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Skal Club present Eckhard Gogsch award

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The Skal Club of Kerry in co-operation with the Irish Academy of Hospitality and Tourism at IT Tralee recently presented Michelle O’Sullivan, a first year Higher Certificate in Arts and Hotel Operations student, the 2018 Eckhard Gogsch Service and Skills Award.

Eckhard was a hugely popular personality in the local tourism trade having spent his entire life working at different levels in the industry. He was born and reared near the spectacular Lake Constance in Germany and moved to Killarney in 1968 to take up a position in the Hotel Europe as waiter. He also worked in sister hotel, The Dunloe Castle, and has lived in Killarney since then.

In the mid 1980’s, Eckhard took up a position with Fáilte Ireland, the state agency Cert and was centre manager in many of their training schools at the former Torc Great Southern Hotel, Rosslare Great Southern, Dromhall Hotel and Kenmare Bay. It was in these schools that students were prepared for careers in the tourism industry.

Students acquired a range of skills, food preparation, restaurant service, accommodation service, bar and front office as well as business operations and communications. Eckhard always stressed to students that working in the hospitality industry was rewarding and there were ample opportunities for career progression.

In addition to formal training and practical experience, Eckhard had the ability to inspire and motivate and demonstrate excellent customer skills to the students. He always used to say that a satisfied customer tells at least three people whereas an angry customer tells 3,000.

He later started a freelance tour company with his wife Patricia, bringing visitors from all over the world to Ireland and leading them on great adventures throughout the country.

Eckhard was a very active member of the Kerry Skal Club since its inception 21 years ago and the decision was made to present this fantastic award in his memory. Speaking at the ceremony, club members also expressed their hopes that his wife Patricia would be taking up the mantel.

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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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