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New St hostel up for world eco award

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NOMINATION: The Black Sheep Hostel on New St has been shortlisted for an award by Hostel World in the Extraordinary Sustainable Hostel category. Pictured is Kevin Leahy. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

 

By Michelle Crean

It may have been their toughest year in business but that hasn't stopped one local eco friendly hostel from being nominated for a prestigious award. The Black Sheep Hostel, who have been in business just five years with an ethos of protecting the environment, have been shortlisted in the Extraordinary Sustainable Hostel category by Hostel World.

And it's not the first time they had their hard efforts recognised. In 2018 the business, which is a 19th-century townhouse in New Street, was voted third best hostel in Ireland, followed by Best Hostel in Ireland in 2019. Last year they were listed as one of the top five best hostels in Ireland.

The eco-adventure hostel opened the 'Coffee Shack' last May as the hostel business was practically non-existent due to the ongoing pandemic, and owner Kevin Leahy said this new sideline which is supporting the main business is "going from strength to strength".

They're up for the award due to their commitment to the environment as all their electricity comes from renewable sources, they have a 30 foot polytunnel in the back garden where they grow their own vegetables and herbs, and their chickens are mainly fed food waste from the hostel kitchen. They also have an organic composting system and they've a big focus on buy local where possible.

Compostable takeaway cups and Fair Trade coffee are the norm, and they reuse their coffee grinds in the garden as well as give to customers to take home to their own compost heaps.

"We have a really good recycling policy," Kevin told the Killarney Advertiser.
"We buy local where we can."

The HOSCARs judges selected The Black Sheep Hostel as one of the five Extraordinary Sustainable Hostels finalists but now it’s up to the public to help them win. They are up against hostels in England, Namibia, Greece and Kenya.

"Vote to keep Killarney going. Vote for the Irish business," Kevin added.

To vote for The Black Sheep Hostel go to www.hostelworld.com, then to their blog section and search Extraordinary Sustainable Hostels.

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Chamber’s emphasis on cyber security

  Businesses in Killarney have been fully briefed on what measures they need to taketo ensure greater cyber security to protect their companies. Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce hosted […]

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Businesses in Killarney have been fully briefed on what measures they need to take
to ensure greater cyber security to protect their companies.

Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce hosted a very informative breakfast
briefing in the International Hotel at which they keynote speakers were cyber security
experts Mike Dennehy and Ger McAuliffe from progressive local company Tricel.
The opening question at the event was how will a business operate tomorrow if it
loses access to its data today?
Mike and Ger recommended that all employers to include IT training as part of the
induction programme for new entrants, organise monthly awareness training for all
employees and to conduct monthly spot-checks to ensure everything is going
according to plan.
It was essential, they pointed out not to give the same level of access to all
employees to reduce risk and to devise a disaster recovery plan in case it is needed.
Companies have also been advised not to allow the public to use their private wi-fi
network and, instead, to set up a public or guest network.
Chamber thanked the experts from Tricel for their engaging talk which certainly put
the spotlight very firmly on the need to enhance cyber security measures.

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Win tickets for Killarney for Palestine sold-out INEC show

Killarney for Palestine has announced a fundraising competition that will give Killarney Advertiser readers a chance to win two tickets to the sold-out Night for Palestine concert in the INEC […]

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Killarney for Palestine has announced a fundraising competition that will give Killarney Advertiser readers a chance to win two tickets to the sold-out Night for Palestine concert in the INEC on December 19.

The event, which features Amble, Beoga and Clare Sands, has already reached full capacity, but the group is offering two tickets along with a €250 Gleneagle Hotel Group voucher, which can also be used at the Brehon.
To enter, supporters are asked to make a minimum €5 donation to the group’s Chuffed campaign, which is raising funds for urgent medical support for a displaced family in Gaza.

The link to the campaign is:

http://chuffed.org/project/154575-urgent-medical-relief-for-mohammad-basyouni-his-kids

After donating, entrants must email proof of donation to:
killarneyforpalestine@yahoo.com
The competition runs on the group’s Instagram page @killarneyforpalestine, where full instructions are listed. A winner will be chosen at random and announced on November 29.
Killarney for Palestine says all proceeds from the INEC event will support Aclaí Palestine, a community gym based in Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem.

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