Tourism News

Tourists spent big using payment cards during The Gathering
Overseas visitors spent 21 per cent more using Visa payment cards in the first nine months of 2013. More than €1 in every €7 spent in Ireland is now being spent on a Visa card and spending by overseas cardholders has been driven mainly by tourists from the UK and US.
more>>

Taste of Roscrea
Last year’s Taste of Roscrea gave a welcome boost to the town with thousands of people sharing in the four day festival. This year new hurdles had to be overcome as there was no grant aid available. We took courage in our hands and we are absolutely overwhelmed by the amazing response to our efforts. It was wonderful to experience the surge of exhibitors displaying their wares from a needle to an anchor. Every taste was satisfied with the variety of fresh homemade food products along with hot food from the Gala restaurant.
more>>

Free Saturday Parking for Laois Shoppers
Laois shoppers can avail of free parking every Saturday in the run-up to Christmas in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick. Free parking in normally paid parking areas will be in effect on Saturdays 14, 21 and 28 December. The measure will also be in effect for the busy Christmas week on Monday and Tuesday, 23 and 24 December.
more>>

Mallow fireworks to provide a colourful start to the New Year
The skies above Mallow and the Blackwater Valley will be lit up by fireworks this New Year's Eve, bringing an estimated 8,000 people into the town. The second annual family-friendly spectacle will take place on Tuesday, December 31st at 10.30pm, starting an hour and a half before midnight to give young children a chance to see the event.
more>>

Cahir’s Christmas Carol Event
The Promoting Cahir Group will host a Christmas Carol Event on the Square in Cahir on Friday, December 20 from 6pm – 9pm. There will be carol singing with local choirs and singers, and Cahir Brass Band will also perform. Santa will be there too giving treats to children who come along, there will be face painting for children too and free mince pies, teas and coffees for all to enjoy, courtesy of local traders.
more>>

Travel and Tourism Statistics
In the period August - October 2013, the total number of trips to Ireland increased by 9.8% to 2,140,700 - an overall increase of 191,100 compared to the same period twelve months earlier.
more>>

Travel News

Aer Lingus Regional announce expansion at Shannon Airport
Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Aer Arann, is to expand its services at Shannon Airport, including the addition of 100,000 passengers, new and expanded routes, and the creation of 20 jobs. The airline said it expects as a result to grow total passenger numbers from Shannon to 200,000 by the end of 2014, rising to 240,000 passengers by the end of 2015. The airline confirmed that the decision to expand its services to and from Shannon was directly related to the Government’s budget announcement to abolish the travel tax from April 2014. The new daily Bristol service, commencing on 3 April next, builds on expansion at Aer Lingus Regional over the past 12-months. Further announcements regarding new routes and services from other airports will be made shortly.
more>>

Bus Éireann in Cork to provide Late Night Services for Christmas Period
Bus Éireann is to provide late night services on the weekends in the run-up to Christmas from Cork city to Carrigaline, Ballincollig and Midleton
more>>

1.4 Million Passengers In November At Dublin Airport
Passenger numbers at Dublin Airport exceeded 1.4 million in November, a 7% increase on the same month last year. UK traffic recorded an 11% increase with almost 626,000 passengers travelling to and from Britain in November. Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe increased by 3% with almost 620,000 people travelling to European destinations during the month.
more>>

Irish Ferries launches direct Dublin to Cherbourg route
New direct passenger car ferry service linking Dublin with the French port of Cherbourg is being introduced by Irish Ferries with the first sailing departing from Dublin on Saturday, 18th January next. The once-weekly, year round service – which the company’s head of passenger sales Dermot Merrigan says “will bring the European motorways directly into the heart of our capital city” – will depart from Dublin every Saturday (15.30) arriving into Cherbourg next morning (11.30). Return sailings will depart Cherbourg each Sunday (17.00) with early arrival back in Dublin on Monday morning (11.00).
more>>

Message From Us

Rates 2014
Don't forget to notify us of any changes to your rates for the coming new year.

Calendar 2014
If you know of any events, festivals or activities taking place in your area, why not tell us about it and we will mention it in our
Calendar. By promoting your area, you are helping to promote your business too.

Merry Christmas
Finally, we would like to thank all our customers for their continued support.
Wishing you all a happy & peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Recipe

Rudolph Buns

For Decoration
Betty Crocker chocolate icing
White buttons
Black writing icing
Cherries
Pretzels

For the Buns
8 oz of butter
8 oz of sugar
4 eggs
12 oz flour

Preparation method
Mix all the ingredients together in a mixer and divide into cake tins.
Cook for 20 -25 mins at 180 deg. Let cool before you decorate.
Cover the cool buns with Betty Crocker chocolate
Put 2 white buttons on for the eyes with a dot of black icing on each one.
Cut some cherries into 1/8th and use for the nose.
Break up some pretzels and use as the antlers.

For more childrens recipe ideas click here more>>

Final Thought

A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.”
Garrison Keillor

Seasons Greetings

Travel Directories Ireland
Web: www.eirtravel.info
e-mail: info@eirtravel.info
Wap: www.eirtravel.info/wap/
Phone: +353 (0)52 7442810
Fax: +353 (0)52 7442575