We’ve got all this news and more in our business round up
Róise Goan announced as Artistic Director of Dublin Theatre Festival
The board of Dublin Theatre Festival recently announced Róise Goan as the festival’s incoming Artistic Director and Chief Executive. She will take up the role in February 2025, following Willie White’s decision to step down from the role once he had completed DTF 2024.
Róise Goan, from Dublin, currently works as the artistic coordinator at VIERNULVIER in Ghent, Belgium and previously as artistic director and co-CEO of Artsadmin in London, UK. She has worked variously as an artist, producer, programmer and dramaturg in the performing arts.
Waterford venue named Wedding Hotel of the Year for Munster at Irish Hotel Awards
The 4-star Dungarvan Park Hotel is celebrating having been named Wedding Hotel of the Year for the Munster Region at the Irish Hotel Awards 2024. The Park Hotel, part of the multi-award winning Flynn Hotel Collection, prides itself on being a wedding hotel with a stellar reputation for superior hospitality, elegance and warmth as befits the most romantic day of a couple’s life.
The hotel itself is situated on its own 5 acres of landscaped gardens in the harbour town of Dungarvan, overlooking the Colligan Estuary, with the famous Waterford Greenway just around the corner making it an ideal backdrop for capturing memorable photos.
Irish handcrafted wellness brand wins 2024 Fáilte Initiative
Carrolls Irish Gifts announced Jessica Shaw, the innovative entrepreneur behind Enniskinn Handcrafted Cosmetics, as the winner of the 2024 Fáilte Initiative. The initiative aims to support and showcase exceptional Irish businesses, providing them with a national platform and a comprehensive support package.
Enniskinn is a vibrant brand of self-care products created in rural Northern Ireland, inspired by the beautiful landscapes and folklore of the region. The brand offers gifts that share the natural scents and peaceful stories of the isle, of the hills, and of the lough.
The Church Café Bar launches new history tour & Irish Coffee Experience
The Church Café Bar, the beautiful Dublin venue renowned for its Irish heritage and modern dining, launched a brand-new guided tour last month. This engaging experience invites both locals and visitors to explore the rich history of Dublin and the unique venue itself, concluding with a traditional Irish coffee in hand. Set within the architecture of the meticulously restored 18th-century church, the new tour offers a journey into the heart of The Church’s cultural and historical legacy.
Guests will be transported through key moments in Irish history, shedding light on the figures and events that helped shape the venue and the city. See thechurch.ie for more information.
Waterford set to twinkle brightly as the European City of Christmas
Ireland’s oldest City and Europe’s City of Christmas is set for its place in the spotlight this festive season as the details of the 2024 Winterval Festival which will offer a host of festivities in the City from 15 November have been revealed.
There are over 60 events on offer and firm favourites are back for the festival, including the Winterval ice rink and fairground set for the city’s quayside while the wonderful Winterval Illuminates Lightshow is bound for the city centre. There will also be Gingerbread making workshops, the Glow Gardens with over 10,000 twinkling lights at New street, a Wobbly Mirror installation at The Apple Market, the Port of Waterford Eye and one-off events like the Jingle Bells Cycle, Carol concerts, Suircon, a Light up Tractor parade and more. See winterval.ie for the full lineup.
Chadwicks partners with Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) on over 10 new initiatives
Chadwicks, Ireland’s leading builders’ merchants, recently announced that it has created over ten new initiatives with charity partner, Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), this year to date. As part of the initiatives, many Chadwicks branches nationwide supplied materials, garden furniture and gas boiler replacements to IWA residential homes, community centres and retail stores across Ireland, improving their functionality and accessibility for IWA tenants, visitors and customers.
In addition to these initiatives, teams at all Chadwicks branches across the country supported IWA’s annual fundraising day last month and through their donations, raised over €6,000 for the charity. Details of other projects will be announced in the coming months. For more information on today’s announcements, visit chadwicks.ie or go to iwa.ie to make a donation.
Renewed confidence in our capital city thanks to prestigious award
Leading city business collective, Dublin Town, recently announced that Dublin city has once again been awarded a Purple Flag.
The accolade is an award for reaching a standard of excellence in the evening and night time economy through a diverse cultural offering which is non-alcohol dependent, family friendly, safe and vibrant. The Purple Flag is an international accreditation, managed by the UK based Association of Town and City Management, for excellence in the management of the evening and night-time economy. Its awarding follows independent external assessment and site visits repeated bi-annually.
Galway Food Tours celebrates 10 years of culinary adventures
As Galway Food Tours celebrates its 10th anniversary this October, it is not just a milestone for founder Sheena Dignam and her dedicated team of 10 employees, but a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and unyielding spirit of a business that has grown from a one-woman operation into the city’s flagship culinary experience.
Now, operating year-round, Galway Food Tours welcomes both locals and international visitors even during the quietest months of the year. With collaborations spanning over 30 venues and nearly 50 producers and suppliers, each tour is a carefully curated journey, introducing participants to the very best of what Galway has to offer—from artisanal cheeses and fresh seafood to craft beers and local spirits. See galwayfoodtours.com.
Irish jewellery brand launches piece to raise awareness for Mental Health Support
In a heartfelt collaboration with Pieta House, Little Light Jewellery launched the “Glimmer” necklace – a beautiful symbol of hope and resilience. This meaningful piece of jewellery aims to raise awareness for mental health, suicide prevention, and the life-saving services Pieta House provides, with all profits being donated to supporting their vital work.
The necklace showcases a finely crafted lighthouse charm in sterling silver, elegantly finished with 14k gold plating. The lighthouse symbolises guidance and the promise of brighter days ahead. The “Glimmer” necklace and poem retail for €59 and is available to buy via littlelight.ie.
World-renowned Irish brand expands presence to the southeast of Ireland
130 years after it was founded, heritage brand FOXFORD is expanding its presence into the Southeast for the first time with a new 268 square metre store opening; introducing Irish creativity and design at Mount Congreve Gardens. The partnership between FOXFORD and Mount Congreve Gardens offers a range of new products inspired by the gardens, all designed and made in Ireland.
The new linens and designs are already in Ireland’s Forest Hotel at Mount Congreve Gardens and a range of beautiful textiles are now on offer at The FOXFORD Shop at Mount Congreve.
Five-star Donegal hotel unveils 25 new luxurious suites
The multi award-winning Lough Eske Castle, renowned for its fairytale setting, has elevated its offering of five-star luxury with the introduction of ‘The Donegal Suites.’
The 25 new suites each feature a bespoke Magee 1866 tweed, the result of a careful collaboration between fifth generation family business Magee 1866 and the hotel. They also showcase the quality of other local businesses, from Sliabh Liag Distillers, McNutt of Donegal, McGonigle Glass Studio, Kevin Callaghan Pottery, The Donegal Chocolate Man, Kinnegar Brewing, and artists including Patrick Murphy and David Mitchell. See lougheskecastlehotel.com for more information.
Top Irish firms honoured for menopause policies
Bank of Ireland, Aldi and drinks giants Coca-Cola and Diageo were among the big winners at the second Menopause Workplace Excellence Awards which took place last month. Other winners included St Patrick’s Mental Health Services (Best in Health award), Slieve Russell Hotel (Best Champion Network) and Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber (Best Small Business).
University College Dublin also received a Special Recognition Award in Higher Education. The awards, sponsored by Irish Life Health and Astellas Pharma, are organised by Menopause Hub Academy and Great Place to Work.
