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Tourism chiefs put their industry in the spotlight

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THE great employment and training opportunities available in the tourism and hospitality sector in Kerry will be clearly outlined at a high-profile event in Killarney at the weekend.

One of the key speakers at the Let’s Talk Tourism forum at The Brehon Hotel will be Paul O’Toole who is the head of Solas, the state organisation with responsibility for funding, planning and co-ordinating further education and training programmes in the country.

His organisation has been tasked with building the identity and values of a world-class, integrated education and skills sector that is responsive to the needs of learners and the requirements of a changing economy.

“We believe that by providing a further education and training sector that is tailored to the needs of learners, employers and communities, we can harness the individual’s skills, strengthen the economy and promote social togetherness,” said Mr O’Toole, a former director general of FÁS who also served as chief executive of Tourism Ireland and general manager of Bord Fáilte.

Other key speakers at the forum will include Fáilte Ireland chief executive Paul Kelly, Mark Henry of Tourism Ireland, Fiona Monaghan, head of the Wild Atlantic Way project at Fáilte Ireland, Guinness Storehouse boss Paul Carty, Minister of State for Tourism Brendan Griffin and Kerry County Council CEO Moira Murrell.

The forum will commence on Friday morning with an opening address from event chairperson Margaret Cahill and topics on the agenda for the day include the importance of the tourism industry, regionality and seasonality, planning, skills and manpower, digital trends, food tourism, air access and screen tourism.

In addition to the keynote speakers, there will be a frank exchange of views and opinions in a series of expert panel discussions with participants to include John Brennan of the Park Hotel, Kenmare, Adrian Cummins of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Helena Healy of B&B Ireland, travel writers Eoghan Corry and Pól Ó Conghaile, David McCarthy of AIB and Bernadette Enright of the Hospitality, Education and Training Centre.

Friday night will involve a business networking dinner in The Malton Hotel and on Saturday forum delegates and their guests will enjoy a visit to the Skellig Coast and Valentia Island.

 


 
Above: At the launch of the National Tourism Forum/Let's Talk Tourism Conference which takes place in The Brehon Hotel this weekend were from left, Joan McCarthy, Kerry County Council, Paul O'Neill, President, Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce, Margaret Cahill, Chairperson, NTF, Emer Corridan, IHF, Sean Healy, AIB and Ciara O'Grady, NTF. Pic: Don MacMonagle

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Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s

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Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s


World renowned Paralympian and world record holder Jason Smyth paid a visit to St Brendan’s College on Wednesday afternoon as part of a high profile visit to Killarney.


The six time Paralympic gold medallist spoke to second year students from St Brendan’s College, alongside students from neighbouring schools St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School and Killarney Community College.
The interactive talk and interview took place ahead of World Sight Day, with the legendary sprinter sharing his personal journey with Stargardt disease, a genetic eye condition that left him legally blind at eight years old.
The Derry native, who holds the world record as the fastest Paralympian on earth over 100 metres, offered inspiring insights into overcoming physical adversity and achieving success at the highest level of world sport.
The school visit formed the opening leg of his Killarney schedule before he took centre stage later on Wednesday evening at The Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa.
Smyth headlined An Evening with Paralympian Jason Smyth, an event organised by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce as part of its winter schedule, sponsored by AIB.

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Deerpark Retail Park placed on market for fifteen million euro

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Deerpark Retail Park in Killarney has officially been placed on the market with a guide price in excess of 15.4 million euro, excluding VAT.

International real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed as the sole sales agent to handle the high-profile commercial property sale on behalf of its current owner, Investcorp.

Investcorp, a global investment management firm headquartered in Bahrain, had previously acquired the prominent shopping complex.


The sale represents one of the largest commercial property offerings to launch in County Kerry this year.

Located roughly 1.3 kilometres west of Killarney town centre, the scheme enjoys strong regional connectivity and sits adjacent to independently owned operations including a Tesco Extra store, a Tesco petrol filling station, JYSK, and Aldi.


Constructed in 2006, the development extends across approximately 10,482 square metres, or 112,835 square feet.

The scheme comprises a mix of modern retail warehouse units and a complementary neighbourhood centre, offering 13 individual units in total with Part Open and Part Bulky Use planning permission.

The units range in size from 94.6 square metres up to 1,994.9 square metres. Visitors have access to approximately 248 customer parking spaces across the commercial grounds.

The park is currently 100 per cent occupied by a strong line-up of established national and international brands.

Key retail tenants include Marks & Spencer, Boots, DID Electrical, Maxi Zoo, and Mountain Warehouse.

The neighbourhood centre element accommodates service and convenience operators such as Costa Coffee, Card Factory, and Salon B.

The first-floor accommodation is fully let to Peak Performance Academy, which provides additional rental diversification.

Additionally, the scheme benefits from an agreement with Tesla to operate eight electric vehicle charging bays within the customer car park.


Commercial figures show that the property generates a total current rental income of 1,326,458 euro per annum, with a weighted average unexpired lease term of 4.45 years to break options and 6.46 years to lease expiry.

Cushman & Wakefield noted that the quoted guide price of 15.4 million euro reflects a net initial yield of 7.83 per cent, assuming standard purchaser costs of 9.96 per cent.

The selling agents highlighted that the fully occupied asset offers investors an attractive income profile alongside scope for additional income generation through parking commercialisation.

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