Welcome to Travel Directories Ireland Newsletter for Spring 2008

In this Issue:

Tourism News Travel News News from us Internet News Recipe Poem Final Thought

Tourism News

Tourism chief warns on prices

The chairman of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation has said prices here are continuing to rise faster than elsewhere in Europe.
Dick Bourke added that Ireland's reputation as an 'expensive destination' was becoming well established.
Referring to Ireland's reputation as a welcoming destination, Mr Bourke said the Irish product risks becoming less competitive as the number of Irish people employed in tourism continues to decline.
Read more...

Arts Minister performs 'Topping out' ceremony for €33m Wexford Opera House

The Opera House- Ireland's first-purpose built state of the art opera house-will be up to four times larger than the previous theatrical facility on the site, the Theatre Royal, and seating capacity has been almost doubled.
Minister Brennan inspected the progress of the construction and announced the officially opening date in late September will be celebrated with a major gala event in advance of the 2008 Opera Festival programme at the end of October. The Minister also announced that the construction of the Wexford Opera House, Ireland's newest and much anticipated state-of-the-art, multi-purpose arts performing centres, is on budget and on schedule.
Read more...

Hotel workers protest over pay

Hotel workers from the SIPTU trade union held a protest over rates of pay in Kilkenny this evening.
SIPTU regional Secretary Christy McQuillan said 'The hotels and restaurants industry employs 130,000 people and rakes in most of the €6.5 billion in tourism revenue each year, yet it pays some of the lowest wages'
Read more...

Stability in North is a boost to tourism

Peace and stability in Northern Ireland has given a major boost to the island's image as a top tourist destination, it was claimed today.
In an upbeat assessment Irish Tourist Industry Confederation chairman Dick Bourke said the country had never appeared more attractive and predicted the industry would weather current economic woes.
It comes as travel operators express concern about the growing strength of the euro against the dollar and the knock-on effects for American visitors.
Read more...

Travel News

New Flights
Aer Lingus launches 4 new routes from Belfast
Aer Lingus this week launches four new international routes from Belfast.
Belfast - Malaga
Belfast - Rome
Belfast - Faro
Belfast - Budapest
Read more...

An Bord Pleanála Approves Airport Terminal Development
Ireland West Airport Knock is delighted to confirm that An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for the first phase of development of the Airport terminal building. An appeal had been made to An Bord Pleanála by a third party in September 2007 after Mayo County Council approved plans for the construction of a new extension to the existing terminal building at Ireland West Airport Knock.
Read more...

Flooded rail link remains closed

The Limerick-Ennis rail line, which has been flooded since early February, will not open for another two weeks as part of the line remains under water. At the height of the problem there were 17 inches of water covering the line and there are still seven inches of water on the line.
Read more...

News from us

Are your spam settings losing you business?
Spam filters can block emails for all sorts of different reasons. It is important that you occasionally check your spam folder and edit your spam settings accordingly to ensure that you are receiving all email enquiries from potential guests. You could be losing out on business here so we cannot emphasize this enough!

Check your details
Whilst on the subject, we would like to ask that you check your email address/personal web address. If you have changed your email address or personal web address recently, do make sure that your current details are listed on your page, otherwise you will not be receiving your email enquiries. We rely on you to notify us of any changes to your personal details and we never make alterations without your consent. Plus, don't forget to notify us of your new price rates for 2008.

Marketing Research
We would encourage you to perform your own marketing research. As you know, unlike some directories, Travel Directories Ireland do not hide your contact details. Your telephone/fax number, email and web address are all open for the public to view. It is always a good idea to ask guests where they saw your property. If you receive emails which are not attributed to a particular source, do ask how the guest found you.

Promote Your Area
If you know of any up-coming events in your area, do let us know and we will be happy to list them on our 2008 calendar. Whether it be a festival, music/charity/sporting event or a jumble sale; just send us the details and we will publish it for free. Or click here and fill out the form on-line:
Suggest An Event
Remember it all helps to promote your area and by doing so you are promoting your business too.

Internet News

McAfee Site Advisor
McAfee offer a free site advisor tool. It is very useful for checking the safety of web sites before you enter them.
download here...

Ireland lags behind in broadband
Ireland is lagging behind its European neighbours in broadband penetration, ranking 12th out of 15 states. A report by the European Competitive Telecommunications Association, the association of alternative telecoms operators in Europe, found that Ireland is ahead only of Italy, Portugal and Greece
Read more...

Recipe

1 tablesp. good quality mustard

To Cook
Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F) Gas Mark 6.
Season the lamb with salt and pepper. Place in the preheated oven for ten minutes. Meanwhile make up the topping - combine the herbs, breadcrumbs, seasoning and butter and mix well.

After 10 minutes remove the lamb from the oven. Spread the mustard over the top of the lamb. Spoon on the herb and breadcrumb mixture and press well onto the lamb. Place it back in the oven and roast for another 25 minutes. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before carving into single cutlets.

Serving Suggestions: Delicious served with a baked potato and salad or roasted vegetables - simply toss some chopped peppers, courgettes, tomatoes and red onions in a little olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and roast in the oven at the same time as the lamb.

For this and more fantastic recipes visit Bord Bia

Poem

Lines Written in Early Spring

William Wordsworth (1798)

I heard a thousand blended notes,
While in a grove I sate reclined,
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.

To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What man has made of man.

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And 'tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

The birds around me hopped and played,
Their thoughts I cannot measure:--
But the least motion which they made
It seemed a thrill of pleasure.

The budding twigs spread out their fan,
To catch the breezy air;
And I must think, do all I can,
That there was pleasure there.

If this belief from heaven be sent,
If such be Nature's holy plan,
Have I not reason to lament
What man has made of man?

Final Thought

The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.
If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
We can do no great things - only small things with great love

Mother Teresa

Beannacht Dé dhibh go léir ar lá Fhéile Phádraig.

Travel Directories Ireland
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Phone: +353 (0)52 42810
Fax: +353 (0)52 42575