BUSINESS PEOPLE
mid-west
November 2010 — €3.50
FACING THE FEAR Paddy Power walks across broken glass in display of how to overcome barriers to business
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Aer Lingus Paris service a ray of hope for Mid-West
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Black month for Shannon area, with over 200 jobs to go
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A great day for Limerick as Milk Market is re-opened ISSN 2009-3616
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BP | Editorial & Contents
CONTENTS 04
FEATURE
Business leader insists that the recommendations of the Limerick Local Government Committee Report must be implemented in full
07 NEWS
Aer Lingus has just introduced a new service between Shannon Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle
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usiness
08
COVER STORY traffic or potential new
By Kevin Meaney, IDF Marketing
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Bookmaker Paddy Power joined local entrepreneurs to walk across broken glass in a thrilling 4. More graphs curtain-raiser for Mid-West Facebook now allows you to track your Business page stats and export the data. Week Facebook will also provide lots more helpful data such as the number of Facebook users who start and stop viewing your news feed posts.
12 NEWS
proposed job What does thisOver mean for200 businesses? Measuring yourlosses marketing campaigns announced at Shannon is essential. Now Facebook makes this Aerospace and Elsevier easier, letting you track video views, comments posted, news feed posts viewed, all in addition to the standard metrics of page views and unique visitors.
13 NEWS
Limerick prepares for re-opening of Belltable Arts Centre
If you would like to learn more about Social Media Marketing & Facebook for your business contact our team today.
November 2010
14 26 NEWS
FEATURE
Gormely opens Milk Market
Aughinish moves to declare its storage methods ‘safe’
36 SPORT
Photo reports on the International Rules Test, and the new Limerick Greyhound Stadium
39 MOTORING
Get the best deals and service with our Motoring section
45 ARTS & CULTURE
Four-page guide to the Limerick arts scene for the month
54 DIRECTORY
Looking for businesses and services in the Mid-West? Check out our business directory
59 EUROLINK
Jessie Magee on the latest business news from Brussels
Tel: 0818 227 035 Web: www.idfmarketing.com Facebook: facebook.com/idfmarketing
Business People Patrons
Business People Mid-West 061 37
Lower Shannon Street, Limerick Tel: (061) 404 900 Fax: (061) 404 940
Editor Keith Watterson T: 061 404 900 Advertising Sales Paddy Dowling Mobile: 086 382 6254 Lorna Clancy Mobile: 087 292 0404 Beth Treacy Mobile: 087 914 9153
Photography Keith Wiseman Photographic Contributors Press 22 Kieran Clancy - PicSure Contributors Alan Jacques Len Dineen Kevin Meaney
E-Mail: info@businesspeoplemidwest.com • Web: www.businesspeoplemidwest.com Business People Mid-West Magazine is published monthly. All Rights Reserved. www.businesslimerick.ie 1 The information contained in the magazine is believed to be accurate and authorative, however it is not intended to substitute for legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice. Statements and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Business People. No responsibility can be assumed for any unsolicited materials and submission is construed as permission to publish without any further correspondence and the fee payable (if any) at our usual rates. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.
November 2010
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FROM THE EDITOR A time of mixed fortunes for Mid West economy NEVER has the well-worn phrase “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times” had more currency in Limerick and throughout the Mid-West. In the last month, there was something of a ‘Black Thursday’ towards the end of last month, with Shannon Aerospace and Elsevier announcing a combined total of 207 proposed redundancies at their Shannon-based businesses. And within days, the supposedly ‘on the ropes’ Shannon Airport was welcoming the introduction of a new service between Shannon and ParisCharles de Gaulle. Also on the upside, there has been the creation of jobs, with the opening of the new Limerick Greyhound Stadium on the Dock Road in Limerick City, as well as the spin-offs which accrued from the hosting of the First Test in the International Rules Series at the Gaelic Grounds. There has also been the official opening of the new Milk Market in Limerick City, with the organisers facing confidently into the future, and aiming to put Limerick firmly on the map with their refurbished facility. All of this has taken place during a month that began in uproar, due to the recommendation in the Limerick Local Government Committee Report to have Limerick City & County governed by one ‘Super Council’. Mid-West Business Week was held during the month also, and our cover picture shows how bookmaker Paddy Power joined local entrepreneurs to walk across broken glass in a display of what can be achieved in business when we face our fears. Certainly, with 2009 fast drawing to a close, there is still much work to be done in getting our economy into recovery, even if it takes walking across broken glass…
Keith Watterson Editor 3
01/11/2010 12:59:45
BP | Feature
Local government controversy overshadows ‘Brosnan report’
The publication of the report of the Limerick Local Government Committee, chaired by Denis Brosnan, has been overshadowed by a fierce political outcry over its recommendation for one ‘super council’ to govern an enlarged Limerick City and County. This row has stemmed from a fear in the City of urban needs being downgraded in the interests of governing an expansive rural constituency. However, Limerick Chamber insists that the City is at a crucial juncture. We either maintain the status quo, or implement the report in full. And furthermore, it is the Chamber’s belief that there will be no ‘halfway house’ between the two when the Government makes its decision on the report… WORDS: KEITH WATTERSON PICTURES: KEITH WISEMAN
LIMERICK City and County area standing at a crucial juncture in their history, in terms of the local government of those areas… The present system of local government, with one council for Limerick City and one for Limerick County, has long been the subject of criticism, and not just for residents and businesses in the respective outlying hinterlands and border areas of those authorities. The business community has seldom been more vocal on the need for the system as it stands to be analysed, and for the introduction of a new system of local government for Limerick City and County. It’s been evident from the no-nonsense approach of Denis Brosnan, the chairman of the Limerick Local Government 4
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Committee established by Minister John Gormley to report on the situation, that the solution would not be timid. And nor was it to be. There was always going to be controversy, though it was anticipated that this would stem largely from the anticipated enlargement of the urban area into hinterlands currently situated in County Clare. But it has been the recommendation to amalgamate the City and County Councils into one local authority for the entire urban and rural area, that has caused the most disquiet, particularly among the elected members of the City Council. |* November 2010
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BP | Feature
since the publication of the report, Denis Brosnan has assumed the status of Public Enemy Number One, especially in the chamber at Limerick City Hall. At a meeting of the authority on October 11, Cllr Diarmuid Scully likened a perusal of the report to “having a conversation with a mad scientist”. Sinn Fein Cllr Maurice Quinlivan was reported as saying that he found the recommendation “deeply offensive”. Labour’s Cllr Orla McLoughlin was also profoundly miffed at the proposal, and went so far as to say it was unsurprising, given Brosnan’s rural background in County Kerry. Independent Cllr John Gilligan was similarly perturbed and critical of the recommendation, while Fianna Fail’s Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon said: “Every citizen of Limerick should be appalled that a bureaucrat can come along after 1,000 years and abolish Limerick City”. But it was the remarks of Labour’s Cllr Gerry McLoughlin that epitomised the intensity of the pain being felt at the threat to the urbanites from their rural cousins that is supposedly contained in the report. In remarks for which he subsequently apologised, Cllr McLoughlin told the meeting: “These country bumpkins have no regard for Limerick. They have destoyred the City with the planning, and are no friends of ours. We are not here to serve Newcastle West, or other places in the arsehole of County Limerick. I am a City man—I don’t go down there, and have no time for them.” They were unfortunate remarks, for sure, and were unsurprisingly picked up by the national media before Cllr McLoughlin
issued his apology. But the sideshow occasioned by their utterance shouldn’t distract from the intensity of feeling that led a respected sportsman and public figure of the calibre of Gerry McLoughlin to utter them. It’s clear from the remarks of Cllr McLoughlin and those of his counterparts at that meeting, that this recommendation of the Brosnan report is going to be one very bitter pill to swallow. If we are to assume that this is about more than self-interest, Limerick could be set for a period of change unprecedented in the modern era. For it is believed that the Government is considering but two options. Either to implement the report in full, or maintain the status quo. So exactly what sort of a future is Denis Brosnan and his committee proposing? Denis Brosnan told a Limerick Chamber meeting at Thomond Park at the end of September that if the recommendations of his committee were implemented, it would be “one of the greatest achievements” in Limerick and the Mid-West. In summary, the committee has recommended an enlarged Limerick City, incorporating the suburbs of Westbury and Shannon Banks in County Clare, with a population of 105,000 people. This would make Limerick City the third largest City in the State. The committee also recommends the replacement of Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council by one authority to govern all of the combined urban and rural areas, a population of 187,000 people. The report says that substantial savings of an estimated €20m per annum would
be realised through the merging of the authorities, and the elimination of duplication. It is proposed that savings could be used to support the business environment in the City centre, including the harmonisation of rates in the City Centre and suburbs. ALL of this has come as music to the ears of Kieran MacSweeney, President of Limerick Chamber. Mr MacSweeney has expressed his fulsome support for the Brosnan report, and insists that it must be implemented in full. “In the midst of the most challenging economic climate most of us have experienced, Limerick stands on the precipice of something that will potentially kick-start the transformation of Limerick into the vibrant, living City it was always destined to be,” Mr MacSweeney said in a statement at the end of October. | *
Kieran MacSweeney, President, Limerick Chamber
‘If I can get this one over the line, this would be one of the greatest achievements for this region for quite a long time…’ Denis Brosnan November 2010
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DENIS BROSNAN, CHAIRMAN, LIMERICK LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE 5
01/11/2010 14:29:56
BP | Feature
Mr MacSweeney and Limerick Chamber have taken the step of setting up an on-line petition that requests the Government to implement the Brosnan report. The Chamber President contends that far from relegating the status of Limerick City, the report actually enhances it, creating a “true regional capital, finally with the capacity to grow and play a leading role in dragging the Mid-West out of recession”. He fully endorses the objective set out in the report of ensuring that the new local authority would recognise the importance of the “historical aspects of civic life and preserve those elements of the heritage and traditions of the City and County.” “With absolute conviction, Limerick Chamber can say that for all our sakes, in the city and region, there is no alternative but to implement the recommendations contained in Denis Brosnan’s report,” he said. Mr MacSweeney argues that the increasing pressure faced by the Government to not implement the report would lead to a scenario that was “almost unthinkable”. He confirmed that it was his understanding that the Government is currently considering two options— namely, maintaining the status quo, or implementing the recommendations of the report in full. So the message for Limerick City and
‘With absolute conviction, Limerick Chamber can say that for all our sakes, there is no alternative but to implement the recommendations contained in Denis Brosnan’s report…’ Kieran macSWEENEY, PRESIDENT, LIMERICK CHAMBER County would seem to be clear. There will be no cherry-picking of items held to be most desirable to some of the stakeholders in this process. With a project of such magnitude in question, it’s almost impossible to consider how the final outcome could be delivered without toes being stepped upon; whether it be among the residents of areas of Clare who are to be incorporated into an enlarged Limerick City; or urban councillors
who fear losing their seats if and when a single authority replaces the existing local government system. It is clear that the current decline of Limerick City and its business community cannot be allowed to continue indefinitely. The clock is ticking. It would be tragic if party political considerations torpedoed a proposal that could help to stem the tide and bring the City and region to its full potential. | BP
‘Arcane legislation on betting has swollen the dole queues by 500’ ARCANE legislation governing the opening hours of bookmakers should be immediately reviewed, says the Irish Bookmakers Association, which contends the 1930s laws have forced 500 extra people onto the dole queue. Bookmaking outlets are allowed to stay open until 10pm most evenings during the summer months. However, each September opening hours revert to winter time, meaning outlets must close by 6.30pm. This means that all of the additional people that are employed to work in betting shops
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over the summer months – approximately 500 in total – were let go in September. The IBA has made its call on the Government in response to the latest CSO unemployment figures, which show that more than 440,000 people are now out of work in Ireland. Sharon Byrne, Chairperson of the Irish Bookmakers Association, commented: “At a time when the latest jobless figures are so worrying it is the height of folly that Government policy is actually adding to numbers unemployed. By forcing betting shops to close early, through legislation that will soon cele-
brate its 80th birthday, an extra 500 people are forced onto the dole queue, “This makes no sense for the 500 unemployed, for the betting sector or for the exchequer,” she said. Ms Byrne pointed out the radical changes in the betting sector since the writing of the Betting Act 1931. “Online and telephone betting can be done at any time, yet betting shops must close by 6.30pm from September 1 to March 31 unless there is an Irish race running after that time,” she said. She insisted that betting shops were “seriously disad-
vantaged”, adding even greater pressure to the sector. “Allowing shops to remain open to 10pm for at least three evenings in winter would be a modest reform from Government which would help to safeguard the significant employment generated by betting shops whilst also promoting a more equal competitive footing for all operators in our sector.” Approximately 6,300 people are currently employed in Irish betting shops, located in all towns in Ireland, a figure which has dropped from more than 6,800 during the summer months.
November 2010
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BP | News
Parisian delight for Shannon AER Lingus’s new service from Shannon to ParisCharles de Gaulle (CDG) has been hailed as “significant boost” for the airport and the West of Ireland region. With three weekly return flights from Shannon to one of the world’s most important aviation hubs, the announcement comes hot on the heels of the expansion of Aer Lingus Regional’s Shannon to Manchester service. The Aer Lingus website is now open for bookings for the Shannon-CDG service. Shannon Airport director Martin Moroney said that Aer Lingus had identified and taken advantage of the demand for services to the French capital, after Ryanair terminated its long-standing
and successful Shannon-Paris (Beauvais) service. “Along with our existing Aer Lingus services to Heathrow, this ensures that Shannon now has outstanding onward connectivity to all major destinations across the globe,” Mr Moroney said. Shannon Airport Authority chairman Brian O’Connell said that the secureing of Aer Lingus services on the route so quickly was a major vote of confidence in the airport and in the region. “This is a very significant step forward for not just the airport, but for the region as a whole,” he said. Mr O’Connell said that he was confident that the work of the airport management team, supported by the Board of Shannon Airport Authority,
Finishing touches for the new Franchise Centre at LIT
Getting ready for the establishment of the National Franchise Centre in Limerick—the first specialised thirdlevel franchise training centre in Europe—are Dr Maria Hinfelaar, President of Limerick Institute of Technology and Kieran MacSweeney, President of Limerick Chamber, who are supporting the project. Photo: Kieran Clancy © www.kieranclancy.ie November 2010
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and the Dublin Airport Authority, would bear fruit over the coming months with more new services. “We would now encourage
tourism and business development agencies to get behind this new Paris service and maximise it for the benefit of the region,” he said. | BP
Stacey Brown of Aer Lingus and Martin Moroney, Director of Shannon Airport, welcoming Aer Lingus’s introduction of a new service from Shannon to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Picture: Don Moloney / Press 22
TD seeks a review of State’s ‘jobs early-warning system’ FINE Gael Enterprise and Employment spokesman, Kieran O’Donnell TD, has called for a complete review of the early warning system for job losses operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation and by the State agencies so that at-risk jobs can be identified and proactive measures taken. According to Deputy O’Donnell, it is not good enough for the State to appear to be taken by surprise when job losses are announced in companies receiving grants from State agencies. “Minister Batt O’Keeffe must commission a review of the current early warning measures in place. His emphasis must be on effectiveness in identifying plants at risk and making early interventions with a view to saving jobs or otherwise minimising the number of job losses,” stated O’Donnell. “Put simply, companies in receipt of grants need to provide early notification of possible job cuts and the Government must take appropriate actions early. To this end, I am calling for a job loss notification system
to be ‘baked into’ agreements made between the enterprise support agencies and their client companies,” he added. This initiative, said O’Donnell, needs to be integrated with a job retention and creation strategy. Confidentiality, he continued, must be fully honoured on commercially sensitive matters, but this needs to be balanced with the needs of workers and the economy of the region where the at-risk jobs are located. “There is no way of knowing how many jobs the absence of such an initiative has cost, but the 450,000 people on the Live Register provide urgent impetus for such a strategy. Every effort must now be made to ensure that the affected workers are supported in finding alternative employment as quickly as possible. There must be direct intervention by Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe and we need him to come clean and confirm when he first became aware of the potential for these jobs to be lost and on what actions were taken to address the problem,” said O’Donnell. | BP 7
01/11/2010 12:58:29
BP | Cover Story
Business Week a success for region’s Enterprise Boards The region’s five Enterprise Boards reported an ‘explosion’ in demand for information and support from local entrepreneurs at this year’s Mid-West Business Week, which took place in late October. Given the adverse economic climate, the demand for information is unsurprising, although there was no shortage of positivity about the future from the hundreds of entrepreneurs who participated. WORDS: KEITH WATTERSON PICTURES: KIERAN CLANCY
overcoming YOUR FEARS: Bookmaker Paddy Power after walking on glass at the Mid-West Business Week seminar ‘Power Your Business’. Brian Moore of Peak Potential is helping small business owners to overcome their fears by walking on broken glass, enabling them to better cope with business challenges. The event was one of 26 being held during Mid-West Busines Week in Limerick, Clare, Kerry and North Tipperary
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IT has become something of a cliché in these tough times to say that businesses have nothing to fear but fear itself in terms of overcoming their anxieties about the future. Well, there was nothing clichéd about the actions of four brave Limerick entrepreneurs who literally face their fears by walking on broken glass at a special event designed to get Mid-West Business Week off the ground in sensational style. The exercise at the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare on Monday October 18, which was broadcast to the nation on the Pat Kenny Show on RTÉ Radio One, was designed to show how businessmen and businesswomen can conquer their fears by overcoming tough challenges. The entrepreneurs received coaching from Brian Moore, a glass-walking specialist from Peak Potential. Rani Dabrai from Miss Moneypenny in Newcastle West; Paul Collins from Design Pro in Abbeyfeale; David Jeffreys from Action Point Software in the National Technology Park; and Louise Lawlor from Blink Design in Limerick City; were joined by Agnes Relihan from Limerick County Enterprise Board and Berga Fullam from Limerick City Enterprise Board, and all successfully completed the broken-glass
walking exercise. It was a sensational opening to the weeklong business showcase, and glass-walking specialist Mr Moore joined well-known bookmaker Paddy Power at ‘Power Your Business Into 2011’, the opening seminar which was officially opened by Clare-based Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen. Over 400 Limerick-based entrepreneurs took part in this year’s Mid-West Business Week, which ran up to Friday, October 22. Limerick County Enterprise Board and Limerick City Enterprise Board, together with three other County and City Enterprise Boards in the Mid-West, Enterprise Ireland and other state support agencies, hosted 26 events throughout the region during the week for small business owners and those looking to start a new business. On Tuesday October 26, over 50 guests attended the Women in Business Networking Event at the Greenhills Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick. Hosted by the Limerick City and County Enterprise Boards, the guest speaker was Ellen Gunning, author of ‘Capital Women of Influence’. On the same evening, the Courtney Lodge Hotel in Newcastle West was the venue for Sean Gallagher from ‘Dragons’ Den’, who spoke about how Limerick businesses could position their businesses for the future. Hosted by the Newcastle West Chamber of Commerce and West Limerick Resources, the free event was another big hit of the week, with close to 200 guests in attendance. |*
November 2010
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Coming to Limerick!
t Networking Sessions t Mentoring Clinics t Expert Speakers t Exhibition of Enterprise Support Agencies
National Women’s Enterprise Day 2010 The Strand Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick 18th - 19th November 2010 www.nwed.ie
EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND
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EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
29/10/2010 11:57:33
BP | Cover Story
On Wednesday October 27, 30 up-andcoming entrepreneurs from Limerick attended the ‘Five Steps To Being Self Employed’ seminar with Rob Marr at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick; while and 40 business people attended the Franchise Event at the Limerick Institute of Technology. An estimated 200 entrepreneurs from the region visited the ‘Mid-West Showcase’ at Thomond Park, which included an enterprise exhibition and seminar series, while in Kilmallock Library, 4,000 library members were able to access free information on starting and growing a business. There were a large number of events taking place throughout the region also. Clare County Enterprise Board hosted workshops in energy and efficiency; farm ideas; high performance teamwork; trade fairs. Kerry County Enterprise Board ran seminars in rural enterprise; tendering for SMEs; FAS services for employers and jobseekers; branding; and social media marketing. And Tipperary North CEB also contributed seminars in venture capital and building businesses on ideas. All in all, the event was hailed a success by Ned To o m e y, CEO of Limerick County Enterprise Board, who was heartened by the numbers of entrepreneurs who attended the various events. “The level
Joan Mulvihill, CEO, Irish Internet Association, addressing a seminar at the Mid-West Showcase at Thomond Park 10
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‘Glass’ Act: Brian Moore of Peak Potential, assisted by Paul Chandler (TTM International, Ennis) and David Jefferies (Action Point Software, Limerick) walking on broken glass
of attendance at all of the business events during Mid-West Business week shows the high demand for information and advice from small business owners and others thinking of setting up a business,” he said. “Every County and City Enterprise Board has reported an explosion in the demand for information and advice around setting up a new business,” he stated. “Added to this is the strong demand for business support services from companies affected by the current economic environment. The success of Mid West Enterprise Week reflects this demand for information and support,” Mr Toomey concluded. | BP For further information on support available for small businesses in Limerick City, go on-line and check out www.limceb.ie The relevant address in Limerick County is www.loceb.ie
Padraic O’Maille, Business Mentor, addressing a seminar at the Mid-West Showcase in Thomond Park
At the Women in Business Networking event in the Woodlands Hotel, Adare, during Mid-West Business Week, were guest speaker, Ellen Gunning, and Eamon Ryan, CEO, Limerick City Enterprise Board
MEETING OF MINDS: Over 120 companies and agencies took part in the Mid-West Showcase at Thomond Park during Mid-West Business Week. Pictured at the event are Michael O’Connor, Cork BIC; Jerry Moloney, Enterprise Ireland; and Neil Gordon, Cork BIC November 2010
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BP | Gallery
LCEB honours local entrepreneurs at Savoy reception
Roisin Bennett of Travelace.com, named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Limerick City Enterprise Board Awards in the Savoy Hotel, Limerick. Travelace has built a specialised solution for airports and visitor centres that will capture air travellers and visitors contact and profile data for marketing purposes.
Don Wallace of The Zip Yard, winner of the award for Business With Best Potential at the Limerick City Enterprise Board Awards last month in the Savoy Hotel, with Entrepreneur of the Year, Roisin Bennett of Travelace.com (see top left). The Zip Yard offers the service of texting customers when garments are ready to be collected.
Roisin Bennett, Limerick City Enterprise Board’s Entrepreneur Of The Year, pictured at the awards reception in the Savoy Hotel, Limerick, with her parents, Jimmy and Tess Kelly, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare
Roisin Bennett receiving her awards from Eamon Ryan, CEO, Limerick City Enterprise Board and the Mayor of Limerick City, Cllr Maria Byrne November 2010
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Don and Caroline Wallace of The Zip Yard (centre), receiving their award for ‘Business With Best Potential’, at the Limerick City Enterprise Board Awards in the Savoy Hotel, Limerick, from Eamon Ryan, CEO, Limerick City Enterprise Board and the Mayor of Limerick City, Cllr Maria Byrne 11
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BP | News
Spectacular Strand setting for happy couple’s reception
Claire O’Regan and Rory Keating pictured at their wedding reception in the Limerick Strand Hotel on August 20, following the nuptial ceremony at Croagh Church. Picture: Richard Chadwick
Students highlight the jobs crisis THE Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has urged the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to prioritise the ongoing crisis of graduate unemployment. The national students’ union, in its recent address to the Oireachtas committee, said that urgent action was necessary to prevent the 91,000 graduates that are currently unemployed from becoming a lost generation. Speaking on the topic of “Keeping our graduates employed in Ireland and not exporting them to the benefit of rival economies”, delegates from USI called for the introduction of a national graduate internship programme. USI also discussed the need for entrepreneurship to be promoted at Third Level and for graduates’ employability skills to be developed more fully during their academic careers.
Over 200 jobs axed in ‘black Thursday’ for the Mid-West MORE than 200 jobs are to go in the Mid-West, after two of the region’s longest established firms, Shannon Aerospace and Elsevier, announced lay-offs at the end of last month. On Thursday October 21, Shannon Aerospace MD Thomas Rückert, in what he described as the “most difficult day ever experienced” by the company in its 20-year history, announced the proposed loss of 107 jobs from its Shannon Airport-based business, as part of wider restructuring for the company. He described the Co Clare operation’s cost base as “unsustainable”, and, in the light of competition from regions with much lower labour costs, said that it was “vital” that the company reduce its coss and improve its competitiveness. Shannon Aerospace Ltd, specicialising in the provision of airline and aircraft maintenance, engineering, painting and technical services, is a subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG. The company was founded in 1989 and has a current workforce of 628 full-time staff and 97 trainees. The areas of proposed redundancy are: Senior Management (3); Management (20); Administration and support, including logistics, engineering, planning, HR (64); Production Technicians (20). And on the same day, management at the Shannon-based Elsevier, which publishes scientific and medical journals, announced
GRIM ANNOUNCEMENT: Shannon Aerospace has announced that 107 jobs at its Shannon Airport-based plant are proposed for redundancy
that 100 of the 108 jobs there are being proposed for redundancy also. The company is believed to be consolidating its operations in Oxford, Amsterdam and in India. Shannon Aerospace Ltd has committed to assisting and supporting all those affected by the restructuring programme by way of outplacement advice and services. And according to local media reports, companies have already been in contact with both firms seeking to hire some of the staff, a silver lining that has done little to negate the devastating impact of the job losses. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan described the news as “a bitter pill” for loyal employees and their families, while Deputy Kieran O’Donnell said that it “underlines the scale of the problems facing Limerick and the Mid-West”. | BP
Get most out of your conference at the Woodlands Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel & Spa, Adare have launched a new Ready! Steady! Meet! Conference Concept to offer delegates a healthy and more productive conference package. The program includes as standard a guide for all delegates, with our top 10 tips for a happy productive meeting, as well as mini exercise sessions with Woodlands Leisure Club; walnuts on arrival which are rich in 12
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Omega 3 to nourish the brain cells allowing you to concentrate better; and Woodlands Spring Water to remain hydrated for effective concentration. Staff will cleanse your meeting room with Cedarwood Essential Oil and there are a whole host of other interesting health benefits in the package. | BP Contact Bríd Duggan on 061-605114 or e-mail bduggan@woodlands-hotel.ie
David Fitzgerald, General Manager of Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel & Spa; Phelim Macken of County Limerick Sports Partnership; Richard Butler, Chairman, Limerick County Council; and Majella Hunt O’Sullivan, Woodlands Health & Fitness Club November 2010
01/11/2010 12:41:30
BP | News
Belltable to re-open in Limerick The end is finally in sight for the €1.26m renovation of The Belltable Arts Centre, with the O’Connell Street venue scheduled to re-open to the public on Friday November 26, with a production by Limerick playwright, Mary Coll. Keith Watterson spoke to Belltable Chief Executive Peter McNamara during the final weeks of the refurbishment project
The €1.26m renovation of The Belltable Arts Centre (pictured in progress) has resulted in the complete remodelling of the Limerick City Centre venue November 2010
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HAVING been Chief Executive of The Belltable Arts Centre since 2003, and having overseen the most significant project in the Limerick venue’s history, Peter McNamara is a busy, but happy, man, as the €1.26m renovation enters its final month. Modestly demurring from blowing his own trumpet, Mr McNamara says, simply: “I’m very happy to have been involved in a project of such significance to the Belltable, and to the arts in Limerick and the Mid-West.” He explains that patrons who regularly attended The Belltable from its opening 1981 up to Autumn 2008, when it closed to facilitate the renovations, can expect “significant changes” to the auditorium. “The theatre has been completely remodelled from what it was. There is modern seating rising through the auditorium, and this seating can be reconfigured to facilitate the needs of particular projects—there’s great flexibility now,” he said. The second phase of the overall renovation of the venue, seventy percent of this €1.26m phase was funded by the ACCESS II Scheme through the Department of Sport, Culture & Tourism, with the balance being contributed by Limerick City Council. The design team for the renovations was led by John Keogan of Keogan Architects, who pioneered the most recent refit of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and includes award-winning lighting and set designer, Paul Keogan, and Jean-Guy Lecat, long-time collaborator of theatrical legend, Peter Brook. At full capacity, the new Belltable will have a 220-seat capacity. Before its closure, the venue had a maximum of 257, of which, Mr McNamara explains “about 50 would have been compromised by modern health and safety legislation, and affecting sight-lines”. Mr McNamara says that the refurbished theatre would be “a multi-arts venue, facilitating theatre in a variety of formats, and music and dance”. He added that the refurbished
gallery area in the foyer would also create opportunities in the visual arts. The first play to be staged at the Belltable since September 2008 (productions having been staged in the interim off-site at the Red Cross Hall on Cecil Street) is ‘Anything But Love’ by the Limerick playwright Mary Coll, which opens on Friday November 26. The production is set In the affluent, leafy suburbs of Limerick’s Ennis Road, when a family is reunited in their childhood home by the impending death of their mother. What follows is an intense, tender and humourous drama exploring love, desire and loyalty. With previews on November 24 and 25, the production will run every night from 8pm until Saturday December 11 (excluding Sundays). | BP See the Belltable website, www.belltable.ie
‘Anything But Love’ by Limerick playwright Mary Coll: an intense, tender and humourous drama exploring love, desire and loyalty
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30/10/2010 16:45:58
BP | Feature
Gormley opens Milk Market in a ‘great day’ for the City Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, visited Limerick City on Friday October 22, for an historic day in the history of the City Centre. On that day, Minister Gormley performed the official opening of the recently refurbished and roofed AllWeather Milk Market, during an Open Day of Celebration, organized by the Limerick Market Trustees as a ‘thank you’ to the people of Limerick, and to everyone who has supported the renovation project and worked to make it happen. The event found the market organisers brim full of confidence for the future… WORDS: KEITH WATTERSON PICTURES: BRIAN ARTHUR/PRESS 22
the sweet taste of success: Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley (centre), offers a snack from one of the stalls in the Limerick Market to Cllr Mary Jackman, Leas Cathaoirleach, Limerick City Council (left) and Cllr Maria Byrne, Mayor of LImerick City
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‘This is a great day for Limerick.’ Not the kind of words that we’ve become accustomed to in recent times with regard to developments in Limerick City Centre. But uttered they were, in public, by no less than the chairman of the Chairman of the Limerick Market Trustees, City Centre businessman David O’Mahony. Mr O’Mahony was presiding at the official events organised for the Open Day of Celebration at the market, which incorporated the official opening of the renovated facility by Minister for the Environment, John Gormely. And it was clear from the turnout on the day (hallelujah for the new market’s all-weather capability, no longer leaving such public events at the mercy of those fitful Shannonside weather patterns) that people were also keen to grab some of the positivity that went with this ‘great day’. Even the argy-bargy currently rumbling between the area’s two local authorities, over the ‘one council for Limerick City and County’ was put aside for the day, with Mayor of the City, Cllr Maria Byrne, and Leas Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, Cllr M a r y Jackman, standing alongside
Minister Gormley while he cut the ribbon on this most significant and historic day for the City Centre market. During his address to the dignitaries present for the occasion, it was Mr O’Mahony’s words that resonated, in terms of the pride of the organisers in the renovated facility, and in the ambition with which he outlined the Market Trustees’ plans for the future. “Thanks to the support of so many, we are witnessing the transformation of one of the oldest and historic market in Ireland, into one of the most modern market in Europe, while still retaining its great character,” Mr O’Mahony said. “Our vision for the market was, and is, that it should be a transformational project for the city,” he said, describing it as a project that had the potential to be even more important to Limerick City than other internationally famous markets are to cities such as Barcelona, Florence and Vienna. “The Milk Market has that great a potential,” Mr O’Mahony added.
|*
November 2010
30/10/2010 16:47:00
BP | Feature
WHILE the celebration was to mark the completion of an infrastructural project which dates back to 2003, Mr O’Mahony insisted that what was in place now was “a great starting point”. “It’s really just the beginning. We have a superb market and events facility. We also have a strong base of traders, offering excellent produce and operating to the highest standards. And, most importantly, we have a growing and loyal following of discerning shoppers who are coming to the Milk Market more frequently and spending in the City,” he said. But the Limerick Market Trustees have bigger fish to fry, working to establish and develop the Milk Market as a sustainable, multi-day market and events ‘destination’, attracting greater numbers of local and visiting shoppers, including international visitors. “We have already started this process with a Friday and Sunday market and our intention is to nurture, grow and firmly establish them,” Mr O’Mahony said. “We also want to see other markets and events happen on other days of the week. If we can achieve this, and can begin to raise these markets to the level of our famous Saturday market, the social and the economic rewards for the City can be substantial,” he added. “Like everyone else,” he said, “we are tired of negativity, talk of downturns and of what we need to do to get more people into the City. This is a great project which can make an enormous difference to Limerick. It can be as successful as the City chooses it to be. Already we are on target to attract over 600,000 shoppers to the City, including overseas visitors, in our first full year.”
David O’Mahony, Chairman, Limerick Market Trustees November 2010
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‘Like everyone else, we are tired of negativity, talk of downturns and of what we need to do to get more people into the City. This is a great project which can make an enormous difference to Limerick. It can be as successful as the City chooses it to be. Already we are on target to attract over 600,000 shoppers to the City, including overseas visitors, in our first full year…’ DAVID O’MAHONY CHAIRMAN, LIMERICK MILK MARKET TRUSTEES Mr O’Mahony acknowledged the limited nature of available resources, but was confident that Limerick has the potential to have one of “Europe’s great markets, that can easily attract over one million visitors per annum”. As part of this, the Market Trustees will be staging a Christmas Market, beginning on November 25 and running right up to Christmas Eve to facilitate last-minute shopping. The market will feature up to 60 stalls
and shops, with a wide range of artisan food, craft and gift possibilities. There will also be lots of seasonal treats to enjoy at the market, and choirs, singing Christmas favourites, will feature at different stages during the market days. The Christmas market will run Thursdays through Sundays (Nov 25 to Dec 24) and on extra dates in December (7, 8, 15, 21 and 22). | BP Further information on the Milk Market can be found on www.MilkMarketLimerick.ie
Minister Gormley surveys the stalls at Limerick Milk Market, with Cllr Mary Jackman (left), and Cllr Maria Byrne 15
30/10/2010 16:47:48
BP | News
Housing charity calls for a review of planning system
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MBT, the World’s Number One physiological footwear has just appointed Resole Ltd as a principle MBT store at 2 Sarsfield Street, Limerick. MBTs (Masai Barefoot Technology) physiological footwear uses a multi-layered sole that simulates natural walking on uneven ground. Junior Franklin of Resole Ltd, proprietor of the new MBT outlet said: “MBTs are the solution for better posture, slimmer thighs and less pain in your joints and back.” MBTs are available in a variety of colours and styles from €189 to €275 (with 25%-40% off selected models for opening celebration offers). Contact Resole Ltd on 061-609210 or see www.ie.mbt.com
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available,” she said. She also questioned whether the information released last month by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government actually reflects the whole picture as “previous reports showed the potential overhang in the property market ranging anywhere from 103,000 to 171,000 including one from the Department in 2009.” Ms Walsh also highlighted the critical role played by Government in the creation of what she described as an artificial property market that was also doomed to crash. “During the Celtic Tiger years, our Government completely failed to regulate the property market and this is one of the main reasons why we have such an overhang in the market today. Government has two main ways to control the housing market in Ireland, firstly through fiscal measures and secondly through planning policy,” she said. | BP
Castletroy Park hotel
IRELAND’S leading housing charity is calling for an independent review of Ireland’s planning system following the publication of the National Survey of Ongoing Housing Developments, writes Alan Jacques. Respond! Housing Association contends that an investigation into planning practices in Ireland is urgently required as the country now has more than 2,800 unfinished housing estates. Respond! spokesperson Aoife Walsh said there was a “complete failure” of our planning system during the past decade and the ‘ghost estates’ are the legacy we must all live with. “Quite rightly we have all focussed on the role of our banking sector in the creation of our property bubble but little thought has been given to the part played by our planning system. Without doubt the banks were a key player, but there would not have been the same demand for credit to purchase land or property had zonings and planning permission not been so easily
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01/11/2010 11:35:48
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30/10/2010 16:37:57
BP | Lifestyle
Getting into shape is not as simple as it seems Consider the following statement: “I exercise for 45 minutes every day and watch my diet, but I cannot lose weight. Should I try another diet, or maybe weight loss pills? I’m doing everything I can, but I feel like I’m stuck. Help!” Elite Personal Training break down the statement to specifics, and tackle the assumption that if you exercise and watch your food, you will automatically lose weight… As A personal trainer, I’m used to hearing the line, “I exercise but can’t lose weight.” Or, “I lost a few pounds, but now I’m stuck” The assumption is that if you exercise and watch your food, you will automatically lose weight. The problem with the statement in the introduction above, is that it is far too broad and vague. so let’s break down the statement. “I exercise” If you walk for 45mins every evening, you are exercising. If you work out ‘full on’ for 45min every day until you nearly drop of exhaustion, you are also exercising. The difference between the two is simply intensity. Those who take the latter route will be able to eat far more calories, and maybe even some junk food every day, and still be able to lose weight. But for the 45min walker, the calorie burn is low, and this is where weight loss can be difficult. “I watch my Diet” This is another vague statement. What most people mean when they say they watch their diet is that they keep junk food to a minimum, and try to make healthy choices. This is a great start, but do you know how many calories you are consuming? Are you consistent, or do you have good and bad days? Do you have good and bad weeks? Do you know how many calories you need to take in every day based on your weight, body-fat, lifestyle, and exercise? If nutrition were such an easy subject to master, there would be no need for the multibillion dollar weight loss industry. “Try another diet” THERE are hundreds of books written on various diets and most of us could name at least three popular diets that have made millions of dollars for their creators. Most diets have one thing in common: they will lower your daily calories, get you eating healthy food, get you eating regularly, and encourage you to exercise. The result is that you gradually change your lifestyle, eat healthily, and, therefore, will lose weight. My attitude toward diet is to follow a few rules and keep it as simple as possible. November 2010
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One of the places where diets fall down is that they are so rigid and difficult to maintain. Once the dieter falls off the wagon with one, then it’s on to the next one. If diets worked as well as they claim, there would be no need for another diet to come on the market. “Should I try weight loss pills?” There are a lot of weight loss pills on the market. Most are backed by a scientific study. But be aware that almost all weight loss pills will include instructions to follow a balanced diet, and do some exercise. As a personal trainer, it is outside my scope of support to recommend any. My advice is to firstly seek help from a qualified professional to see where your current diet and exercise regimen is failing to provide the weight loss you want. “I’m doing everything I can” Are you really doing everything that you can? Maybe you are devoting every hour that you can to exercise, but does that mean that you are using this time most effectively? Increasing your intensity or changing from cardio to weights may be more effective, and might save you some time too!
program, poor diet, and total absence of a plan, he made no headway at all. I felt so sorry for this guy. He was spending at least 10 hours in the gym every week for two years, and got nowhere. I hope you can see that from one simple statement at the start of this article, a problem can be broken down into its individual parts. An easy solution when you are stuck in a rut is to try something different. Make sure, however that you have a solid plan, good advice, a support system, motivation, a progressive program before you start. Regarding change, I’m reminded of a quote I once read: “If you always do what you’ve always done, then you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” If you would like us to answer a specific sporting or fitness related question, please e-mail myself (Seamus) or Jesse at elitept@ymail.com Until next time—train hard, be healthy and have fun.
“I’m stuck” If you feel like you’re stuck, then you are not alone. Reaching a plateau is as much a problem for the first time exerciser as it is for the elite athlete. A colleague of mine once met with a prospective client who had worked out in a gym five days a week for two years. He hadn’t lost a pound, gained a pound, and didn’t look any different. He was really stuck. You may think that this could not possibly be true, but it is. This client may have increased his strength in the beginning, but due to an unchanging 19
30/10/2010 16:49:01
BP | News
Get back in the workforce with Begin Again OVER two-dozen work placements in the Begin Again career advancement scheme have been made available for experienced and professional individuals who are eager to rejoin the workforce. Begin Again, developed by the Irish Centre for Business Excellence, is offering a total of 200 placements for the programme nationwide, of which 30 are based in Limerick. The programme entails a 12-week placement within a suitable company, matched to the individuals’ skills and expertise, and presents opportunities to plug gaps in their skills bases. Applicants gain additional experience as well as mentoring support and training, while the companies gain an additional member of staff for a focused project, to be delivered at no extra cost. The overall benefit for both is the prospect of full time employment and in securing an up-skilled focused employee. Launched during the summer over 400 companies nationwide have already signed up to provide work placements
as part of the programme including well known Mid West businesses such as Bóthar, Shannon Aerospace and ATC. Bryan Marshal, Limerickbased regional coordinator for Begin Again said: ”At a time of both national and international economic uncertainly which has left most people feeling a little helpless, Begin Again is offering people the opportunity to help themselves and avail of the work placements giving themselves the very best possible chance of re-entering the workforce.” Marie Clifford, MD of ATC, a company taking part in the programme explains, “I still can’t get over how simple, straightforward, cost-effective, efficient and most importantly how relevant the ICBE Begin Again programme is.” The ICBE Begin Again programme is funded by the Labour Market Activation Fund, operated by the Department of Education and Skills. For further information go to www.beginagain.ie or contact 061-371753
Mike Gaffney of Begin Again and programme supporter Mark Fielding of ISME, calling on experienced and professional individuals to join the programme, and take advantage of one of the 200 work placements opportunities currently available nationwide 20
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Love Limerick Don’t Litter campaign gets City spick and span for Bank Holiday The ‘Love Limerick Dont Litter’ Campaign made its presence colourfully felt on Bedford Road on Tuesday October 19, with Limerick City Council hosting a City Centre clean-up involving businesses, local volunteers, media and the City Council’s anti-litter characters. The aim of the clean-up was to promote the need to keep our City streets clean and tiday, especially with the thousands of visitors and sports fans who were expected to flood into Limerick over the October Bank Holiday weekend. PICTURES: BRIAN ARTHUR/PRESS 22
The ‘Love Limerick Don’t Litter’ models pictured during the mid-October clean-up on Bedford Row
Pictured on Bedford Row for the ‘Love Limerick Don’t Litter’ pre-Bank Holiday clean-up were, from left: Peggy Garry, Limerick Yoth Service; Mayor of Limerick, Maria Byrne; Cllr Maurice Quinlivan; and Pascal King, Hangers Dry Cleaners with ‘The Love Limerick Don’t Litter’ models November 2010
30/10/2010 16:50:46
BP | News
ESB provides €1m for programmes to prevent suicide ESB has announced in Limerick the provision of €1m over the next 12 months towards suicide prevention programmes and care for the homeless, writes Alan Jacques. This figure is in addition to the €4.8 million in funding provided by ESB’s corporate social responsibility initiative – ESB ElectricAid Ireland - to 522 projects and services across the island of Ireland in the past five years. A total of €360,000 has assisted projects in Limerick and Kerry. ESB Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, said that in spite of the current recession, companies must not lose sight of their corporate social responsibilities. “ElectricAid Ireland gives practical help to a wide range of organisations and agencies that seek to support the most vulnerable people in our society. Staff at ESB voted five years ago to target suicide prevention and homelessness for special assistance. The causes are great because they apply assistance and help at a very human level,” he said. To mark the fifth year of the Fund and to highlight the immensely positive work of the agencies involved, ESB held a weeklong series of meetings in cities around the country including Limerick. Representatives of some of the agencies from the Limerick region that have already benefited
Pierce Crilly, ESB Electric Aid Ireland; Emer O’Neill, Console Limerick; Terry Logan, Limerick Marine Search & Rescue; and Michael O’Conner, ESB Electric Aid Ireland at the Electric Aid Ireland Staff Information Roadshow at the ESB Facility at Rosbrien, Limerick. Picture: Don Moloney/Press 22
from ESB ElectricAid funding attended a meeting at ESB Rosbrien Limerick. Among those speaking at the meeting were Joan Freeman, of Pieta House, Dublin & Limerick, Austin Creavan of the Blue Box, Limerick, Ciaran Tighe of Console, and Gerry White, of St Patrick’s SVP Hostel, Limerick. Representatives of Sophia Housing, Limerick, the Kerry Adolescent Counselling Service, Limerick Marine Search & Rescue, Limerick & Clare Mental Health Associations, Arlington Hostel, Limerick, Console, the HSE West, The National Suicide Research Foundation, and the Lorrha, County Tipperary, Bereavement Support Group also attended. | BP
McManus scholarships for students Five Limerick students are among 125 students north and south of the border, to be awarded a JP McManus All Ireland Scholarship toward their third level education this month.
The ceremony will take place at UL on Saturday November 6, where businessman Dermot Desmond will be the special guest. This is the third year for the JP McManus Scholarships, which provide financial assistance to many high achieving students who completed their Leaving Certificate in 2010. JP McManus has contributed €32m to fund these scholarships JP McManus (left) has contributed €32m to fund the scholarships
November 2010
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each year and it is estimated that over 1,300 students from the 32 counties will benefit from the scheme. The awards are administered by the Department of Education & Skills. The Limerick students are Deirdre Heslin, Laurel Hill Colaiste; Sinead NiSuilleabhain, Laurel Hill Colaiste; Aisling Barrett, St Joseph’s Secondary School, Naomi McCarthy, St Joseph’s Secondary School; and Alan Tuohy, St Munchin’s College, Corbally
Role of women in business saluted at Strand event LIMERICK City and County Enterprise Boards are celebrating National Women’s Enterprise Day, Friday November 19, with a major event highlighting the contribution of women to business across Ireland. The conference, networking and enterprise support exhibition for 300 female entrepreneurs, will be held at the Limerick Strand Hotel, and Sahar Hashemi, founder of the UK High Street chain, Coffee Republic, is listed as a keynote speaker. Ms Hashemi has been named one of the Most Influential Women in Britain. She will be joined on the speaker’s podium by local hotelier, Mary Fitzgerald, and Ivan Yates, broadcaster and founder of Celtic Bookmakers. Minister of State for Equality, Integration and Human Rights, Mary White, will officially open the conference, and case-studies of five home-grown female entrepreneurs will be showcased, as will an exhibition of enterprise support agencies, one-toone mentoring clinics and networking sessions. CEO of Limerick City Enterprise Board and chairperson of the organising committee, Sahar Hashemi Eamon Ryan, said: “On National Women’s Enterprise Day, female entrepreneurs will access information, advice and mentoring from experienced business people, the County and City Enterprise Boards and other state support agencies.” “Collectively, we support thousands of female entrepreneurs every year who are already in business or thinking of starting one up, so we’re encouraging as many entrepreneurs as possible to help us mark National Women’s Enterprise Day on November 19,” Mr Ryan added. Tickets cost €100 are available through www.nwed.ie. Fee includes an evening reception and networking event on Thursday, November 18, and lunch, oneto-one mentoring and admission to the conference on Friday, November 19. Updates on National Women’s Enterprise Day are also available from the NWED Facebook page and from Twitter. 21
30/10/2010 16:51:31
BP | News
UL honours founding father and other ‘shining lights’ THE University of Limerick recently conferred Honorary Doctorates on five exceptional individuals from the worlds of business, education, sport, the arts and the public sector, including UL founding father, Dr Ed Walsh Also honoured were successful entrepreneur Jerry Kennelly; Frank Daly, former Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners; Oliver Murphy, who established the Irish Wheelchair Association; and Professor Anya Peterson Royce, a world renowned academic in the area of anthropology of dance. At the conferral, President of the University of Limerick, Prof Don Barry paid tribute to the recipients for their courage and passion, and their of their great contributions to public life in Ireland and abroad. Dr Ed Walsh Dr Ed Walsh is the Founding President of the University of Limerick, the first new university established in the history of the State. His name is synonymous with groundbreaking advances in third level education, and he has been described as an educational visionary and a transformational policy influencer. Dr Walsh significantly expanded the University of Limerick with support from private philanthropic sources, and pioneered a wide range of education innovations. Dr Walsh was also a founding chairman of the Irish Council for Science Technology & Innovation, and has also served on the National Technology Park, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, Citywest’s Growcorp and the National Self–Portrait Collection of Ireland. He has also served as chairman of the Conference of Heads of Irish Universities and of Shannon Development.
Jerry Kennelly Jerry Kennelly started his first business, Newsfax, a transmission service for news pictures, in 1981. He established Stockbyte in 1997 and within five years, it had become the third largest supplier of royalty-free photographs in the world. The sale of Pixel Images Holdings, which included the brands Stockbyte and Stockdisc, was completed in 2006 to Getty Images in 2006 for over €110m, in one of modern Ireland’s most significant indigenous success stories. 22
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From left: Prof Anya Peterson Royce, Dr Ed Walsh, Oliver Murphy, Frank Daly, and Jerry Kenneally. Picture: Liam Burke/Press 22
Mr Kennelly is now dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship among young people in schools and colleges. He created the Young Entrepreneur Program, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to entrepreneurship as a career choice. Its mission is to help identify, inform, recognise and celebrate Kerry’s next generation of business leaders - and their educators.
Frank Daly Frank Daly is the Chairman of the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA), and a former Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners during which time he oversaw the most fundamental restructuring of the Revenue Commissioners since its establishment in 1923. He was appointed as Chair of the new Commission on Taxation in March 2008, with the then Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen citing his “wide-ranging senior public service management experience”. As Revenue Chairman, Frank Daly played a key role in supporting the development of an academic partnership between Revenue and the University of Limerick, the first such partnership in the Irish Civil Service.
Oliver Murphy Oliver Murphy represented Ireland at the very first Paralympic Games in 1960 and became determined, with other athletes, to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Ireland. The Irish Wheelchair
Association was founded by Mr Murphy and seven other wheelchair users, who put ten shillings each into a hat on November 10, 1960. Thanks to the work of the IWA, people with disabilities in Ireland can live in their communities, realising their full potential as individuals and participating fully in every aspect of life. Mr Murphy is the last surviving IWA founder, and is actively involved in advocacy work on the National Access Advisory Group as a mentor for young members. He is a truly exceptional advocate for people with disabilities.
Prof Anya Peterson Royce Prof Anya Peterson Royce has 36 years of field experience in Mexico, along with 25 years of teaching experience at university level in the areas of anthropology of dance and performing arts, cultural and ethnic identity, and the ethnography of Mexico. She has written six books, edited two others and is a published poet. She was also a professional ballet dancer. Professor Royce has served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculties at Indiana University and Provost and Academic Vice President at Southern Methodist University, Dallas. Professor Royce spent time at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at UL as one of several international consultants for the Stepping Stones initiative which is concerned with the introduction of theatre-linked interests into the Academic mission of the Academy. | BP November 2010
30/10/2010 16:52:26
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29/10/2010 11:39:45
BP | News
Clare lays out strategies for the future with draft plan A humanitarian aid logistics centre for Shannon Airport, the development of the Shannon Estuary’s economic and recreational potential, and a flagship international tourism project for County Clare are all being pursued via a number of amendments to the Draft Clare County Development Plan 2011-2017 THE views of the public have been sought over the last month for a newly amended Draft Plan setting out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the functional area of Clare County Council for 2011-
2017. The six year blueprint for Clare’s future will replace the County Development Plan of 2005, and will be the sixth such plan adopted for Clare since 1964. Among the key objectives of the architects of the plan are the the establishment of a global logistics centre for humanitarian aid at Shannon Airport, a strategy to develop the economic and recreational potential of the Shannon Estuary, and the pursuit of a flagship international scale tourism project for County Clare. These goals grew out of a year-long review process and were unanimously approved by members of Clare County Council. A number of amendments were since made to the plan following a 10-week public consultation period, and last month the amended document was placed on public display once more, until November 3. The Mayor of Clare, Cllr Christy Curtin said that the public’s input into the drafting of the strategy was of “paramount importance” to the planning authority and the elected councilors in their consideration of the plan’s various elements. “It is imperative that this plan places County Clare as a driver for local and regional growth through harnessing the potential of its unique location, quality of life, natural resources and other competitive advantages,” Mayor Curtin commented. County Manager, Tom Coughlan: “The Draft Plan has a strong emphasis on the production, storage and distribution of renewable energy whilst balancing the need to protect the environment of the county. I welcome the proposed amendment to undertake a Renewable Energy Strategy for the County to build on this.” Commenting on the proposal to develop the
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economic potential of the Shannon Estuary, Mr Coughlan stated: “The Estuary must be developed as a resource that will benefit County Clare, the wider region and the country as a whole. Because of its deep water, shelter and other natural advantages it is significant potential economic and recreational asset.” However the County Manager cautioned that “national support will be essential to realise the potential of the estuary”. The Draft Plan also include amendments to: • Proactively pursue a flagship international scale tourism project for County Clare • Develop innovative initiatives harnessing the potential of Shannon Airport, including a residential flight school, global logistics centre for humanitarian aid, unmanned aerospace systems (UAS) and a centre for space collaboration and research cooperation. • Incorporate the draft Retail Strategy for the Mid-West region • Add a new section dealing with the University of Limerick (Clare Campus) / Burlington Strategic Development Area • Incorporate a Draft Joint Housing Strategy for Clare County Council and Limerick City and County Councils • Revised the Core Strategy as required under the Planning & Development (Amendment) Act 2010 • Include population targets in Chapter 2 in line with the Mid West Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022 • Facilitate sustainable marina development and associated amenities at appropriate locations inside and outside of settlements along Lough Derg and lake areas • Develop a strategy for Tourism Development in Lough Derg and to encourage and facilitate the development of a flagship tourism project November 2010
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30/10/2010 17:11:49
BP | Feature
Aughinish storage methods ‘not hazardous’, firm claims Aughinish Alumina has moved to refute claims in a national newspaper that a disaster of greater proportion to the recent toxic sludge spil in Hungary could occur locally, if there was a spillage at the firm’s plant on the Shannon Estuary near Askeaton… THE alarm bells were set ringing on Shannonside last month when the Irish Daily Mail ran a dramatic front-page story claiming that Ireland could be in danger of suffering a toxic sludge disaster even worse than that which has devastated areas of Hungary In September, four people were killed, and at least 120 injured, when a dam failed and a flood of toxic red sludge from the Ajkai aluminium plant 100 miles southwest of Budapest (owned by MAL Rt, the Hungarian Aluminum
BEST PRACTICE? an Amphiroll driver pictured on the ‘red mud’ at Aughinish Alumina in the firm’s bauxite residue disposal area (BRDA). Amphiroll is part of the ‘de-watering’ process which is used in the Aughinish ‘dry stacking’ residue storage process. Aughinish moved to defend its storage process amid claims that the area could face a disaster of greater proportion than the recent toxic sludge spill in Hungary.
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Production and Trade Company), engulfed nearby towns. And some weeks after the disaster, Dr Edward Horgan, who worked at Aughinish Alumina from 1987 to 1995, told the Daily Mail that Aughinish was “a toxic bomb”, saying that the amount of waste stored there is “many times” that which covered three Hungarian towns. While acknowledging there was little danger of such a disaster in the short term, Dr Horgan stated: “All you need here is a combination of high tides in the Shannon estuary and a bout of prolonged rainfall and you have the potential for disaster”. Dr Horgan told the Daily Mail that Aughinish in Limerick used a similar process to that used in the Hungarian plant, refining bauxite, aluminum ore, to produce aluminum oxide, alumina.
The red mud stored at Aughinish is a byproduct of extracting aluminum from the bauxite. However, on October 11, the owners of the Aughinish Alumina plant, RUSAL, contended that that the “older” storage process used at the Hungarian plant was not what was used at Aughinish, nor would it receive the necessary statutory approval in Limerick, or indeed, anywhere in Ireland. “The RUSAL-owned Aughinish plant in Limerick does not have a bauxite residue lake or pond. That type of older process is conventionally referred to as ‘wet ponding’ This method would not be given planning permission or licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Ireland,” said the statement from company spokesman Sean Garland. |*
November 2010
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BP | Feature
“Instead RUSAL Aughinish uses the ‘dry stacking’ system of bauxite residue disposal. This dry stacking method utilises modern technology to dewater the bauxite residue within the process plant. The residue is washed, vacuum filtered and then transferred to the dry stacking bauxite residue disposal area (BRDA) as a thick paste,” Mr Garland added. Mr Garland’s statement goes on to explain how in the Aughinish BRDA further drying and “de-watering” took place, in order to remove the remaining free water as well as rainwater run-off, and then recycled to the alumina plant. “The deposited residue is not hazardous waste. It compacts and solidifies and can be walked on and driven on today. It also means the area can be reinstated with vegetation and returned to its natural state with relative ease,” he added. Not only was the methodology, process model and software used for ‘mudfarming’ at Aughinish developed through research and development at the Limerick plant, it was also “being patented as it is best available technology”, Mr Garland explained. The EU Commission produced a Best Reference Document (BRef ) in 2005 to act as a guideline for the design and operation of current and future residue disposal facilities. According to Mr Garland, EU technical experts visited the RUSAL Aughinish bauxite residue disposal area (BRDA)
A rehabilitated area of the bauxite residue disposal area November 2010
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during the development of the BRef. The BRef states that the key feature of the Aughinish design - dry disposal rather than wet lake - makes it an example of best available technology, Mr Garland said. The BRef document issued by the EU Commission references the Aughinish BRDA engineering design and operation more than 18 times as examples of best available technology, he added. Aughinish has been in production since 1983, and with a current workforce of 450 permanent employees and some 140 contractors, is believed to contributes over €100 million/annum to the local economy. Its operations involve the extraction of 1.8m tonnes of alumina from imported bauxite, and exported to the UK, Scandanavia and Europe every year. | BP See over: | * MEP Sean Kelly says Aughinish ‘mud pond’ is safe
Diversity of rehabilitation in the BRDA at Aughinish
Cappagh farmers stand firm on Aughinish THE statement issued by Aughinish Alumina concerning its bauxite residue disposal processes has not deterred the Cappagh Farmers Support Group from their bid to have a major independent investigation into the County Limerick plant. And the group (CFSG) is now urging the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, to call for an internationally-led review, to be conducted by scientific and other experts, into the structure and containment of the ‘red mud’ and its full waste contents, from planning stage to the licence stage. The Group has been for many years highlighting local concern about the waste stored at Aughinish, due to its proximity to the banks of the River Shannon, and its height above sea level. Their fresh campaign to have Minister Gormley press for the review was prompted by the tragedy in Hungary in early October, when a toxic spill of waste from an alumina refinery claimed four lives and left over 120 people injured. Aughinish has insisted (see left) that the Hungarian plant spill was from a “bauxite residue lake or pond”, an older storage process that is referred to as “wet ponding”. The company also insists that the storage process used at the Hungarian plant would not receive the necessary statutory approval in Ireland. Nevertheless, the Cappah Farmers Support Group is hopeful that Minister Gormely will heed their call to press for an internationally-led investigation. “The bottom line is, hazardous or not, there is no in-between’ when you are dealing with the safety of people, animals and the environment,” said Pat Geoghegan, spokesperson for the CFSG last month. 27
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BP | News
MEP Kelly says Aughinish mud storage is ‘safe’ SEAN Kelly MEP has addressed concerns from constituents about the safety of Aughinish Alumina, following the tragic sludge accident in Hungary recently. During “extensive consultations” with the Environment Protection Agency, MEP Kelly said he was advised that there was “no environmental or health danger posed from the red mud pit” at Aughinish. He said it was clear that the treatment and safety procedures in place at the two plants were “very different” systems. “In Limerick, the alumina mud is pumped into a
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly
containment facility and is pumped out as thick sludge. The waste then undergoes a dry stacking method of disposal and the waste is filtered and solidifies. In Hungary, the red mud produced from the alumina was pumped out of the factory in a very liquid form and the walls of the damn that were containing the mud were not secure,” MEP Kelly said. He said that the granting of the latest licence to Aughinish catered for “increased treatment of the waste, including advanced neutralisation”. “The EPA is confident that there is a sustainable practise in place in relation to the treatment and containment of the red mud,” he said. MEP Kelly concluded: “The fact that the mud solidifies into a shallow pyramid type structure means that adverse weather conditions would not have the same serious effect on the mud pond as the one in Hungary.” | BP
FJ Hanley & Associates host special lunchtime presentation at Savoy
Pictured in the Limerick Savoy Hotel last month were Clive Slattery, recently retired Inspector of Taxes; Kevin Dore, Director, FJ Hanley & Associates; Jim Power, Chief Economist, Friends First; and Fergus Hanley, Managing Director, FJ Hanley & Associates; at a lunchtime presentation hosted by FJ Hanly & Associates for Mid-West accountants. The key speakers were Mr Power (third from left) and Mr Slattery (left). The discussion focused on the economy and the recently published Pension Framework Document and changes likely to be implemented in the upcoming budget. Picture: Keith Wiseman 28
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Seoidin jewellery hits the ‘IT era’ with on-line store
Maureen Harrison, founder of Limerick-based Seoidin hand-made gold and silver Irish jewellery, which is already available in over 30 outlets nationwide, and now, just in time for Christmas, also on-line at www.seoidin.com. Pictures: Eamon Ward
LIMERICK-based Irish jeweller Seoidin is making Christmas a whole lot easier for anyone searching for unique handmade gold and silver jewellery for that someone special this Yuletide. Seodin has just launched a new on-line store at www.seodin.com in time for the festive season, and registered browsers will be able to avail of limited edition offers, and receive details of new designs and products from Seoidin. Jewellery from Seoidin (which means ‘little jewel’) is already available nationwide in over 30 outlets, and the firm’s three shops in the Mid-West, one at Sarsfield Street, Limerick and two in Ennis, which employ 10 people. Despite the recession trimming up to 30% off sales in recent years, Seoidin founder Maureen Harrison maintains that there is still a demand for unique, quality jewellery pieces. “Good jewellery is seen as an investment now more than ever and all our jewellery is uniquely designed using 14 carat gold, silver, real pearls and semiprecious stones,” she said. With plans to grow the business by 10% in 2011, and a fresh focus on the export market (in the light of a “fantastic” response from international buyers to the
Seoidin lines at a recent show in Paris), things are looking up for Maureen and Seoidin. “We are delighted with our success to date. However, we are not ones to be complacent and will be working hard in the coming year to ensure the Seoidin brand continues to evolve and expand,” she said. Originally from County Monaghan, Maureen Harrison is a trained jeweller, and designs all the Seoidin jewellery herself. Seoidin was founded by Maureen and Flann Harrison in 1996 in Ennis. The collection contains classic pieces targeted at women of all ages. | BP
Maureen Harrison, making your Christmas a happy one, with Seoidin jewellery November 2010
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BP | News
IDA called to account on Limerick With just 50 new IDAbacked jobs announced for Limerick since January 2009, compared with 1,067 for Cork and 511 for Galway, Limerick Fine Gael TD, Kieran O’Donnell, believes that the IDA chief executive, Barry O’Leary, has questions to answer. On foot of a special request by Deputy O’Donnell, O’Leary will be appearing before the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee on December 7, where Deputy O’Donnell will quiz him on the IDA’s job creation strategy for Limerick
IDA Chief Barry O’Leary is to appear before the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee on December 7, to address the issue of the IDA’s plans for job creation in Limerick. This comes on foot of a written request by Limerick East TD and FG Enterprise & Employment spokesman, Kieran O’Donnell, to the Chairperson of the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee, Deputy Willie Penrose. Deputy O’Donnell had asked that O’Leary be asked before the committee as a matter of urgency. “I look forward to the opportunity of putting important questions to Mr O’Leary on the IDA’s job creation strategy for Limerick,”
President McAleese tells the Danish: ‘Ireland is open for business’ DURING a business breakfast meeting in Copenhagen, on her official visit to Denmark last month, President Mary McAleese told her audience that Ireland was “open for business”. President McAleese told the Danish clients of Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, the IDA and Bord Bia, that Ireland was a place where “highly-educated people are engaged in innovation, creativity and producing the finest quality products and services across a range of sectors”. “For those of you yet to do business with us, I hope that you will be encouraged by the Danes here who can tell you of their great success in Ireland, and by the Irish businesses ready to trade with you,” President McAleese added. November 2010
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Deputy O’Donnell said. “I’ll also be quizzing him about specific IDA job announcements in the pipeline for Limerick, which has been almost forgotten by the IDA and the Government for nearly two years,” he added. Deputy O’Donnell said that since 2009, there had been only 50 new IDA-backed jobs, and an announcement of Analog’s €23m investment in R&D, had been announced for Limerick, as against 1,067 IDA-backed jobs for Cork and 511 for Galway in the same timeframe. “I will be conveying my conviction that Limerick and the Mid-West must become the IDA’s Number One Priority Area for Foreign
Direct Investment,” he said. With 22,236 people on the Live Register in Limerick overall, and over 72% of these people in Limerick city alone, Deputy O’Donnell said that many of these claimants had worked for IDA-backed companies, and there had been no replacement industries. “This must change very rapidly. This meeting provides a starting point for change, and it is one that I hope Mr O’Leary and the Government will take.” he said. | BP
CALLED TO ACCOUNT: Barry O’Leary
GOAL fashion sale at Strand raises €8,000 for Niger appeal The GOAL Handbags Fashion Sale 2010 at Limerick’s Strand Hotel last month raised €8,000 for the Niger appeal. Local ladies donated handbags by leading brands including Gucci, Burberry, Karen Millen, Orla Kiely, Micheal Kors and Moschino for this fundraising event. GOAL organiser, Ronan Scully, was
delighted with the fundraising tally, and commented: “This was a real rumble in the jungle fashion sale.” “We put a huge amount of work into getting this right, with Sinead Cunningham and Mary Graydon collecting donations and putting the items for GOAL Handbags Fashion Sale together,” he added. GOAL has expanded its emergency relief efforts in Niger, which is facing into a food and nutritional crisis that has already left three million people on the verge of starvation. | BP To donate to the appeal, see www.goal.ie or contact Ronan Scully at rscully@goal.ie
HANDBAGS AT DUSK? GOAL Handbags Fashion Sale organisers xx (left) and Ronan Scully (right), show some of their merchandise to Deputy Wilie O‘Dea during the event at the Strand Hotel last month. 29
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101-102 O’Connell street • Limerick 061 21 46 25 party@bentleysbar.net Bentley's-BP-Nov.indd 1
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BP | News
EPA report shows unprecedented reduction in emission levels The latest official figures on Greenhouse Gas emissions are a mixed bag. While there was unprecedented reduction of emissions during 2009, this has been attributed to the economic downturn. And, says the chairman of Ireland’s Environment Protection Agency, we should not rely on a recession to meet our obligations under the Kyoto Protocol PROVISIONAL Greenhouse Gas emissions figures released in October by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas emissions fell by 5.4m tonnes (7.9%) in 2009. While Ireland’s Kyoto limit in the period 2008-2012 is 62.84m tonnes per annum, Ireland’s combined emissions in 2008 and 2009 were 6.2m tonnes above this limit, when account is taken of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and of approved Forest Sinks. During 2009, for the first time in 20 years, there were reductions in all sectors across the board. Reductions were mainly evident in the following sectors: • Industry & Commerical: 2.3m tonnes reduction (20.0%); • Energy (primarily power generation): 1.6m tonne reduction (10.7%); and
• Transport: 1.1m tonne reduction (7.7%) • Emissions from the cement sector alone decreased by 1.3m tonnes (38%). Agriculture remains the single largest contributor to overall emissions, at 29.1% of the total, followed by Energy (primarily power generation) and Transport both at 21.1% share. The remainder is made up by the Industry and Commercial at 14.8%, the Residential sector at 12.0% and Waste at 1.9%. Commenting on the figures Dr Mary Kelly, Director General, EPA said: “The magnitude of the reduction in Ireland’s annual Greenhouse Gas emissions in 2009 is unprecedented.” “We need to use this opportunity to embed fundamental emission reductions in the economy in order to meet the very stringent EU 2020 limits which we face and to move permanently to a low carbon economy,” she said. Dr Kelly added: “We should not rely on a recession to meet our targets for the future.” The provisional summary report of Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions for 2009 can be found on the EPA Website at www.epa.ie/whatwedo/ climate/ emissionsinventoriesandprojections/ nationalemissionsinventores/
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Aer Arann boosts its Manchester to Shannon service SHANNON Airport has welcomed the decision by Aer Arann to increase flights weekly by 60% on its Aer Lingus Regional service from Shannon to Manchester, to double daily services on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. “This Aer Arann/Aer Lingus Regional service has only been operating from Shannon since July and this expansion is a major vote of confidence in the route and the airport,” said Shannon Airport Director, Martin Moroney. “Aer Lingus Regional operations have proven a major success since they were initiated in the summer and the Manchester service has been very successful with business and leisure travel,” he added. “The demand over the winter season has heightened, of course, by the hundreds of football fans from this region who wish to travel to the Manchester area weekly as the Premiership season heightens. Manchester also has a strong Irish community and the additional capacity will also boost inbound traffic with increased connectivity for those visiting friends and relatives and seeking a break in the Mid-West region. On October 31, a twice-daily service (7am and 7.15pm) commenced from Shannon to Manchester every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, while daily flights to Manchester will continue to operate every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at 7.15pm. The expansion of the service means that business and leisure customers from the Mid-West can now travel to Manchester on a day return if necessary offering greater flexibility and choice to the travelling public. Aer Arann also operates Aer Lingus Regional services from Shannon to Birmingham, Bristol and Glasgow as part of its franchise agreement with the national carrier. November 2010
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BP | News
Local recyclers lead the way DIVERSION of over 2,600 tonnes of waste from landfill has led to a major feather in the cap for management and staff at Limerick County Council’s
Mungret Civic Amenity Site. The facility has been presented with the 2010 Repak Civic Amenity/Recycling Centre of the Year Award at an
Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, John Gormley (centre) with (from left) Declan O’ Sullivan, Fehily Timoney (awards sponsor); with Terence Ryan, Mungret CAS Team Leader; Cllr Mary Jackman, Limerick County Council; and Dr Andrew Hetherington, CEO Repak.
awards ceremony during Repak Recycling Week last month. The awards, now in their ninth year, acknowledge best practice and prevention in packaging recycling, in companies, schools, local authorities and waste contractors nationwide. The Mungret Civic Amenity Site, which opened in October 2006, is operated by Indaver Ireland on behalf of Limerick County Council, and serves Limerick City and the surrounding suburbs with a population of over 50,000. During 2009, the site had over 27,000 users, and 2,600 tonnes of material were accepted and diverted from local landfills. All waste streams accepted at the site are required to be reused or recycled. The site operators Indaver regard re-use as an important
part of the waste hierarchy, and so many innovative re-use schemes are in operation at the site. Green waste brought by users is shredded into a mulch and given away free of charge. A total of 350 tonnes of free mulch was used by customers in 2009. Other businesses and organisations honoured at the awards included: Kraft Foods Ireland; University College Cork; Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Coolock; Tesco Ireland; Irish Distillers Group; Dublin City Council; Leinster Environmentals; Rehab Glassco; Cork County Council; Garveys Supervalu, Dungarvan, Co Waterford; Glenlo Abbey Hotel, Galway; and Midleton CBS Primary School
Call for firms Applications invited for €1m fund THE Arthur Guinness Fund sustainable impact on Irish categories, but are still working to enter Easy has towards sustainable social re-opened with up to €1m communities. in Ireland. in funding available for estabAnd a new dimension has To Use Awards lished and start-up business been added in the form of a change The Arthur Guinness Fund is
LIMERICK businesses and individuals are being encouraged to enter this year’s Arthritis Ireland Easy to Use Awards which have been launched by Dragons’ Den star Sean Gallagher. The Awards, supported by Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, encourage innovation in design to make everyday products and devices more attractive and usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. The winner of the Designer Innovation Award will receive €1,000 and a commemorative plaque; while the Business Innovation Award winner will also have Arthritis Ireland’s Easy to Use Commendation for use in packaging and marketing for one year. See www.easytouse.ie November 2010
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projects. The funding will be made available to social entrepreneurs who make a positive and
Pictured at the announcement of the Arthur Guinness Fund for social entrepreneurs are previous recipients Carrie Ann Moran of Rediscover Fashion and Margaret Leahy of Growing Locally
Challenge Grant, for start-up projects seeking financial and practical support. Projects established in the last two years are invited to apply to receive up to €25,000 per annum for two years. The initiatives must be innovative in driving positive change and sustainable social impact in Ireland. Also new to the process are six specific categories acting as guides for prospective awardees: Technology and Social Media for Social Good, Skills for Life, Enriching the Environment, Social and Community Regeneration, Culture and Arts and Community Wellbeing. A final open category is also available to projects that do not fit within any of the specific
also seeking applications from social entrepreneurs whose projects are at a more advanced stage of development, typically in operation between two and five years; successful applicants would be eligible for funding of up to €50,000 per annum for two years. The Arthur Guinness Fund also has a comprehensive two year support programme for the awardees, with expertise and practical support from Diageo Ireland and social entrepreneurs, Ireland’s alumni network and events. Applications remain open until November 10. Forms are available for download from www.guinness.com/ arthurguinnessfund 33
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BP | News
Chamber brings firms up to speed with new employment legislation LIMERICK businesses last month received a crash course on evaluating their HR practices in the light of the latest changes to legislation specifically aimed at owners and managers. The event was an Employment Law Workshop hosted by Limerick Chamber (in association with Peninsual Business Services), at the Greenhills Hotel. Some of the topics covered at the workshop included: employers’ statutory duties, employees’ rights; how to avoid tribunals, redundancy; the implications of NERA (National Equality Rights Authority); and how an inspection could affect your business.
And the Chamber’s accompanying free employment law compliance check underscored the aim of the event, which was to help companies to keep abreast with the statutory requirements. Chief Executive of Limerick Chamber, Maria Kelly said “Businesses may feel confident that employees are treated fairly, however maintaining accurate records to prove this to a NERA inspector is criti-
cal. This informative event accompanied with our free employment law compliance check will help companies to stay one step ahead.” The workshop was supported by Chamber HR, available to all chamber members throughout the Republic of Ireland, which offers employers 24-hour access to experts on employment and human resources legislation and provides interpretations of the law and advice, as well as representation and indemnification against employment awards. Event sponsors Peninsula Business Services are a leading Employment Law and Health & Safety consultancy.
Martina McGrath and Maura McMahon, Limerick Chamber with Gordon Kearney, Limerick Chamber Director, at the Chamber HR Seminar
Nicole O’Neill, O’Hurley Blair Irwin; Lisa Marie Smyth, Clohessy’s Bar & Sin Bin Nite Club; Josephine Butler, Essilor Ireland Ltd; and Elaine Field, CPL/Richmond Recruitment, at the Chamber HR Seminar
Pictured at the Chamber HR seminar, from left: Lisa Marie Smyth, Clohessy’s Bar & Sin Bin Nite Club; Dan Garry, Garry IT Solutions; Martina McGrath, Limerick Chamber; and Donie O’Connor
Dr James Ring, Limerick Civic Trust; Nicole O’Neill, O’Hurley Blair Irwin; and Gordon Kearney, Rooney Auctioneers and Director, Limerick Chamber.
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Anthony Hayes, Lock Doctor Ltd and Paula O’Meara, Silverwood Jewellery at the Chamber HR Seminar November 2010
30/10/2010 17:15:16
How Does the Law Affect Your Technology Based Start-Up Business? By Keith Burke, Solicitor, Intellectual Property and Technology Unit For many entrepreneurs, bringing an idea to market can prove a daunting task. Faced with a myriad of “action items”, promoters of a start up business can find it difficult to establish what must be prioritised in the early stages of the development of their business. Avoiding some of the more common legal pitfalls at this start up stage can prove invaluable in the medium to long term and a prudent promoter will take the necessary professional advice before embarking on the start up journey. Do I need to incorporate a company? Commencing business as a sole trader or in partnership with a fellow promoter involves minimal formality (e.g. registering the business for taxes and possibly registering a business name) which can appear attractive for the cost conscious entrepreneur. Incorporating a company however, whilst involving slightly more cost, offers the protection of limited liability for the promotershareholder at the pre-revenue stage, where a technology based business may struggle for cash flow. My company does not have sufficient cash flow to engage employees; I intend to use independent contractors. Independent contractors can play a valuable role for a start up business unable to employ a large workforce and the cost effectiveness of an individual who can be engaged periodically at a daily rate can prove enticing for the start up business. Start ups heavily reliant on the use of independent contractors however, should be mindful of characterising individuals who are in reality employees as so-called “contractors”. Employment law and indeed the Irish tax code will pay little heed to what the parties label their relationship if in fact an employment relationship is found to exist. Consider factors such as whether your independent contractor is engaged by other businesses also and how his/her remuneration package is structured. How can I ensure that my business’ intellectual property is retained? The law provides that intellectual property developed or produced “in the course of employment” by an employee will automatically be owned by the employer. Creating an employment relationship between the key contributors to your business’ November 2010
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intellectual property and your corporate entity will harness the majority of intellectual property in your company as a matter of law. Disputes can arise however, where an employee alleges that intellectual property directly relevant to the business was developed “outside” his/ her course of employment. In order to capture such intellectual property and avoid the potential for dispute with employees, start up promoters should consider whether the intellectual property ownership provisions of their employment contracts should extend to intellectual property relevant to the business albeit developed by an employee “outside” their employment in this manner. It can come as a surprise to many promoters that work commissioned from third parties (such as independent contractors) will not automatically vest intellectual property developed in the course of that work in the promoter’s business. For a business where intellectual property represents its key asset, it is paramount that the contracts under which work is commissioned adequately address intellectual property ownership from the outset.
your business advantage).
with
a
competitive
Have I a business model for exploiting my business’ intellectual property? Having developed valuable intellectual property and taken the necessary steps to protect it, a promoter must decide how best to commercially exploit it. Much will depend on the nature of the products which will encompass the developed intellectual property but generally speaking promoters will be faced with choices such as whether to manufacture and distribute a product directly or whether to licence others to do so in exchange for a royalty stream. In some cases, a promoter’s exit strategy may also determine the business model to be adopted. For many promoters, shaping your business in a manner which will entice outside purchasers may indeed be the primary goal. Regardless of the business model proposed, the advice of a tax professional should be sought at an early juncture in conjunction with advice on the legal structure for your start up’s business model.
I am meeting a potential investor, what steps should I take to safeguard my company’s intellectual property? A robust confidentiality/non-disclosure agreement is an essential pre-requisite to any discussions with prospective investors. For patentable inventions however, a non-disclosure agreement should not be the primary protection relied on by the promoter. In order to be patentable, an invention must be novel in the sense that it is not already in the public domain. Unwary inventors can find they have destroyed the novelty in their unique invention by unwittingly bringing the concept into the public domain. For potentially patentable inventions, there can be no substitute for filing a patent application and this should be a promoter’s first step prior to establishing his/her start up business. A confidentiality/non-disclosure agreement can in turn supplement the protection afforded by registering intellectual property by protecting confidential information incapable of protection through registration (e.g. trade secrets or processes which although not patentable, provide
Keith Burke is a solicitor in the Business Department and the Intellectual Property & Technology Unit of Holmes O’Malley Sexton Solicitors and may be contacted at 061-313222 or via email at keith.burke@homs.ie . This article is intended to be a general guide and is not intended to act as a substitute for specific professional advice on a given matter. Neither the author nor the publisher will accept any responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person as a result of their acting or failing to act as a result of the information contained in this article. 35
01/11/2010 14:28:37
BP | Sport
International Rules showpiece draws 31,000 to Limerick Gaelic Grounds
A packed Limerick Gaelic Grounds on Saturday October 23, for the International Rules Series fixture between Ireland and Australia. All Pictures: Keith Wiseman
Australian captain, Adam Goodes in a threeway battle for the ball, with Ireland’s Finian Hanley and Kevin Reilly
WELCOME TO LIMERICK: Former Miss Limerick, Beckie Costello greets the 31,00 spectators to the Gaelic Grounds
Ireland’s Ciaran McKeever intercepts an Australian pass during the first test in the 2010 International Rules series in the Gaelic Grounds.
Ireland’s Leighton Glynn bears down on the Australian goalmouth 36
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The Irish fans make their presence felt with an ocean of green and white November 2010
01/11/2010 09:52:40
BP | Sport
The Walls provided the half-time entertainment at the International Rules Series First Test in the Gaelic Grounds on October 23 The concluding fireworks display lit up the night sky over Limerick City Centre
Mike Riordan, Limerick GAA County Board, and Christy Cooney, President of the GAA, make a half-time presentation to honour Willie Mulcahy, Groundsman at the Gaelic Grounds, and his wife Pamela
Liam Lenihan, Chairman, Limerick GAA County Board, and Helen Cross, PRO, County Board, make a presentation to Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh to mark the GAA commentator’s recent retirement
Bernard Brogan meets young Liam Foley, from Cratloe, Co Clare, during the Irish team’s visit to the Children’s Ark Ward
The Irish International Rules Team paid a surprise visit to the Children’s Ark in the Mid-West Regional Hospital in advance of the First Test with Australia. Pictured with young Luke Grimes are Bernard Brogan, Finian Hanley, Colm Begley, Graham Canty and Marty Clarke. November 2010
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Pictured at a Mayoral reception for both teams at Limerick City Hall are, from left: Mike Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the AFL; Tom Mackey, Limerick City Manager; Australian Captain, Adam Goodes; Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Maria Byrne; Irish Captain, Steven McDonnell and Christy Cooney, President of the GAA
Limerick girl Shauna Murphy, aged 10, meets Irish players Bernard Brogan and Colm Begley during the Irish team’s visit to the Children’s Ark at the Mid-West Regional Hospital
Irish player Finian Hanley pictured with Brian Cunningham, aged 11, from Monaleen, Limerick, during the Irish team’s visit to the Children’s Ark at the Mid-West Regional Hospital 37
01/11/2010 11:38:43
BP | Sport
Opening of Limerick’s new Greyhound Stadium a boost for local economy MAGNIFICENT: The new Limerick Greyhound Stadium on opening night, Friday October 22. All Pictures: Keith Wiseman
Danny Reilly, Bord na gCon; Minister of State, Peter Power; Mayor of Limerick Cllr Maria Byrne; Minister Brendan Smith; Adrian Neilan, CEO, Bord na gCon; Dick O’Sullivan, Chairman, Bord Na gCon; Declan O’Halloran, Sales, Operations & Commercial Manager, Limerick Greyhound Stadium; and Teresa Wall, Bord na gCon
The state of the art viewing galleries and multi-media facilities in full operation at the official opening of the Limerick Greyhound Stadium 38
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Busy scenes at track-side, as the dogs leave the traps for the first race run at the official opening of the new Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Friday, October 22
THE new Limerick Greyhound Stadium which opened at the Dock Road last month, has created 150 full-time and part-time positions at the world class new facility, in a much needed boost for the Mid-West economy. At the official opening on October 22, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food, Brendan Smith described the facility as “magnificent”, and paid tribute to the Irish Greyhound Board (Bord na gCon, IGB) and all the stakeholders involved in the delivery of the new stadium. The new stadium is a world class sports and versatile entertainment venue, with a capacity of over 2,000, as well as a substantial 190-seat restaurant, private hospitality suites and gallery bars. Also in attendance at the opening was Chairman of Bord na gCon, Dick O’Sullivan, who said that the Bord’s investment in the new facility was testament to the IGB’s confidence that the tradition of greyhound racing would be “very much a part of our future in Ireland”. “The Greyhound Racing Industry contributes €500m in turnover to the economy each year, and within the IGB we have increased profit levels from €2m in 2006 to €5m in both 2007 and 2008,” Mr O’Sullivan said. The Limerick Greyhound Stadium will house the new headquarters offices of the Irish Greyhound Board, and will host over 1,200 races annually, in addition to a myriad of other entertainment events. The stadium’s Sales, Operations & Commercial Manager, Declan O’Halloran, said: “The versatility of the venue allows for a wide range of other events and activities. We have had many enquiries from event organisers looking to host events such as exhibitions, fashion events, and product launches.” The stadium is now open every Friday and Saturday night for racing, and the facility will also run Thursday Race Nights during December. | BP For information on the new stadium, see www.igb.ie November 2010
30/10/2010 17:16:49
BP | Motoring
Mercedes-Benz to roll out six new models to Irish market THERE will be much interest among the Mercedes-Benz motoring fraternity at the announcement of the latest models from the car-maker cleared to roll into Ireland in 2011. One of the big talking points in the industry to arrive on the Irish market early next year, is the new four-door CLS coupé. The CLS coupé is one of a six new Mercedes-Benz models scheduled to roll into Ireland in 2011. First of the new arrivals, which is due in the country within weeks, is a version of the new S-Class, equipped with BlueTEC emissions technology. Following in January will be the new
Local dealer receives the new model Vito van
CLS, replacement for the model first released in 2003 of which some 170,000 units have been sold worldwide. With its striking SLS-like grille, elongated bonnet, flared wheel arches and low-slung body sweeping elegantly towards the rear, the CLS is seen by Mercedes-Benz sales manager Ciaran Allen as a model that is “destined to set the luxury segment alight”. Other introductions scheduled for later in the year will be a new SLK, the CClass Facelift and the C-Class Coupe, all due in April. These will be followed towards the end of the year by a new ML SUV and a new B-Class.
Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle dealers Denis O’Brien (left) and John Naughton from Truckcar Sales Ltd, check out the new Vito, with the Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Sales Manager in Ireland, Fergus Conheady.
The new four-door CLS coupé, one of six new Mercedes-Benz arrivals due here before the end of 2011. November 2010
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Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle dealers Denis O’Brien and John Naughton from Truckcar Sales Ltd, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, have given the thumbs up to the new Mercedes-Benz Vito van, which has been launched on the Irish market. Priced from €19,190 (plus VAT), the Vito, which is available from Truckcar Sales Ltd, is available in standard, high roof and long-wheelbase versions. The new Vito’s features include a new engine line-up and a specifically designed six-speed van gearbox. Other improvements to the new Vito are increased payload, improved chassis and interior and a newly designed front with colour co-ordinated bumpers. 39
01/11/2010 15:06:39
BP | Motoring
Continental Irish Van Of The Year contenders announced The list of eligible vans for the title of Continental sponsored Irish Van of the Year 2011 award has been announced by the Irish Motoring Writers’ Association Van of the Year Jury. The winner of the 2011 overall Irish Van of the Year title will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday November 25. The eligible vans for this year’s award are as follows: Fiat Doblo Cargo, Mercedes Benz Vito, Nissan NV200, Opel Movano, Renault Master, Volkswagen Caddy and Volkswagen Transporter. In order to find the winning van and category winners each year, the jury members assess each van that is launched on the Irish market, grading each vehicle on such attributes as value for money, versatility, build quality and performance. “Van and commercial sales continue to be weak in Ireland as a result of the current economic environment,” says Paddy Murphy of Continental Tyres, “so at a time when every cent counts, the choice of the IMWA van jury is a great help to van customers who are looking for guidance as to which models are best suited to the needs of the Irish market.” Gerry Murphy, chairman of the IMWA van jury, says: “In spite of the downturn, this year’s field of runners for the Continental Irish Van of the Year title are a quality line up of vehicles
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WELL CONNECT-ED: Last year’s winner of the Continental Van of the Year title, the Ford Transit Connect
showing that the manufacturers have confidence in the expected improvement in the Europe-wide economy.” The winners of the Continental Irish Van of the Year 2011 category awards, Car-derived van and SUV Commercial, will both be announced in early January 2011. Last year’s Continental Irish Van of the Year title was awarded to the Ford Transit Connect. And completing a clean sweep of the awards for Ford, the Car-derived van and Commercial SUV category awards went to the Ford Fiesta van and the Ford Kuga Commercial respectively.
Scrappage boost of €129m for Revenue THE Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) has welcomed new figures that detail an increase of €129m for Government Revenues from the longsought scrappage scheme that was rolled out in Ireland earlier this year. SIMI revealed that this total sales boost was made up of increases in VAT (€43m) and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) (€86m) during the year. Revenue from scrappage scheme cars alone topped €53m, according to the Society. To the end of September, there
had been 29,000 more new cars sold than at the same point last year, the SIMI statistics reveal. This was 26,000 more new cars sold than in all of 2009. As of the end of September, there have been 13,615 reclaims made under the Government scrappage scheme. The most popular brand in the scrappage scheme was Renault, with an 18% share. And the busiest month of the year in terms of the scrappage scheme was March, with 2,354 units, or a 17% share of the total units for the year to date. November 2010
01/11/2010 15:25:30
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O'Maras-BP-Oct.indd 41-BP-Nov-2010.pdf 11
05/10/2010 01/11/2010 17:02:23 12:46:27
BP | Motoring Feature
Limerick Motor Centre offers top quality service and customer care Ideally situated on the N24 Ballysimon/Tipperary Road on the outskirts of Limerick City, Limerick Motor Centre is a proud supplier of Hyundai and Isuzu to Limerick City, County and Co. Clare. We are conveniently based on our four acre site, close to the M7, Limerick ring road, while being a mere 2.5 kilometres from the city centre. We are members of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry and are a long established Franchise for Hyundai & Isuzu, passenger and commercial vehicles. The founder, Mr. Pat O’ Mara is in the motor trade for well in excess of forty years and has supplied customers across Ireland with well in excess of thirty thousand vehicles down through the years. With your help and support, we would be delighted to keep serving the nation and in return, we will offer you excellent value and customer service. We came from humble beginnings and, through focus, diligence and hard work, we have grown from strength to strength. Four years ago we built two state of the art showrooms, fully equipped work shop with six lifts, full diagnostics area and Body repair centre.We also have a purpose built crash repair centre with new spray booth, jig and bench. We have our own purpose built paint mixing room, water based paint with appropriate ventilation and duly qualified staff to operate same. Our premises are reassuringly secure and we have a very large customer data base with a lot of repeat 42
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customers. We have a well established reputation and are very well regarded within the motor industry. Limerick Motor Centre is a 100% family run business, comprising of Mr. Pat O’ Mara snr and three sons, Robert, Martin and Pat O’ Mara jnr. We are fully focused on customer satisfaction and providing excellent value. Our sales team consists of Pat O ‘Mara, Robert O Mara, Martin O’ Mara and Gerry O’ Brien. We are proud to introduce our newest member of staff, Mr. Gerry O’ Brien. Gerry joined our sales team in February this year. Gerry is a native of Crusheen, Co. Clare and is working in the motor trade since 1999. Gerry is well known in the motor sport circles throughout the country and was active in the recruiting of Marshals for the Irish rounds of the World Rally Championships in 2007 and 2009. Gerry has seen a big pick up in business in 2010 over 2009. This is largely due to the success of the scrappage scheme which was introduced in December 2009. To keep the motor trade bouyant in 2011, the scrappage has to be extended for a least another year. Gerrys’ responsiblity in Limerick Motor Centre is the sale of new and used vehicles, booking in used vehicles to the state of the art Service Department at Limerick Motor Centre. Gerry is also responsible for updating the maintaining the company website with used vehicles. In this day and age, people have there shopping done on the
laptop before they arrive on the forecourt. We would like to invite you to come visit our new showrooms on the Ballysimon Road, Limerick, where you can view the full range of the new all new Hyundai i-range. Come and look at the all new i10, i20, i30 & i30 crosswagon, which are completely condusive to city driving. We also have the new ix35 and new 2.0 Santa Fe litre 7 Seater. Coming soon to our showroom is Hyundais new ix20 1.4 diesel. View the full Isuzu range NNP Tipper, D Max, Crew Cab, selection of colours in stock. We stock up to 250 used units at any given time. We also have a wide range of Jeeps, 4X4’s, Vans, Commercials in stock for your perusal. Our premises also comprises of a Van Hire department, vans ranging from 1.9 cc engine size vans up to 3.5 tonne Trucks. We also have a fully stocked Hyundai and Isuzu Stores and Accessories Department with our Stores Manager, Mr. William Horgan, who has in excess of 10 years experience who would be delighted to facilitate all your needs. Our comprehenive Service department has six lifts, a fully equipped Diagnostic area and duly qualified staff to look after your vehicles every need. Our Service Department of run by Pat O’ Maras’ son, Mr. Pat O’ Mara jnr. Please contact Carmel Mulqueen in our Service Department for any booking requirements. What has become most noticeable in recent years is
how the service department has grown. Much of this is due to the fact that we provide an aftersales service on every product we sell at very competitive rates. All our secondhand vehicle come with a full service, valid NCT / DOE Test, fully Valeted and parts exchanges are always welcome. We provide all finance options available. “While the road to recovery remains challenging, the success of the scrappage scheme and the return of the buyers to the forecourt are very positive indication for 2011.” Make Limerick Motor Centre, proud suppliers of all models of Hyundai and Isuzu for Limerick City & County, your No.1 choice in 2011. Limerick Motor Centre has also, recently, been appointed Hyundai Dealer for Co. Clare. Contact Names for Limerick Motor Centre: Sales Department: Pat O’ Mara, Robert O’ Mara, Martin O’ Mara, Gerry O’ Brien. Stores Department: William Horgan. Service Department: Carmel Mulqueen. Van Hire Department: Robert O’ Mara. Contact Details Numbers for Limerick Motor Centre: Phone Number: 061 417141 417699 401691 413071 Fax Number: 061 401692. Email: info@ limerickmotorcentre.ie Website: www. limerickmotorcentre.ie November 2010
01/11/2010 13:44:56
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Main For Limerick City CountyTipperary & County Road, Clare, Limerick Address:City. Tipperary Road, Limerick City MainHyundai HyundaiDealer Dealer, Limerick City && County, Tel: 401691 Email info@limerickmotorcentre.ie Web www.limerickmotorcentre.ie Email info@limerickmotorcentre.ie Web www.limerickmotorcentre.ie Tel: 061 061417141/ 417141/ 401691
YOur LOcaL hYundai deaLer fOr cO. cLare The BiggesT CommerCial, 4X4 and Van seleCTion in The mid WesT aT KeenesT PriCes Year 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2010 2009 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2006 2006
Make Hyundai Hyundai Hyundai Hyundai Hyundai Hyundai Hyundai Hyundai Hyundai Toyota Hyundai Hyundai Opel Daihatsu Kia Hyundai Ford Toyota Opel Suzuki Lexus BMW Audi Nissan Hyundai Hyundai Hyundai Volvo Hyundai Toyota Nissan Hyundai Opel
Model Sonata Dsl Delux ix35 Dsl i30 Dsl Sport i10 i30 Cross Wagon ix35 Dsl i30 Dsl Deluxe i30 Dsl Classic Tucson Dsl Avensis Dsl 5 Dr Coupe fx 1.6 Accent Saloon Zafira 1.7 Dsl Sirion 5 Dr Rio Saloon Automatic Accent Van Dsl Mondeo 1.6 Zetec Corolla 1.4 Saloon Corsa 5 Dr Club Vitara 1.9 Dsl IS 220 Dsl Executive 316 Saloon Leather A3 1.6 5 Dr Tiida 1.6 SE Elantra 1.6 Hatchback Getz 3 Dr Coupe 1.6 fx S40 1.6 SE Tucson Dsl Avensis Strata 1.6 Almera Saloon Santa Fe Dsl Automatic Corsa 5 Dr Air Con
Colour Silver Red Silver Silver Blue Silver Silver Blue Black Silver Red Black Blue Black Silver Black Silver Blue Red Blue Green Blue Blue Grey Black Blue Black Grey Silver Red Brown Navy Black
Mileage Deliver y 14,000 kms Deliver y 2,000 kms 14,000 kms 14,000 kms 16,000 kms 55,000 kms 23,000 kms 79,000 mls 17,000 kms 34,000 kms 49,000 kms 51,000 kms 78,000 kms 61,000 kms 42,000 kms 64,000 kms 58,000 kms 35,000 kms 64,000 kms 64,000 kms 80,000 kms 70,000 kms 40,000 kms 20,000 kms 11,000 kms 32, 000 kms 93,000 kms 57,000 kms 42,000 kms 110,000 kms 101, 000kms
Year 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004
Make Hyundai Honda Hyundai Nissan Hyundai Suzuki Fiat Opel Hyundai Nissan Nissan Hyundai Honda VW Hyundai VW Peugeot Nissan Seat Mitsubishi Citreon Toyota Peugeot Hyundai Hyundai Opel Hyundai Ford Renault Citreon Opel Citreon Ford
Model Trajet Dsl HRV 5 Dr 1.6 Getz 5 Dr Note 1.4 Coupe 1.6 Swift 3 Dr Multipla 1.6 Meriva 1.4 Santa Fe Dls 2.2 Almera Saloon Almera Hatch back Sonata Saloon Civic Saloon Golf 3 Dr GTI 2.0 Ltr Tucson Dsl Golf 5 Dr 1.4 407 1.8 Saloon Micra 5 Dr Leon 5 Dr Outlander 2.4 Automatic Berlingo Multispace Dsl Corolla 1.4 Saloon 307 1.4 Hdi Accent Saloon Getz 5 Dr Astra 1.4 Saloon Sonata Saloon Focus 1. 6 Automatic Megane 1.5 Dsl Saloon Berlingo 1.4 Multispace Corsa 5 Dr C3 1.1 5 Dr Focus 1.4 Saloon
Colour Silver Silver Black Black Silver Silver Blue Blue Silver Blue Silver Grey Grey Red Blue Black Gold Gold Wine Silver Red Black Silver Blue Blue Black Green Black Wine Silver Silver Blue Silver
Mileage 90,000 kms 57,000 kms 74,000 kms 101,000 kms 13,000 kms 51,000 kms 58,000 kms 46,000 kms 94,000 kms 40,000 kms 39,000 mls 58,000 kms 47,000 kms 128,000 kms 126,000 kms 121,000 kms 138,000 kms 61,000 kms 77,000 kms 65,000 kms 92,000 kms 71,000 kms 152,000 kms 78,000 mls 40,000 mls 49,000 mls 80,000 mls 61,000 mls 109,000 mls 76,000 mls 57,000 mls 103,000 mls 25,000 mls
Over 200 mOre cars vans and 4x4s tO chOOse frOm 2000 tO 2010. Trade in’s accepted in part exchanges All cars fully serviced, valeted & guaranteed All cars sold with valid NCT where applicable All commercials sold with DOE Over 200 top quality used cars, vans and 4x4’s in stock 43-BP-Nov-2010.indd 1
Martin O’Mara 086 8517305 Robert O’Mara 087 9926367 Gerry O’Brien 086 2766267 Sales Department Tel: 061 417141 / 061 417699
onlY 20 mins From ennis Via TUnnel 01/11/2010 15:21:48
Limerick Motor Centre launch new Hyundai range
L-R Gerry O’Brien, Martin O’Mara and Pat O’Mara with the new Hyundai fleet
Pat O’Mara with the new Hyundai IX-20
Limerick Motor Centre’s new Hyundai range
Main Hyundai Dealer, Limerick City & County, Tipperary Road, Limerick City. Tel: 061 417141/ 401691 Email info@limerickmotorcentre.ie Web www.limerickmotorcentre.ie 44-BP-Nov-2010.indd 1
01/11/2010 12:07:10
BP Arts & Culture Restoring the Haselbeck legacy A MAJOR exhibition of the photography of Franz Sebastian Haselbeck (1885-1973), which has been running at the Hunt Museum, features fascinating images of the Limerick of bygone times, including pictures of the early construction stages of Ardnacrusha. The exhibition, ‘Fond Memories Bring The Light’, is the result of a collaboration between ESB Archive with Siemens and the Haselbeck family, to restore and catalogue the photographer’s collection and equipment. Ensuring the survival of one of the most important Irish photographic collections of the 20th century, the twoyear project is also aimed at giving the late photographer the recognition that he did not
Five RIC Officers on bikes
fully receive during his lifetime. Haselbeck’s photographic legacy spans almost seven
Three ladies, two bikes and one gentleman
Fanning’s Store at 39 O’Connell Street, Limerick November 2010
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decades, providing a prism through which we can view the major political, commercial and social developments over the greater part of the last century. Welcoming visitors to the exhibition, Dr Hugh Maguire, Director of the Hunt Museum stated: “What differentiates the images in this exhibition from lesser works is their sheer power to captivate and engage the viewer.” Grand-daughter of the photographer, Patricia Haselbeck, said that the exhibition was the fulfilment of a promise she made to her dying father, Frank Haselbeck Jnr, that the catalogue would be preserved for future generations. “Where better to have such an exhibition but in the Hunt Museum, the building I photographed with a camera my grandfather gave me for
my 16th birthday,” she said. “The Shannon Scheme which features in the exhibition has an important place of pride in the history of both ESB and Siemens”, said Brid Horan, Executive Director ESB. “We are delighted that ESB’s Archive was able to collaborate with the Haselbeck family over the last two years to restore this wonderful collection.” The exhibition runs at the Hunt Museum until Monday November 7. | BP
Franz Sebastian Haselbeck, 1885-1973
An RIC group posing with women circa 1913 45
30/10/2010 17:17:38
BP | Arts & Culture
ICO link up with talented young Galvone NS musicians for CD TALENTED pupils at Galvone National School have released a CD of their own compositions in collaboration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. words: ALAN JACQUES pictures: keith wiseman
The new CD, ‘What Kind Of People Do We Want To Be’ was launched as part of the ‘Sing Out Galvone’ outreach undertaken by the UL-based Irish Chamber Orchestra, and features songs written by the pupils of 4th, 5th and 6th Class from Galvone NS. “Sing Out With Strings demonstrates the reality that music works as a catalyst on the physical development of the brain,” explained ICO Chief Executive, John Kelly. “It helps children develop their inventive skills and shows that within each child there is an infinite potential. This programme inspires, evokes and provokes the best in every child. Music should be a core subject in every primary school in the country,” he added. The title track on the CD ‘What Kind of People’ was written by 6th Class at the city primary school and
alludes to the challenges people face, from pollution to natural disaster, and encourages everyone to be positive, hopeful and to change the world for the better. The song is sung by the three classes, accompanied by the friends of ‘Sing Out With Strings’ and Size2Shoes, comprised of brothers Eoin and Moley Ó Súilleabháin who have performed with children under the ICO’s ‘Meet The Musician’ scheme. ‘Sing Out Galvone’ is the biggest outreach project undertaken by the Irish Chamber Orchestra. The project was initially funded in partnership with the Department of Life Long Learning at the University of Limerick, with financial support from the Strategic Innovation Fund and Limerick Regeneration. Since then, additional funding from Limerick Regeneration has allowed the ICO to expand ‘Sing Out’ to two additional schools, Southill Junior School and St Mary’s Boys School. An additional facilitator, Tony Hunter, works with ICO educationalist Kathleen Turner, combining in a new and exciting direction with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. There are plans to expand the project even further afield. ‘Sing Out’ encourages children to use their voices a n d
ICO Chief Executive, John Kelly Picture: Keith Wiseman
discover how they personally connect with music. The second phase, ‘Sing Out With Strings introduces instruments to the children’s musicmaking. Every child in Galvone now has the opportunity to learn the violin. A generous donation, from the JP McManus Foundation, enabled Galvone School to purchase a bank of its own violins and set up an instrument library, which is accessible to students. As one of the country’s leading orchestras, with its home at UL, the Irish Chamber Orchestra is ideally positioned to play a key role in the development of music education in the Mid-West and beyond. | BP
Children from Galvone National School at the launch of their CD, accompanied by ‘Size 2 Shoes’, brothers Eoin and Moley Ó Súilleabháin. Picture: Keith Wiseman
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November 2010
30/10/2010 17:18:30
BP | Arts & Culture
Guitar wizard The legendary Chieftans are Emmanuel at Limerick-bound for concert Concert Hall HAILED as one of the finest guitar players in the world, T o m m y Emmanuel comes to the University Concert Hall on Sunday November 14. The twotime Grammy Tommy Emmanuel is recognized as one of the world’s finest n o m i n e e guitar players is one of Australia’s most respected musicians with a professional career that spans almost five decades. A household name in his native Australia, Tommy continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. The 54-year-old guitarist’s style is unique – he calls it ‘finger style’ – and is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. In 1985 Emmanuel joined one of the decade’s biggest Australian rock bands, Dragon, and recorded the platinumselling album ‘Dreams of Ordinary Men’. In 1987, Dragon toured with Tina Turner on her ‘Break Every Rule’ tour. His versatility has taken Emmanuel from international Jazz Festivals to shows with the Sydney Philharmonic, The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and performances for the Masai people in remote areas of Kenya. Performing live is more important to Tommy now than ever and he tours constantly, playing over 300 concerts a year for the last five years. Guitar players of all levels come to his shows to watch the magic hands of the ‘guitar Wizard of Oz’ but his appeal goes far beyond musicians. His live shows are known for their humour, passion and infectious joy. The power of his charismatic showmanship will be an enduring part of Emmanuel’s legacy. For further information or bookings call 061-331549 or log onto www.uch.ie | BP November 2010
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THE Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick presents The Chieftains at UCH on Wednesday November 17 at 8pm. Ireland’s premier musical ambassadors will be joined by some very special guests including Micheál Ó’Súilleabháin, pianist, composer and professor at the Irish World Academy, as well as some of Ireland’s best young traditional musicians and dancers, all of whom are students of the BA Irish Music and Dance. With a career that spans 41 years and as many albums, multi Grammy Awardwinning group The Chieftains are the most enduring and influential creative force in establishing the international appeal of Irish traditional music. In 1988 they joined forces with fellow countryman Van Morrison on ‘Irish Heartbeat’ which began
an historic series of collaborations including recordings with James Galway, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Tom Jones, Sinead O’Connor, Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, Ry Cooder and many others. They also continued their acclaimed work in soundtracks on such films as ‘Treasure Island’, ‘Tristan and Isolde’, ‘The Grey Fox’ and ‘Far And Away’. For further information or bookings call 061-331549 or log onto www.uch.ie. | BP
Ireland’s premier musical ambassadors, The Chieftans
Brian Friel’s ‘Lughnasa’ classic in Limerick
Second Age Theatre Company brings ‘Dancing At Lughnasa’ by Brian Friel to UCH on Thursday December 2
IRELAND’S leading classic play company, Second Age Theatre Company, presents ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ at UCH on December 2 and 3. Written by Brian Friel, ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ is one of the Irish playwright’s undisputed masterpieces. It is a drama that mixes memory with desire, generous humour with piercing sadness. One moment you are laughing uproariously, the next your eyes are filled with stinging tears. Whatever the mood happens to be, at every moment the play feels startlingly true, tender and fresh. ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ tells the story
of five unmarried sisters living in a cottage in Friel’s fictional Ballybeg; a microcosm of rural Ireland. Their story is told by the grown up love child of the younger sister, Chris. As a young man he casts his mind back to late summer 1936, when he was seven, and he relates some of the events that are going to change his, and the sisters, lives forever: the arrival of Uncle Jack who, after 25 five years as a missionary in a remote village in Uganda, has been sent home for “going native”; the purchase of a Marconi wireless set, and Gerry’s, his absent father’s, two visits during that summer, and the arrival of a knitting factory as the industrial revolution finally catches up with Ballybeg. Directed by David Horan, this production promises to deliver faithfully one of the great plays of Irish Drama. Horan believes that in every phrase Friel offers us vividly real women, but all through the sepia toned memory of the plays narrator. For further information or bookings call 061-331549 or log onto www.uch.ie. | BP 47
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BP | Arts & Culture
Business People monthly Events Guide which opened to rave reviews in Dublin, features an array of madcap characters brought to life in Pat’s inimitable style. When the local drama group stage a gala fundraising concert to raise money for their latest production, things don’t go quite to plan, with hilarious consequences. www.uch.ie 18 November
Oedipus Loves You
10 November
Classical Twist with Vladimir Jablokov Upstairs at Dolan’s VLADIMIR’S programme features a mix of classical, jazz and pop he calls ‘Classical Twist’. From Bach to Bowie, and from Mozart to Johnny Mercer; it puts a fresh, contemporary spin on some of the greatest melodies ever written with dazzling musicianship. www.dolanspub.com 11 November
Frank McNamara & Family University Concert Hall WELL know to Irish audiences for his work on ‘The Late Late Show’, Frank McNamara is embarking on his firstever Irish Tour. This is a family entertainment show with music and song ranging in style from light classical, Irish and contemporary. From Beethoven to Les Miserables, this show is guaranteed to appeal to a wide audience and age group. www.uch.ie 11 November
PJ Gallagher Dolan’s Warehouse PJ Gallagher has become one of Ireland’s best-loved comedians. Following the huge success of his role as Jake Stevens and many others in the hilarious and sometimes outrageous hit TV show ‘Naked Camera’, PJ rarely has time to be himself these days as he prepares for yet another TV series based in the USA. www.dolanspub.com 12 November
Pat Shortt in The Hall University Concert Hall FRESH from the set of his new RTE series ‘Mattie’, Pat Shortt returns with his latest live show ‘The Hall’. Set in the community hall of a small rural town, the show,
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Belltable Arts Centre PRESENTED by Dublin’s Pan Pan Theatre, ‘Oedipus Loves You’ is a new work based on and inspired by the Oedipus the King plays of Seneca and Sophocles and the writings of Sigmund Freud. This eccentric and original production is an exploration of the violation of taboos in our society, which we observe almost every day but are unsure of reacting to at the moment of discovery of the truth. www.belltable.ie 19 November
Colm Wilkinson – Broadway & Beyond University Concert Hall ON stages in London, New York, Toronto and beyond, Colm Wilkinson has firmly established himself as one of theatre’s greatest performers. This exclusive show will feature Broadway blockbusters like ‘Music of the Night’, ‘Bring Him Home’, ‘The Impossible Dream’, ‘Somewhere’ and many other musical favourites, as well as Irish classics and popular standards. www.uch.ie 21 November
The High Kings University Concert Hall IN the last two years The High Kings have achieved platinum status, completed sold-out tours and racked up numerous TV appearances. In their new show the Irish group will showcase their incredible versatility and skills as multi-instrumentalists, bringing a rousing acoustic flavour to well-loved folk songs. www.uch.ie 24 November
Anything But Love Belltable Arts Centre WRITTEN by Mary Coll and directed by Joan Sheehy, ‘Anything But Love’ is set in the affluent, leafy suburbs of Limerick’s Ennis Road where a family is reunited in their childhood home by the impending death of their mother. What follows is an intense, tender and humorous drama exploring love, desire and loyalty. www.belltable.ie
November 2010
01/11/2010 09:15:23
Limerick’s friendlist Chinese Restaurant, The Shamrock is moving into 21 years in business. Join us for our celebrations with 10% discount on all Table Bookings, until the end of November.
FULLY LICENCED
Telephone Now to book your table (061) 327222 DAILY OPENING HOURS 5.00pm – 11.30pm
TAKEAWAY MENU Telephone Orders Welcome Tel: (061) 327222 / (061) 327224 Fax: (061) 322155 Shamrock Chinese-BP-Nov.indd 1
Ennis Road, Limerick 01/11/2010 12:29:48
LIMERICK’S PREMIER PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO Najwer Magdalena
Martina
Educo Gym at* 061-326892 or 086 2022304 www.educogym.com * 15.5 lbs difference in 3 months What results will you get?
For those that want results and maybe are confused about how to go about it Frank takes the guess work out of training and he guarantees you the result if you follow the Educo Gym programme. He will help get you in to “the best shape and fitness of your life”.
How easy is it?
People just don’t understand the facts and the underlying research that shows how easy it is to get into good shape and stay there, even in a very short period of time. It’s just knowing precisely what to do to get the figure/physique that you’ve Joe, 32,always after 3 wanted. months Brian Kelly * * 36.4 lbs of fat loss * 6.25 inch off tummy in 3 months Frank, fitness trainer and How long does it take? proprietor, Educo Gym Frank believes you can certainly have a new body in twenty minutes a day and once you get into your ideal M: 086 2022304 shape you can maintain it with an hour or less training a week. T: 061 326892 This is truly a unique programme based on cutting edge university research. “The idea of spending Frank, proprietor of Educo Gym, explains: “At Educo Gym it is all about losing fat, sculpting the body back one or two hours in to shape and moving on to see results. It is all based on science and is validated. There isn’t a programme the gym is not appeal- in the world like it.”
ing for people, whereas with 20 minutes in Educo Gym you can still get in good shape…”
What kind of foods do you eat?
“Forget calorie counting—it is good nutrition your body wants, and the right combination of food with each meal. As we train you and get your body into shape, we recommend you eat very natural foods, to build up the ‘life force’ in your body—you are actually rejuvenating your body, as well as getting into shape. You cna literally eat your way into a healther body”
GROW YOUNGER AS YOU GROW OLDER Robin * Lost 4 inches off his waist in 10 weeks
Ken Walshe * 17.2lb fat loss * 5 inches off tummy in 2 months
N E V E R B E F O R E H A S A P R O G R A M M E P R O D U C E D S U C H R E S U LT S
Bob at 85 recommends Educogym
my in 3 months
Karen: 6 Weeks - Lost 20.00lbs of Fat - Gained 4lbs of Muscle
Brian Healy * 20.5 lbs fat loss in under 3 months
Jamie Myerscough * *
Bob at 85 Talks Educo Gym System “I particularly like the science behind it all. I was blown away by how people’s bodies could be transformed in as little as 12 days.”
him to provide the physical and mental health programme to the first two sets of Apollo 11 astronauts. He was the personal trainer to astronaut John Glenn in the 1960’s, and for his heroic return to space in 1998.
Dr. Bob Delmonteque was a part owner/operator of Executive Health Clubs International which operates 500 health clubs world-wide – with over 5 million members. His expertise was recognized by NASA who recruited
85YEARS YOUNG BOB DELMONTEQUE IS the living embodiment of the educogym philosophy. At 65 he got into a fight with an old father time and astonishingly not only did he stop the hands of the clock but actually managed to reverse them. When he was 78 we brought him to Ireland for a series of fitness tests
Educo BP-Oct-LEFT.indd 1
at the world famous Blackrock Clinic. Doctors there were amazed at the results and told him his biological age was 25. People are advised at Educogym to eat a natural diet. All the guess work has been taken out of it. Now it is just down to whether the individual wants to be in great shape and live longer, stronger. “I believe it is now possible for the first time ever to take control of ageing and indeed health at the cellular level. I am so excited using this approach that I am becoming more alive - it is like being reborn”. 05/10/2010 19:42:08
12 Day Programme only 20 minutes a Day Lose on average 7 1/2lb in just 12 days at Educo-Gym This was achieved under University Research conditions using the educo Gym System
Results AfteR 4 Hours of tRAining oveR 12 Days
Gina ViEGaS - 12 - Day
lost 8.0 lbs of Fat - Gained 2.0 lbs of Muscle
DEboRah RoSE - 12 - Day
lost 6.5 lbs of Fat - Gained 1.5 lbs of Muscle
aLEx WaRREn - 12 - Day
lost 14.13 lbs of Fat - Gained 1.3 lbs of Muscle
anDREW MooRE - 12 - Day
lost 6.5 lbs of Fat - Gained 2.0 lbs of Muscle
Results AfteR 6 weeks of tRAining
KaREn Ray - 6 WEEKS
lost 20 lbs of Fat - Gained 4.0 lbs of Muscle
TaMaR GRoVEnEVELD - 5 WEEKS lost 9.5 lbs of Fat - Gained 1.5 lbs of Muscle
JoE - aFTER 3 MonThS
bRian KELLy
36.4 lbs of Fat Loss - 6.25” off tummy in 3 mts.
Results When tRAining Becomes A lifestyle
VinETTa aRchER DyER lost 100 lbs in one year
MaDELEinE - 6 MonThS
lost 21 lbs of Fat - Gained 5.0 lbs of Muscle
age 54 after 15 Sessions over 4 weeks - a 9 3/4 lbs difference
Rose Dipple
Within 15 sessions I had lost 8.5 lbs of fat and gained 1.25lbs of muscle, two months on I am back to a size 10 have loads more energy and feel fantastic
EiLEEn haRLinG - 12 WEEKS
lost 20.0 lbs of Fat - Gained 6.0 lbs of Muscle
The ResulTs You Read abouT heRe would be impossible To GeT in a noRmal GYm
TERESa - aFTER 6 MonThS after 18 Sessionsan 18 lbs Difference
adrian Lewis
I am 48 years old. When I first started educo gym I wasnt a particularly healthy individual. After only 12 sessions I lost 11.75 lbs of fat and gained 6.25 lbs of muscle. I havent felt this good in 20 years - it’s like having a new lease of life
Educo Gym at 061-326892 or 086 2022304 www.educogym.com Educo BP-Oct.indd 1
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05/10/2010 12:02:57
05/10/2010 19:46:40
BP | Feature
Printmakers a crucial engine for Limerick artists’ careers A ‘not for profit’ company with charitable status, Limerick Printmakers Studio & Gallery nevertheless has had a strong ‘multiplier’ effect on the local economy; generating revenue for local businesses and employing three people, while providing crucial opportunities to develop the careers of the 50 or so artists working there. The studio was established 11 years ago by Melissa O’Brien, inspired by her dream of managing a community of printmakers who share a love of fine art. WORDS: JOHN RAINSFORD PICTURES: KEITH WISEMAN & LIMERICK PRINTMAKERS
Johannes Gutenberg (1398-1468) is credited as the father of modern printing, having invented movable type around 1439, sparking a revolution that lifted society into the modern age, making possible the widespread copying and distribution of media products such as books and maps. Fast forward a couple of centuries, and visit Limerick Printmakers Studio & Gallery, on Robert Street, near the Milk Market. Here, you will find a still thriving artistic ‘printmaking’ community. Melissa O’Brien is the Founding Director with Kate Wrixon as Arts Administrator and Pamela Dunne the technician/studio manager. They are all former graduates of Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) with Degrees and Postgraduate Degrees in the Fine Arts and specialisations in printmaking. The community they inhabit retains links to medieval times, with modern technology sitting comfortably with devices that would appear to have been obtained from an alchemist’s laboratory. |*
Melissa o’brien founding director, limerick printmakers studio & gallery
‘We are so lucky to have careers that we enjoy. We are very realistic about the future and very confident too. We have really built something in Limerick that will last…’ 52
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November 2010
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BP | Feature
Lithography, one of the oldest printmaking methods, is still in use at Limerick Printmakers. The Block or Stone is a piece of cut limestone obtained from Germany or Italy. It is quite expensive but can be re-used by the artist many times. The Block or Stone is ground down with a Levigator, which scours the surface of the stone with iron filings. The printmaker then draws the image with a greasy substance and prints it using a traditional printing press. It seems an amazing way to spend a life but for the 50 or so artists working here, the opportunities provided by the organisation are crucial to developing their careers as artists. The only printmakers’ studio in Limerick, it is open 24/7 to artists who have been accepted as members based on a portfolio of work and an interview. Eleven years ago, Melissa O’Brien was a printmaker herself, just graduated from LSAD. She saw her fellow artists leaving the City and felt a sense of loss for the skills they were taking with them. She undertook a VEC ‘Experimental Enterprise’ course under the auspices of Limerick City Enterprise Board and never looked back. Melissa explained: “We had an idea for an arts community that would bring artists together in the city for the process of printmaking. We got a lot of help from Des McMahon, our former tutor at LSAD in setting up the venue, and we visited Cork printmakers and venues abroad to get their advice.” Although there is no particular predisposition to art in her family, it was always Melissa’s dream to manage a community of printmakers, working with colleagues, who mutually share a love of fine art. Her colleague and friend Kate Wrixon,
Culture Night attracted nearly 500 visitors to Limerick Printmakers. Here, Kate Wrixon helps four-year-old Samuel Colgan to prepare a monoprint. Picture: Keith Wiseman November 2010
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Kate Wrixon, Arts Administrator at Limerick Printmakers. Picture: Keith Wiseman
daughter of the Limerick artist Pauline Goggin, has worked with Melissa for nearly three of those successful years. The reputation of the venue has grown, with awards for the ‘Best Service Business’ from Limerick City Enterprise Board in 2008. A ‘Best Museum/Gallery Award’ was received from the Midwest Arts, Media and Culture Awards board, also in 2008. Kate says: “We hold ten shows per year with six of those being what we term ‘Open Calls’ for anyone with a body of work can make a proposal to us for an exhibition. We take a nominal sum in commissions for any sales made by the artist during the exhibition and pay the promotion costs involved.” She added: “The amount charged to printmakers for the use of studio space varies on what level of facility they require. For example, some artists might need to be here every day and others just for two days a week. Our rates are very low. The public are never charged an entry fee and we are open during the day for visitors.” Limerick Printmakers are members of the Print Studio Network, and Melissa travels abroad for conferences to learn more about how the centre can be used. She hopes to bring more of her colleagues on study visits in future to experience more about developments in their medium. For the first four years of their existence they had very little funding, but since 2003 have been funded by the Arts Council of Ireland. Melissa travels to Dublin annually to report on her work and to fight for continued funding. Although their budget is small they
have demonstrated an ability to punch about their weight in the competitive arts world, through hard work and increasingly popular events such as the recent Culture Night, when nearly 500 people visited their premises. Melissa has recently overseen the transition to ‘Limited Company’ status. Limerick Printmakers is a ‘not for profit’ company with charitable status, but it generates revenue for local businesses and employs three people. Their capital, through artistic production, also has a strong ‘multiplier’ effect on the local economy. They hold classes for children, teenagers and adults from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays in printmaking and have three FÁS workers training with them together with 50 artists in residence. “We are so lucky to have careers that we enjoy,” says Melissa. “We all enjoy working with each other here and we have no difficulty doing each other’s jobs when the need arises. We are very realistic about the future and very confident too. We have really built something in Limerick that will last. Everyone in the arts is experiencing cuts today but thank goodness our funding has held up this year and last.” | BP Limerick Printmakers Studio & Gallery is currently hosting an exhibition by renowned Limerick artist Robert Ryan, which concludes on November 13 with a talk at 1pm by the artist. The gallery opens Tuesday to Friday, 11am-5.30pm, and Saturdays, 10am4pm. Life Drawing Sessions for Artists are available on Tuesdays, 7pm-8.30pm. Contact Kate Wrixon at Limerick Printmakers Studio & Gallery on 061-311806 53
30/10/2010 17:20:33
THE A – Z OF BUSINESSES
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
BP | Directory ACCOUNTANTS BDO Business and Financial Advisors Four Michael Street Limerick T: 061 414455 F: 061 414172 E: limerick@bdo.ie W: www.bdolimerick.ie HDS Partnership Registered Auditors – Accountants – Tax Consultants – Business Advisors. 2nd Floor, River Point Lwr Mallow St Limerick Tel: 061 445000 Fax: 061 445060 E: mail@hds.ie W: www.hds.ie Moore Stephens Patrick McNamara Accountants and Business Advisors Pamdohlen House, Dooradoyle Road, Limerick. Tel: 061 229666 Fax: 061 302144 Email: info@msmcnamara.ie Web: www.mspatrickmcnamara.ie John Quirke & Co. Racefield House, Dooradoyle, Limerick. Tel: 061 301260 Fax: 061 307863 Email: jonhquirkeandco@eircom.net O’Donovan Caulfield Lavin Chartered Accountants 1 Mt. Kennett Place, Henry St, Limerick T: 061 411000 F: 061 411001 E: info@odcl.ie W: odcl.ie O’Hurley Blair Irwin 3rd Floor, Mount Kenneth House, Henry St, Limerick. Tel: 061 401122 Fax: 061 401144 E-mail: info@obi.ie Web: www.obi.ie ACCOUNTANCY COURSES BPP Professional Education 89 O’Connell Street. Limerick Tel: 061 310884 Fax: 061 310984 Email: limerickreception@bpp.com Web: www.bpp.com/ireland ARTISTS Una Heaton Tel: 086 3735015 Email: unaheaton@eircom.net Web: www.unaheatonart.com
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AUCTIONEERS DTZ SHERRY FITZGERALD Hibernian House, 105 Henry Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 418111 Fax: 061 418112 Email: limerick@dtz.ie Web: www.dtz.ie
CAR DEALERS Clareview Motors Ennis Road, Limerick Tel: 061 221000 Fax: 061 221060 E-mail: info@clareviewmotors.com Web: www.clareviewmotors.com
BUSINESS BANKING Bank Of Ireland 125 O’Connell St; Limerick Contact: Denis Minihane Regional Business Banking Manager T: 061 419791 F: 061 418554 E: Denis.Minihane@boimail.com W: www.boi.com
CARPETS & FLOORING Provincial Floor Coverings Raheen Business Park, Raheen, Limerick. Tel: 061-227100 Fax: 061-227000 E-Mail: sales@pfl.ie Web: www.pfl.ie
KBC Bank Ireland plc, Riverpoint, Bishops Quay,, Limerick Tel: 061 448600 Fax: 061 468468 Email: damien.quigley@kbc.ie Web: www.kbc.ie Ulster Bank Midwest Business Centre 14 Henry Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 316757 Fax: 061 312971 E-mail: midwestbusinesscentre@ulsterbank.com Web: www.ulsterbank.com BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS Limerick Chamber 96 O’ Connell St, Limerick Tel: 061 415180 Fax: 061 415785 Email: info@limerickchamber.ie Web: www.limerickchamber.ie Shannon & District Chamber of Commerce Shannon Chamber, Unit B9, Sky Court, Shannon, Co. Clare Tel: 061 360611 Fax: 061 360440 E-mail: admin@shannonchamber.ie Web: www.shannonchamber.ie BUSINESS SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS CompuCount Ltd. 18 Cois Luachra, Limerick. Tel: 061 305033 Fax: 061 305291 Email: sales@compucount.ie Web: www.compucount.ie BUSINESS TELEPHONE SYSTEMS Lantel Networks Ltd Roselawn House, National Technological Park, Limerick. Tel: 061 350350 Fax: 061 350360 Email: info@lantel.ie Web: www.lantel.ie
CATERING Masterchefs Hospitality Epicurean House, Robert Street, Limerick Tel: 061 411522 Fax: 061 402021 Email: sales@mhm.ie Web: www.mhm.ie CCTV & Security Advanced Monitoring No.2 Pillar House, Little Ellen St. Limerick Tel: 061 319 375 Fax: 061 311 805 Mobile: 087 2596955 / 087 2395039 Email: advancedmonitoring@eircom.net CLEANING Clean Habit B2 Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co. Clare. Tel: 061 361461 Fax: 061 361868 Email: mandy@cleanhabit.com Web: www.cleanhabit.com ISS Facilities Unit 11, Ashbourne Business Park Dock Road, Limerick Tel: 061 500300 Fax: 061 500301 Contact : Brian Kelly Mobile: 087 9159108 Email: brian.kelly@iss.ie Web: www.iss.ie CLEANING & MAINTENANCE SERVICE Elite Cleaning Service Rose Cottage, Woodpark, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick Tel: 061 372133 Fax: 061 372627 E-mail: elitecleaning@eircom.net Web: www.elite-contract-cleaning.com
November 2010
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Fitzpatrick Computer Group Mill House, Henry Street, Limerick Tel: 061 493300 Fax: 061 417219 Email: sales@fcg.ie Web: www.fcg.ie O’Connor Network Services (ONS) Ardnataggle, O’Briens Bridge, Co. Clare Tel: 061 343412 Fax: 061 749842 Mobile: 087 8118690 E-mail: info@ons.ie Web: www.ons.ie CONSTRUCTION Roadbridge Ballyclough, Ballysheedy, Co. Limerick Tel: 061 419855 Fax: 061 414767 E-mail: headoffice@roadbridge.ie Web: www.roadbridge.ie DISPLAY SignLynx Contact: Jack O’Loughlin Franklin Motor Yard, Cahernorry, Ballysimon, Limerick. Tel: 061 333736 Mob: 086 8094420 Fax: 061 333737 Email: jackoloughlin@signlynx.ie Web: www.signlynx.ie DRAINAGE & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Walsh Environmental Services Drainage & Environmental Specialists Unit 1, Clondrinagh Industrial Estate, Ennis Road, Limerick. Tel: 061 325757 Fax: 061 325700 EVENT MANAGEMENT Funireland Event Management Childers Rd Enterprise Centre Limerick Tel: Limerick 061 437000/320292 Tel: Dublin 01 4741888 Email: info@funireland.com Web: www.funireland.com
FINANCIAL CONTROL / ACCOUNTING / BOOK-KEEPING SERVICES Hogan Financial Management Ltd 50 O’Connell Street, Limerick Tel: 481444 Fax: 061 481445 Email: info@hoganfinancial.ie Web: www.hoganfinancial.ie Fire Alarm Systems Prestige Detection Systems Limited Rathpalatine, Feohanagh, County Limerick Phone: 063 84920 Fax: 0865 254 5347 Email. Dave.enright@pdsl.ie Web: www.pdsl.ie GLASS AND MIRRORS Mirror and Glassworx Unit 1b, Annacotty Business Park, Limerick. Tel: 061 333630 Mob: 087 2808184 Fax: 061 333631 Email: info@mgwx.ie Web: www.mgwx.ie GOLF COURSES Limerick Golf Club Ballyclough, Co. Limerick Tel: 061 414083 Fax: 061 319219 Email: lgc@eircom.net Web: www.limerickgc.com GRAPHIC DESIGN CONSULTANCY Optic Nerve Design Group The Mill, Glentworth Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 316955 Fax: 061 316965 E-mail: info@opticnerve.ie Web: www.opticnerve.ie GRAPHIC, WEB & WEB Marketing IDF Marketing Ltd. Marine Village, Killaloe,Co.Clare Tel: 061 375412 Mob: 086 8176337 Email: info@idf.ie Web: www.idf.ie GRAPHIC & WEB DESIGN Customer Care Solutions Anne Sheehan, Harbour House, Locke Quay, Limerick. Mobile: 087 6684819 E-mail: info@customersolutions.ie Web: www.customersolutions.ie HOME FURNISHINGS Limerick Paint Supplies Pennywell Road, Limerick. Tel: 061 411292 Thomondgate, Limerick. Tel: 061 329828 Fax: 061 415874 Mob: 087 2503448
HOTELS Abbey Court Hotel, Lodges & Trinity Leisure Spa. Dublin Road, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Tel: 067 41111 Fax: 067 41022 Contact: Matthias Muller M.I.H.I. Email: sales@abbeycourt.ie Web: www.abbeycourt.ie HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE ASSESSORS Auray Assessors Specialists in Property Claims Tel: 061 317264 Fax: 094 9541723 Email: aurayassessors@eircom.net Web: www.aurayltd.com HR Consultants Campbell International Human Resource Consultants Contact: Kenneth Bucholtz, FCIPD, MBS Cloncoul House, Ennistymon, Co. Clare. T: 065 707 1933 M: 086 809 2776 E: Kenneth@campbellinternational.net W: www.campbellinternational.net The HR Channel Contact: Fiona O’Carroll Ballycarney, Clarina, Co. Limerick Tel: 061 353154 Mobile: 086 2051727 Email: fionaocarroll1@eircom.net HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTANT AND EXECUTIVE & BUSINESS COACH Elaine Ryan & Associates 17 Ballycasey Manor, Shannon, Co.Clare. Tel: 086 2381555 Email: elaineryanhr@eircom.net Web: www.elaineryanandassociates.com
THE A – Z OF BUSINESSES
COMPUTER NETWORKING SALES & SUPPORT Action Point Unit 8B, Plassey Enterprise Centre, National Technology Park, Limerick. Contact: David Jeffreys Tel: 061 337 632 Call-Save: 1850-ACTION/ 1850 228 466 Fax: 061 301 924 Email: info@actionpoint.ie
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
BP | Directory
INSULATION Aerobord Ltd. Askeaton, Co. Limerick Tel: 061 604600 Fax: 061 604601 Email: mail@aerobord.ie Web: www.aerobord.ie IT INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT Avocent International Avocent House, Shannon Free Zone, Shannon, Co. Clare. Tel: 061 471877 Fax: 061 471871 Email: info-europe@avocent.com Web: www.avocent.ie
November 2010
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THE A – Z OF BUSINESSES
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
BP | Directory Investments, Pensions & Mortgages Moore Stephens Patrick McNamara Financial Planning & Mortgage Solutions Life & Pensions – Mortgages – Investments – Wealth Management Pamdohlen House, Dooradoyle Road, Limerick Tel: 061 229666 Fax: 061 302144 Email: fsinfo@msmcnamara.ie Web: www.mspatrickmcnamara.ie LIFT SERVICES Mid Western Lifts Corcanree Business Park Dock Road, Limerick Tel: 061 400123 Fax: 061 400121 Email: info@mwls.ie Web: www.mwls.ie LUXURY DEPARTMENT STORES Brown Thomas 16 O’Connell Street, Limerick Tel: 061 417222 Fax: 061 412191 Email: ldwan@brownthomas.ie Web: www.brownthomas.com MARQUEE HIRE O’Donovan Marquees Birdhill, Co. Tipperary Tel: 061 379328 Fax: 061 379328 Email: podmarquees@eircom.net Web: www.odonovanmarquees.com MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS Profiles at Work Executive Coaching, Training, Psychometric Testing Ballyheefy, Killaloe, Co. Clare Tel: 061 376461 Fax: 061 375496 Mob: 087 2640028 Email: amckles@eircom.net Web: www.profilesatwork.com MARKETING Customer Care Solutions Anne Sheehan, Harbour House, Locke Quay, Limerick. Mobile: 087 6684819 E-mail: info@customersolutions.ie Web: www.customersolutions.ie Molly D Marketing Castlecrine, Sixmilebridge, Co.Clare Tel: 061 369898 Mob: 086 2371508 Email: dympna@mollydmarketing.ie Web: www.mollydmarketing.ie
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MARKETING CONSULTANTS and MARKETING RESEARCH Martin McGuire & Associates Dock Road, Limerick Tel: 061 228822 or 061 229233 E-mail: martinm@martinmcguire.com Web: www.martinmcguire.com MODULAR CONTAINERS, CABINS & OFFICES Ballysimon Containers Eastway Business Park Ballysimon Road, Limerick Tel: 061 312530 Fax: 061 313520 Email: morgan@asp-ire.ie Web: www.asp-ire.ie MODULAR OFFICE ACCOMODATION Asp-ire Advance Space Providers Ireland Eastway Business Park Ballysimon Road, Limerick Tel: 061 312530 Fax: 061 313520 Email: morgan@asp-ire.ie Web: www.asp-ire.ie MORTGAGE & FINANCIAL SERVICES ODCL Financial Services and Mortgages 1 Mount Kennett Place, Henry Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 411000 Email: financial@odcl.ie MORTGAGE & FINANCIAL SERVICES Redmond Mortgages & Pensions 1A Hartstonge Place, Upper Hartstonge Street, Limerick Tel: 061 446629 Fax: 061 446809 Mobile: 087 8290736 E-mail: tommy@redmondmortgages.com OFFICE EQUIPMENT Gerry Webb Office Equipment 72 Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick Tel: 061 467380 Fax: 061 467380 Mobile: 087 2625768 Email: webfurniture@eircom.net OFFICE EQUIPMENT / PRINTING & STATIONERY Curley Copy Centre Little Ellen Street, Limerick. Contact: Eileen Tel: 061 315331 Fax: 061 315171 Email: jhcurley@eircom.net OFFICE FURNITURE & SUPPLIES G & A Manifold (Showrooms) Unit 6E, Docklands Business Park, Dock Road, Limerick. Tel: 061 312777 Fax: 061 313434 Email: info@gamanifold.ie Web: www.gamanifold.ie
PACKAGING IPS Industrial Polythene Solutions Contact Name: Sean O’Carroll Annacotty Business Park, Annacotty, Limerick. Tel: 061 508980 Fax: 061 508984 Email: sean.ocarroll@ipslimited.ie Web: www.ipspackaging.ie Painting and Decorating Keith Larkin Clonlara, Co. Clare. Residential, Commercial, Industrial. 087 2333772 email: larkink@eircom.net PENSIONS & INVESTMENTS Karl Daly Pension & Investment Ltd. 2nd Floor, Riverfront Building Howleys Quay, Limerick Tel: 061 318701 Fax: 061 318702 Mobile: 086 2602326 Email: karl@karldaly.com Web: www.karldaly.com or www.ssiaideas.ie PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURER Schwarz Pharma UCB (Schwarz Pharma Ltd) Shannon Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co. Clare. Tel: 061 714100 Fax: 061 714101 Email: info@ucb-group.com Web: www.ucb-group.com PHOTOCOPIERS MJ Flood (Ireland) Ltd. (Sales & Service) 23 John Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 312211 Mob: 087 7815252 Fax: 061 415595 Email: limerick@mjflood.ie Web: www.mjflood.ie PHOTOGRAPHY Keith Wiseman Photography Elith House, Grange, Co. Limerick Tel: 061 385861 Mobile: 087 6412862 Email: kwisemanphoto@gmail.com www.kwisemanphoto.ie PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS Able Marketing 50 Thomas Street, Limerick Tel: 061 417575 Fax: 061 410055 Email: sales@ablemarketing.ie Web: www.ablemarketing.ie
November 2010
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Molly D Marketing Castlecrine, Sixmilebridge, Co.Clare Tel: 061 369898 M: 086 2371508 Email: dympna@mollydmarketing.ie Web: www.mollydmarketing.ie MKC Communications The Archway, 4A Lower Pembroke Street Dublin 2 Tel. +353 1 703 8600 Fax. +353 1 678 8331 Email: info@mkc.ie Web: www.mkc.ie O’Brien Communications 30 Ashbrook Grove Ennis Road, Limerick Tel/Fax: 061 457999 Mobile: 086 6019214 PUBLIC RELATIONS Quinn Communications Contact: Niamh Quinn MPRII 38 Roches Street, Limerick. M: 087 1220119 F: 1890 886803 E: niamh@quinncommunications.ie PUBLIC TRANSPORT BUS SERVICES & PRIVATE HIRE Bus Eireann Colbert Station Limerick Tel: 061 313333 Fax: 061417166 Email: info@buseireann.ie Web: www.buseireann.ie RADIO STATIONS Limerick Live 95 FM P.O Box 295 Radio House, Richmond Court Dock Road, Limerick Tel: 061 461 900 Fax: 061 41 95 95 Email: mail@live95fm.ie Web: www.live95fm.ie RTÉ lyric fm Cornmarket Square, Limerick. Tel: 061 207300 Fax: 061 207390 Email: lyric@rte.ie Web: www.rte.ie/lyricfm Contact: Aodán Ó’Dubhghaill & Julie Knight RECRUITMENT Irish Recruitment Consultants Charlotte House, Charlotte Quay, Limerick. Tel: 061 313744 Fax: 061 417553 Email:admin@irishrecruitment.ie Web:www.irishrecruitment.ie
Richmond Recruitment/CPL, 10/11, Steamboat Quay, Dock Road, Limerick. Tel: 061 221701 Email: Midwestjobs@cpl.ie Web: www.richmond.ie RECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS Work Access Ltd. 1st Floor, Pillar House, Little Ellen Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 493095 Fax: 061 409345 Email: info@workaccess.org Web: www.workaccess.org RESTAURANTS The Cornstore 19 Thomas Street, Limerick. Tel: 061 609 000/ 609 001 Fax: 061 409 334 Email: reservations@cornstorelimerick.com Poppadom Award Winning Indian Cuisine Unit 2C, Robert Street, Corn Market Square, Limerick Tel: 061 446644 www.poppadom.ie Chimes Cafe, Belltable Arts Centre O’Connell Street, Limerick. SIGNAGE SignLynx Contact: Jack O’Loughlin 60 Eastlink Business Park, Ballysimon Road, Limerick. Tel: 061 603786 Mob: 086 8094420 Fax: 061 603786 Email: jackoloughlin@signlynx.ie Web: www.signlynx.ie Signsplus Unit 7,Eastlink Business Park, Ballysimon Road, Limerick. Tel: 061 437950 Fax: 061 437940 Email: sales@signsplus.ie Web: www.signsplus.ie SOFWARE DEVELOPMENT Action Point Unit 8B, Plassey Enterprise Centre, National Technology Park, Limerick. Contact: David Jeffreys Tel: 061 337 632 Call-Save: 1850-ACTION/ 1850 228 466 Fax: 061 301 924 Email: info@actionpoint.ie SOLICITORS Holmes O’Malley Sexton Bishopsgate, Henry St: Limerick. Tel: 061-313222 Fax: 061-310414 E-Mail: info@homs.ie Web: www.homs.ie
TAXATION BDO Personal and Corporate Tax Advisors 4 Michael Street, Limerick Tel: 061 414455 Fax: 061 414172 Email: limerick@bdo.ie Web: www.bdo.ie TEAM BUILDING Funireland Team Building Specialists Childers Rd Enterprise Centre, Limerick Tel: Limerick 061 437000/320292 Tel: Dublin 01 4741888 E: info@funireland.com W: www.funireland.com WATER COOLERS & DISPENSERS Crystal Clear Leamy House Hartstonge St Limerick T: 061 454962 F: 061 454449 M: 087 2561239 E: info@crystalc.ie W: http://www.watercooler.ie WASTE MANAGEMENT & DISPOSAL Mr Binman Luddenmore, Grange, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick Tel: 061 351127 Fax: 061 351918 Email: info@mrbinman.com Web: www.mrbinman.com
THE A – Z OF BUSINESSES
PUBLIC RELATIONS Echo Marketing 5 The Mews, Hartstonge Street, Limerick. Mob: 087 9892463 Email: aileen.galvin@echomarketing.ie Web: www.echomarketing.ie
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
BP | Directory
Weddings and Events Rebecca May Weddings and Events Childers Rd Enterprise Centre, Limerick Tel: Limerick 061 437000/320292 Tel: Dublin 01 4741888 Cell: 087 4178516 E: rebecca@funireland.com W: www.funireland.com W: www.irelandweddings.ie WINE RETAILERS Fine Wines Fine Wines Group, Tipperary Road, Ballysimon, Limerick. Tel: 061 417784 Fax: 061 417276 Email: mdaly@finewines.ie Web: www.finewines.ie The Wine Buff 17 Upper Mallow Street, Limerick. Proprietor: Mike O’ Mara Tel: 061 313394 E-mail: mike.omara@thewinebuff.com Web: www.thewinebuff.com
November 2010
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BP | News
Warning for directors on pensions The conviction of a Clonlara businessman in Limerick District Court last month for failure to remit pension contributions to the Construction Workers Pension Scheme has prompted a warning to all employers and company directors regarding the remission of pension contributions
IN LIMERICK District Court on October 15, Peter Stritch, Clonlara businessman and director of Bellisle Properties Ltd (In Liquidation) was convicted of five offences of failing to remit pension contributions to the Construction Workers Pension Scheme (CWPS), and fined a sum of €1,000 on each of the five counts with six months to pay. He was also ordered to pay €5,000 in legal costs. Bellisle Properties Ltd (In Liquidation) was also convicted and fined a sum of €1,000 in respect of each of the five offences before the court, with three months to pay. The case was heard by Judge Tom O’Donnell, who noted that the nonpayment of pension contributions by Mr Stritch was “deliberate and occurred during
the construction boom period”. Peter Stritch, with an address at Bellisle, Clonlara, County Clare, was a director of Bellisle Properties Limited (in Liquidation), a company which had deducted pension contributions from the wages and salaries of its employees between October 2006 and December 2008 for remittance to the trustees of CWPS, and failed to remit the pension contributions to the trustees within the statutory timeframe. The offences of the company were committed with the consent or connivance of, or attributable to neglect on the part of, Peter Stritch, as director of Bellisle Properties Ltd, contrary to the provisions of Section 58A(1) and Section 3 of the Act. Mary Hutch, Head of Regulation at The Pensions Board in giving evidence on behalf of The Pensions Board, stated that on foot of receiving complaints from employees that this employer had deducted pension contributions from their wages and salaries but failed to remit them to the relevant scheme, the Board’s investigative personnel carried out a search of the company’s premises on July 23, 2009, to investigate this matter. It was stated in Court that it was
estimated that the employees’ pension contributions which were deducted from employees’ wages and salaries but not remitted to the relevant scheme came to a sum of €53,527.34. This meant that employees working for that company were not covered for sickpay benefits or death-in-service benefits between October 2006 and December 2008. The Pensions Board supervises occupational pension schemes and monitors employers’ compliance with the legislation relating to the collection and remittance of pension contributions. Commenting on the conviction in this case, the Chief Executive of the Pensions Board, Brendan Kennedy, said: “The conviction today should act as a warning to all employers and directors that The Pensions Board treats the failure of the employer to remit pension contributions to the trustees of the pension scheme as a very serious offence.” Mr Kennedy concluded: The Board is currently preparing prosecutions of a number of other employers and directors. We advise any employer with outstanding pension contributions to contact the pension scheme to regularise their position.” | BP
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November 2010
01/11/2010 13:11:49
BP | Eurolink
Munster MEP seeks ‘proper policing’ of payments law New legislation aimed at putting an end to late payment of bills for goods and services will only work if it is adequately enforced by member states, the European Parliament has been told. MEPs in Strasbourg last month voted in favour of a new law that will require private companies and public bodies to pay suppliers within 30 days unless otherwise agreed. If invoices are not paid within the deadline, a penalty of eight per cent will be applied. However, Irish MEP Mairead McGuinness warned that the rules must be strictly enforced if they are to be worthwhile, and that private and public sector groups alike must abide by a ‘moral and ethical imperative’ to pay up on time. “My concern is that small companies may not have the financial resources to take legal action if the terms of this new legislation are breached,” she said. The Fine Gael MEP also said that the law will not help address the immediate cash flow crisis in Ireland, as it only comes into force in two years’ time. Labour MEP Alan Kelly said that despite the time lag, the decision will come as welcome news to the Irish
Alan Kelly mep
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EURO-LINK SOUTH With Jessie Magee Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises group which has been lobbying for legislation on late payments for some time. “It is a positive development and will ensure that businesses have to plan well to pay suppliers. It particularly helps those who are trading at a European level,” he said.
Follow the ‘fighting French’, says Munster MEP Higgins Ireland should borrow a bit of the Gallic spirit being displayed by the French strikers, a Munster MEP said last month. Kerryman and Socialist MEP Joe Higgins was speaking in Strasbourg during protests against atJoe Higgins MEP tempts by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to push through controversial pension reforms. Mr Higgins called on people in Ireland and across the EU to show their solidarity with the French struggle and mobilise their own workers’ movements at home. “The stiff resistance of the French workers is a true inspiration,” he said. “What we need now is a unified movement across European borders of ordinary people in opposition to what I call the ‘dictatorship’ of the financial markets, the big banks and the hedge fund
operators, who are driving down living standards in their search for increased profits.” He denied that he was ‘interfering’ in other countries’ problems by joining the French strikers, claiming that there is always a huge welcome for international support when workers take to the streets.
Irish MEPs split over maternity and paternity leave debate Controversial EU proposals on maternity leave have caused a split between Irish MEPs, mirrored by strong disagreements between member states. The European Parliament voted in favour of a plan to extend the length of maternity leave from 14 to 20 weeks fully paid and provide a minimum of two weeks’ fully paid paternity leave. Speaking in Strasbourg, Ireland South Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly said the plans were praiseworthy but that “we have to be realistic.” “If all these proposals are taken into consideration, women will never get a chance to be employed,” he said. However three other Irish MEPs have defended the draft plan and poured scorn on claims that it would cost the Exchequer €300 million a year. Labour MEPs Nessa Childers and Proinsias de Rossa both insisted that the measure would pay for itself by encouraging women to remain in the workforce. Socialist MEP Joe Higgins also defended the proposal, which he said would ensure that mothers could return to work ‘without fear of discrimination’. Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins cau-
tioned against getting ‘hot and bothered’ about legislation which is still in the very early stages of negotiation. “This is only a first reading - the proposal would need to be signed off by an Irish minister, then come back to MEPs again and be endorsed, so it will be interesting to see how we balance things up,” he said.
Give EU a seat at United Nations, Kelly urges A Munster MEP has called for a special position to be allocated to the EU at the United Nations. Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly was speaking following an address by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to MEPs in Strasbourg. The former GAA President said the EU should have a stronger role at the heart of UN decision-making, particularly in relation to aid for developing countries. “At the moment individual countries have a UN seat but the EU does not. I think that given the huge contributions being made by Europe towards development aid in the Third World, the bloc needs to be given a stronger presence within the UN. Surely the more positive voices of encouragement for developing countries there are, the better the chance of achieving the desired UN goals of eliminating poverty,” said Mr Kelly. In his address to MEPs at the European Parliament, UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon called on EU member states to step up their efforts to fight poverty, confront climate change and eliminate nuclear weapons.
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