Western Regions comprise three tourism regions, the Shannon Region, Ireland West, and Ireland North West. The overall Western Regions fund of up to €1.5 million for 2006 will be jointly funded by Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland, the regional tourism authorities and their industry partners.
“Internationally more people than ever are booking holidays on-line. In the US for example over one third of all holiday booking last year were made on-line directly by the consumer. Armed with these statistics Shannon Development is organising a special E-Marketing Seminar to help Co. Clare tourism trade members boost their business. This will be a pilot project, and if successful will be rolled out to other counties in the Shannon Region,” said John King, Heritage and Tourism Director, Shannon Development.
“We are delighted with the level of enquiries and interest show by potential holidaymakers who visited us at the Shannon Region tourism stand at the recent Holiday World Shows in Dublin, Belfast and Limerick. A trend we are noticing this year in particular is an increase in the number of shorter holiday breaks that people say they will be taking. The Shannon Region stand proved popular with both consumers and national tourism media, and we are confident that this interest will result in additional visitors to the Shannon Region during 2006,” says Mr. John King, Heritage and Tourism Director, Shannon Development.
Shannon Development, the tourism authority for the Shannon Region, has set itself an ambitious target of increasing tourism growth to the Shannon Region by 5% over the next year. “At their recent regional tourism road shows, national tourism agencies agreed that overall tourism growth did not filter down to the Regions last year. To ensure that this does not happen in our Region this year we have set ourselves an ambitious target of increasing tourism growth by 5%, and ensuring that this growth is spread more evenly throughout the Shannon Region which comprises counties Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary and South Offaly,” says John King, Heritage and Tourism Director, Shannon Development.
“Spend by holiday and leisure visitors to the Region has grown to over €125 million annually. Tourism is now Ireland’s largest indigenous industry, and the Ireland market is the most important market for most tourism businesses in the Shannon Region. In a bid to further grow this business, Shannon Development is launching a new Shannon Region holiday brochure as part of a major home holiday campaign”, says John King, Director Heritage and Tourism, Shannon Development.
Friday 13th January 2006: Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority and Tourism Ireland, the overseas tourism marketing agency, today made a presentation with Shannon Development, where they outlined their business plans for the coming year to tourism operators in the Shannon region at a special industry meeting in Limerick.
Shannon Development, the Regional Tourism Authority for counties Limerick, Clare, North Tippeary and South Offaly, will host a major seminar on the plans for the tourism industry for 2006 at the South Court Hotel on Friday 13th January ‘06.
Speaking at the announcement of the Company’s results for 2005 in Limerick today (9th January 2006), Mr Kevin Thompstone, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, said “The key priority for Shannon Development in 2006 will be delivering on the new mandate given to the Company by Government. Our strategy will be to maximise the regional economic development potential of the Shannon Region, and thereby contribute to the development of the emerging Atlantic economic counterpole to the East Coast”.