TRAVEL
Home & Away with Robert Walshe The number of foreigners studying English in Ireland will surpass 100,000 this year generating over €300m in revenue. Numbers are up 16 per cent in the first nine months of the year, according to Marketing English in Ireland, the group representing half of English language schools in Ireland. There is likely to be a jump in revenue, as growth is coming mainly from the Asian market where students stay an average of 20 weeks while Europeans stay for four weeks. Though numbers increased just 3 per cent last year, from 93,000 to 96,000, revenue was up from €254m to €297m. Meanwhile airline revenue from non-ticket sources – including baggage charges, in-flight food, travel insurance and car hire – is expected to rise by 44 per cent this year. It singled out Ryanair, easyJet, Aer Lingus, Malaysia-based AirAsia, and US-based Spirit Airlines as the “ancillary revenue champs”, as they generate the highest percentage of their income – around 20 per cent – through such sources.
Weekend Hideaway
Tourists love to visit all parts of Jamaica for its hot sun, beautiful sandy beaches and clear blue water. but there is more to it than swaying palms and sugar beaches. Capital city Kingston the largest English-speaking city south of the Miami while primarily a business hub is also a must see for tourists who want to feel the real beating heart of this exciting country. Surrounded by the Blue Mountains with the world’s seventh-largest natural harbour in its midst, Kingston is the political, cultural and commercial centre offering an impressive mix of attractions to satisfy all tastes and age groups. The metropolitan area with a population of 800,000 includes the fishing village of Port Royal a hangout for the notorious pirates of the Caribbean before an earthquake in the summer of 1692. caused massive destruction. Port Royal’s wild reputation lives on and the remains still attract visitors while the area north of New Kingston is lined with stunning homes and spectacular views. The neighbourhood known as Spanish Town is on the western outskirts of Kingston and was capital of the island under Spanish rule between 1662 and 1872. Today the architecture is an interesting mix of Spanish and British Georgian, and there are some historic attractions. A
great deal of Kingston is pure shanty town, but again one sees striking contrasts, especially in New Kingston, situated between the downtown and mid town areas and the fading but still gracious suburbs of St. Andrew. New Kingston is a business area which embodies the best of modern tropical town planning, graciously combining high rise buildings and well-groomed n Devon Hou gardens At the Blue Mountain se Kingsto n Jamaica. hamlet of Mavis Bank on the rley Ma trail to Blue Mountain Peak is n Bob the Jablum Coffee Company. The 100-year-old company is famous for its Blue Mountain coffee, and visitors can tour guestroom includes a the working factory to watch the 42-inch flat-screen TV, production process along. Around iPod dock, mini bar, safe, a Kingston, reggae is everywhere, res- coffee machine, black-out taurants, radio stations, juke boxes blinds, a large oval-shaped all play it. The Bob Marley Museum soaking tub and shower and on Hope Road one of the cities main free wireless web access. The attractions also doubled as the origi- Sky Terrace is highlighted by nal studio for the famous Tuff Gong a 50-foot lap pool, a sweeping record label founded by Marley and veranda with chaise lounges The Wailers in 1970. It was here that and shade umbrellas and a n Spanish Court Hotel. the infamous failed assassination at- bar, which offers secluded tempt on Marley failed in 1976, leav- privacy with a panoramic ing him wounded but not dead. The view. www.spanishcourthoJamaican government designated this tel.com You can holiday in museum as a national heritage site in Kingston at any time of the year and August it is including a free sailing 2001. Guided tours include glimpses be assured of sunshine and tropical to Britain www.irishferries.com One of Marley’s platinum disc collection, days and night. This is because the of my favourite properties in Ireland original press cuttings and authen- city is sheltered by the Blue Moun- the Cliff House, Ardmore has a special tic stage costumes. Guests are even tains from the rain and you are most dinner on November 14th when chef given access to Marley’s bedroom and unlikely to have tropical storms to Martijn Kajuiter cooks an eight-course kitchen. I also got to visit the nearby take the sunshine out of your visit. menu and sommelier Anke Hartmann Devon House a prime example of Ja- Virgin Atlantic fly three times weekly chooses the wines for each course. maican Georgian architecture. built in to Montego Bay from London Gatwick Dinner, including wines, is €125pp. BB 1881 by Jamaica’s first black million- all year round or to Kingston Jamaica for two costs €135. www.thecliffhouseaire- it has fine landscaped grounds direct up to March 2012 Fares start at hotel.com Catch some rays this winwhere you can stop for a famous ice £655.50 (including tax). For more in- ter with the following sun offers from cream or drink and the tour is well formation please call 0044 8444 2092 GoHop.ie including the Algarve - Stay worth considering. Any tour company 770 www.virginatlantic.com For more 5 nights at the 2* Clube Brisamar on a in the city will offer you a tour of King- information on Jamaica, visit www.vis- self catering basis from €182. Depart: ston’s cultural and historic points of itjamaica.com 6th November. Nice - Stay 5 nights at interest or you can make arrangements the 3* Kyriad Nice Centre Gare on a with an individual taxi driver but it’s Weekly Best Buy self catering basis from €283. Depart: important to agree to a price before Head to Rome from November 5th 9th November. Lanzarote - Stay 7 setting off. Hotel standards in the and your escorted holiday includes nights at the 3* Flora Apts on an All city are exceptionally high and I felt guided tours of the Vatican and the Inclusive basis from €499. Depart: spoilt by my one night stay at Spanish Eternal City. Staying at the three-star 11th November. Fuerteventura - Stay Court Hotel a 109 bedroom boutique Hotel della Conciliazione near the 7 nights in the 5* Sheraton Fuertevenstyle property boasting Spanish ar- Vatican, the four-day break is from tura Beach Golf & Spa on a B&B basis chitecture on the exterior and inside €534pps. www.joewalshtours.ie Get from €547. Depart: 13th November. a sleek and elegant décor styled in a 10 per cent discount on 2012 Irish Gran Canaria - Stay 7 nights at the 3* wicker and floral; with bean-shaped Ferries sailings to France if you book Dunas Mirador Maspalomas on a Self white leather sofas, animal-print ac- by December 15th (deposit €100). Catering basis from €490. Depart: 3rd cents and jatobá-wood floors. Each And for bookings in June, July and November. www.gohop.ie
Pet’s Corner...
with Kathleen Murray
Wildlife - feeding in winter Everyone is familiar with feeding the birds over the winter. Bird tables are stocked with seeds etc so that when the cold weather, or snow, comes and food is hard to find, the little birds still have something to keep them going. People should keep a watch out for unusual birds. Sometimes a pet bird escapes from the house and would surely come to a very cold sad end in this weather. Time is a major factor if a house bird (parrot, budgie, baraband etc) escapes. They cannot take the cold at all so need to be found very quickly. Keep a close eye on your bird at all times. Doors and windows should always be closed when your bird is out of the cage. What else should you watch out
Living
for in the cold weather? You could watch out for hibernating animals. Hedgehogs are often in danger because people don’t know that there is one in their garden and may light a fire without noticing the sleeping hedgehog under leaves or bits of wood. One thing that brings great joy to people at this time of year is the arrival of the swans and the wild geese. They are beautiful to look at. They arrive in October and leave again in April so enjoy them while they are with us. Watch out for their welfare as swans mate for life and when one returns alone it is a very sad and lonely sight. They can get caught in wire or netting, or may walk on broken glass by accident, as they cross a road etc. If you are an animal lover then you
could leave a little box or crate of some kind in a quiet corner of the garden in case an animal wants to rest up for a little bit, out of the wind and rain. Animals often get lost or have accidents on the road and run away in shock. They are often disorientated and lost. Sometimes they just need somewhere to put their head down for a sleep until they are well enough to move on again. If you wake up to a pile of cats from the neighbour that didn’t bother to neuter, then that’s a whole different story. Lift the box and all that’s in it and set it down in the neighbours garden again. Get yourself a new box and continue with your good work. The animals will appreciate it.
Home and Away Extra Direct flights will operate from Donegal to Dublin and Glasgow from this November. Scottish Airline, Loganair, will provide two round trip flights every day between Donegal and Dublin. Services will start on Thursday, November 3rd, and will be operated by Loganair under its franchise agreement with Flybe. Starting the same day will be a new service to Glasgow, offering between four flights per week and daily depending on seasonal demand. Robert Walshe is a freelance contributor / broadcaster and guest travel writer for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland