Welcome to Travel Directories Ireland Newsletter for Summer 2011

Tourism News

New VAT rate now in effect
The newly introduced VAT rate of 9% is effective from 1st July 2011 - 31st December 2013. The 9% rate applies to restaurant and catering services; hotel and holiday accommodation; admissions to cinemas, theatres, certain musical performances, museums and art gallery exhibitions; fairgrounds or amusement park services; the use of sporting facilities; hairdressing services; printed matter such as brochures, maps, programmes, leaflets, catalogues and newspapers.
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Ireland's best kept town awards
Overall winner - Moynalty, Co. Meath
Best Kept Village - Moynalty, Co. Meath
Best Kept Small Town - Lismore, Co. Waterford
Best Kept Large Town - Cookstown, Co. Tyrone
Best Kept Large Urban Centre - Coleraine, Co. Londonderry
Congratulations to this years winners.
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Funding delayed for new promenade
Budgetary restraints have forced Galway City Council to delay plans for the proposed €7million prom extension from Blackrock to Silver Strand, part of which was designed to save one of the coastline’s most famous landmarks from extinction. An Environmental Impact Statement, carried out for the local authority in 2006, said that without erosion prevention work, Silverstrand beach would be eradicated within 25 to 40 years, while the Knocknagoneen drumlin beside it would be cut off from the mainland.
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Travel and Tourism Statistics
The following table shows trips made to Ireland in quarter 1, 2010 compared with the same period in 2011 and also indicates where the visitors came from.
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Travel News

Cruise to Ireland for 30 per cent less, plus kids go free
This is in addition to the carrier's recently-announced Kids Go Free promotion for children under 16. 30 per cent savings are offered across the board - on Irish Ferries' three vessels, the super-cruise ferry Ulysses and the fastcraft Dublin Swift, which both serve the Holyhead/Dublin route, and the Isle of Inishmore on the Pembroke/Rosslare route.
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Saturday trains half price
Summer fare offers from Iarnród Éireann: NEW All Saturday web fares now HALF PRICE!! Our latest offer is our best deal yet: a 50% discount on tickets booked online for travel on Saturdays, and it's now LIVE! It's every train on every route every Saturday, so get booking.
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Aer Lingus announces 3 new routes
Aer Lingus today announced 10 new routes as part of its winter schedule for 2011/2012 including an exciting route from Cork to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. The new service will operate once weekly, commencing on Sunday 30th October 2011. This route expands on the extensive choice already on offer to Aer Lingus customers travelling to the Canary Islands, with scheduled services also available from Ireland to Lanzarote, Tenerife and Fuerteventura.
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Events Summer 2011

Clonmel Junction Festival
1st - 10th July 2011
Clonmel Junction Festival is an annual arts festival which takes place each July in the town of Clonmel. The festival hosts international theatre, emerging theatre, children's theatre, family entertainment, circus, dance, rock, world music, comedy and lots of free entertainment. What is unique to the festival are the cafes whereby artists convert disused shops into artist spaces and host a range of workshops throughout the festival.
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Kilkenny Arts Festival
5th- 11th August 2011
Each summer we bring you 10 days of the very best in Irish and international visual art, classical music, theatre and dance, jazz, world & traditional Irish music, literature, film, indie music, craft and children’s events
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Timoleague Festival
12th - 22nd August 2011
In August each year the village hosts the timoleague festival . This ten day harvest festival sees the streets thronged with locals and tourists alike trying to catch a glimpse of the many street activities which are organised for the event. Live street music, pig racing and the fancy dress competitions are among the most popular of these activities. A large marquee is also erected on the village green during the festival with many big name acts performing during the ten day period. Check our festival page for details of this years performers and events.
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Heritage Week
20th - 28th August 2011
Heritage Week 2011 will run from the 20th - 28th August. Each year many national and hundreds of local community organisations participate by organising events throughout the country. There is something to appeal to almost everyone and the main aim is to build awareness of our built, natural and cultural heritage thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation.
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List an event for free
Do you have an event you would like to see listed? Whether you are holding a festival, fair or workshop, we offer free publication. Check our event calendar for events all over Ireland
Events Calendar>>

Recipe

Mint Ice cream
1 large bunch of mint, chopped
500 ml water
150 g sugar
300 ml double cream
1 egg yolk
250 ml milk
juice of 1 lemons
juice of 1 oranges

Directions
1. Place the mint, water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside for the flavours to infuse for 30 minutes.
2. Strain the syrup, discarding the mint leaves. Chill the mint-flavoured syrup in the refrigerator.
3. Whisk the cream in a bowl until lightly thickened.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yolk and milk until blended and combine with the whipped cream.
6. Pour into a heavy-based saucepan and simmer, stirring constantly, until the custard has lightly thickened. Set aside to cool before thoroughly chilling in a refrigerator.
7. Stir together the mint syrup, lemon juice and orange juice and combine with the chilled custard.
8. Pour into an ice cream maker and churn, following manufacturer's instructions until the mixture sets into ice cream.
9. Transfer to a freezer-proof container and freeze until serving.
Serves: 6-8

For more summer recipe ideas click here more>>

Brain Teaser

Cross
- - - - - Harvests
- - - - - Cages
- - - - - Army Unit
- - - - - Cavils
- - - - - Hauls
- - - - - Components
- - - - - Social gathering
- - - - - Deflect
- - - - - Harass
- - - - - Mythical Monster
Happy
answer

Final Thought

Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.
Buddha

Slán

Travel Directories Ireland
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