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Outdoor dining grants set to revitalise tourism

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By Sean Moriarty

 

Killarney businesses will be able to apply to Kerry County Council for grants to encourage outdoor dining as part of a national programme to reopen the country. Hospitality sector business will be able to claim €4,000 or 75 percent of the cost of outdoor furniture like seating and tables and other fixtures like external heaters.

It was announced earlier this week that a total of €17m is being made available nationally under a two-part scheme which will be delivered in partnership between Fáilte Ireland and Local Authorities.

Part One of the scheme will provide funding for individual tourism and hospitality businesses to develop and increase their own outdoor seating capacity.

Funding allocated under Part Two will enable Local Authorities to develop permanent outdoor public dining spaces in towns and urban centres, similar to those that exist in various European cities.

Cllr Michael Gleeson has previously called for such a public scheme to be created in Killarney and he pushed for this even before the pandemic brought the idea of outdoor dining to the fore.

“Prior to the abolition of town councils we looked at this a lot. A factory in Germany was visited but it all went on the backfoot,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “It is amazing how these things come the full circle and is back on the agenda again. I would welcome such a move, it would greatly enhance the ambience of our town for locals and visitors alike.”

At the time of Gleeson’s first proposal in 2013 a local engineer, Paudie O’Mahoney, devised a plan to keep the rain off of tourists and locals alike.

It included placing an ‘artificial roof’ over the streets of Killarney which can be removed in the summer when the weather is nice and put back up when it’s raining.

Kerry County Council’s Chief Executive Moira Murrell, is also Chair of the Rural Development, Community, Tourism, Culture and Heritage Committee, the national body behind the scheme.

“We look forward to creating outdoor dining experiences around the country that not only benefit locals, but are also attractive to domestic and overseas visitors when the sector reopens," she said. "Developing outdoor infrastructure is a key element of answering the consumer demand for more flexible dining options.”

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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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