€1.5m to be invested in tourism sector promote Ireland as 'Home of Halloween'
A total of €1.5 million is to be invested in the tourism sector to promote Ireland as the 'Home of Halloween'.
A joint project involving Louth and Meath county councils is one of five to secure funding from Fáilte Ireland's new Home of Halloween Pilot Destination Development Scheme.
They will focus on the ancient stories of the Boyne Valley as the Global Birthplace of Halloween Celebrations.
Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Minister Peter Burke announced a total of €1.5 million which will be invested over the next three years.
This is part of 'Ireland, Home of Halloween Strategy' which aims to establish Ireland as the authentic global home of the festival which is now celebrated all over the world.
The projects are expected to attract 270,000 additional visitors over three years, generating €17 million for local economies, and supporting over 500 direct and indirect jobs.
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The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Homes Under The Hammer's Martin Roberts gives shock update on hotel project, admitting ‘I have failed on every level'
WITH total honesty, Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts admits: 'For a man who spends all his time telling people to make sure they stick to their budgets and timescales, I have failed on every single level.' Two years ago, the property expert showed The Sun around his own DIY project to turn a run-down Welsh village pub into a top tourist attraction. Advertisement 8 Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts admits his project to renovate a Welsh pub has been a failure Credit: Dan Jones Images 8 The back of the hotel shows a building in dire need of urgent renovation Credit: Huw Evans And just like he does on the hit property show, I asked: 'What is your timescale?' Back then, in spring 2023, Martin was convinced it would take just two years and around half a million pounds to So here we are, two years later, and on the outside, the eight-bedroom boozer looks . . . exactly the same. Martin, 61, who has witnessed more than 3,000 property renovations on his BBC daytime show, says: 'I'm still smiling but, oh my word, what a challenge it's been. Advertisement READ MORE ON MARTIN ROBERTS 'I'll be honest, it's the first commercial property I've ever done. 'There have been lots of residential houses and flats, but commercial properties have a lot more complications. 'I'd say we are 60 per cent of the way there.' But when I ask how soon we can expect the pub to be open, Martin hedges his bets and shrugs: 'I think it's going to come together really quickly in the final few months. Advertisement Most read in News TV 'I'm hopeful for Halloween but Christmas would be good. If not, in time for Easter.' One of the many hold-ups, according to Martin, has been dealing with planners who insist he makes preparations in case the pub in the former mining village of Blaencwm is hit by a once-in-a-century flood. Homes Under the Hammer's Martin Roberts announces new series that's world's away from beloved BBC show He says: 'We've got to do it right, and we will do it right, but unfortunately that means there's lots of hoops to jump through.' It is only three years since Martin was minutes from death and Advertisement Doctors who carried out the surgery to drain fluid from the sac surrounding his heart told him in future to choose the easy life and avoid unnecessary stress. That is advice he does not seem to have followed. He could have spent his spare time living at his Rhondda Valley farmhouse — which he bought after falling in love with the area — and enjoying the stunning scenery which is popular with mountain bikers. Instead he decided to seize life and bought the pub lock, stock and barrel — without telling his wife Kirsty. Advertisement My head is going, 'What the absolute bleep have you done here?' Every single wall was cock-eyed, every single window was falling down. Add to that the small matter of bats nesting in the leaking roof. Martin Roberts In fact, father-of-two Martin thought he had kept the purchase a complete secret, but he reveals: 'My cleaner rang me up one day and said, 'Have you bought the Hendrewen?' 'It turns out her auntie was in the queue at Asda and the woman behind was saying, 'That Martin Roberts has bought the Hendrewen'. 'It's just hysterical because as far as I was concerned I hadn't told anybody, but it was being discussed in Asda.' next year — or whenever the pub finally opens. Advertisement But he has also given The Sun an exclusive peek at his architect's visualisations of how the pub will look when the work is finally done — including a wacky upside-down Rolls-Royce suspended from the ceiling in the dining area. 8 Martin has shared an artist's impressions of his ambitious plans to renovate the bar and restaurant Credit: Supplied 8 The bar and hotel aims to employ around 30 locals in one of the most deprived areas in Europe Credit: Supplied As well as a new bar and restaurant, there will be eight bedrooms, all named after hit TV shows. Advertisement Martin says: 'When I was a travel journalist I probably stayed in hundreds of hotels and often they all looked the same. 'The ones I remember most are those where the rooms felt individual. "So in my hotel I wanted to create rooms that had an individual feel. 'Then I woke up in the middle of the night and suddenly thought, why don't I theme them around what I know and what I'm known for, which is television. Advertisement 'Each room is themed around a legendary TV show. Obviously we're going to have a Homes Under The Hammer room with lots of memorabilia and funny stuff from the 20 years of the show. 'We're going to have a Doctor Who room, which is very science fiction-y. 'Next Stereophonics' 'A Fawlty Towers room where the light fittings are broken, the wallpaper is hanging off, beds are going to be very creaky and lots of quotes from Fawlty Towers on the walls. 'A Question Of Sport room will have lots of sports memorabilia. Advertisement 'There will also be a Top Of The Pops room, an Antiques Roadshow room, a Planet Earth room and one that is a tribute to Top Gear. 'I've been collecting things from car boot sales, flea markets and online for the last two years. Now I've got lots of TV memorabilia so these rooms can be decorated in the style of different telly programmes. It's going to be great.' 8 Martin is still optimistic his grand plans will accelerate over the coming months Credit: Supplied When the Hendrewen Hotel does finally open it will employ around 30 locals in one of the most deprived areas in Europe. Advertisement Teenage students on catering and hospitality management courses will get practical experience working in the pub and in the hotel. Martin says: 'They'll get a chance to run a real-world place. We're going to have a teaching kitchen where celebrity chefs will come along and pass on their cookery skills. 'We're also putting in a stage with lots of musical instruments, which the locals will be able to come and use. 'And we'll have visiting musicians coming along, teaching musical skills to local kids. We might discover the next Advertisement He also has a team of teens aged 15 to 17 working with his tradesmen, learning the skills to be plasterers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers. Martin says: 'By working in the pub, these kids are getting a massive step up the ladder. A lot of their lives have been transformed. 'We've had kids come off drugs. We've had kids who wouldn't get up out of bed in the mornings who are now arriving early to work because they're enjoying it so much. 'These kids have been told by the schools that they're rubbish. They come in, we give them a paintbrush or a trowel and say, 'There's a wall, you've got to work on this'. We teach them, and they walk away, heads held high, a belief in themselves has returned. Advertisement 'They also walk away with a CSCS card, an industry qualification which shows they've got the safety experience to work on a building site. 'If one day they say working with me was a turning point in their life, I'll be thrilled. 8 Martin plans to create TV themed rooms in the hotel, including one based on Homes Under The Hammer Credit: Supplied 'Village lost its heart' 'Some of the youngsters have given up drugs . We have one lad who struggled to communicate because of a really strong stammer, but he's grown in confidence. Advertisement 'Now he won't stop talking and his stammer has diminished, which is great to see. 'I was three hours away from death, so I am even more driven to do things, not to make me money — because it's certainly not doing that — but to do some good, and to change lives. 'Because that's what you'll be remembered for, not for having a million pounds in the bank.' He adds: 'Bear in mind that some families around this area have generations of unemployment. It's like breaking a cycle and the kids get to see the joys of working.' Advertisement 8 Martin has been presenting Homes Under The Hammer for two decades Credit: Lion TV And Martin admits there are still months of hard graft ahead. He says: 'I've broken every single one of my rules! 'I have been driven by my heart. I made the classic error of going, 'It's a little pub, it closed at the start of lockdown, and the village has lost its heart and it needs me'. 'At the same time, my head is going, 'What the absolute bleep have you done here?' Every single wall was cock-eyed, every single window was falling down. Add to that the small matter of bats nesting in the leaking roof. Advertisement 'It has ups and downs. I still have days when I really struggle with my health. 'This is the thing that just keeps me going. 'I've got people relying on me and I won't let them down. I'm not going to give up.' The last episode of Martin's programme will be the hotel's grand opening. Advertisement He has already booked the world- famous Treorchy Male Choir and a big-name female celebrity . He says: 'I am absolutely supersizing it for the opening. 'The Valleys will have never seen anything like it." And there's light at the end of his tunnel too... 8 Martin has played a key role in the renovation the tunnel linking the Rhondda and Afan Valleys Credit: Huw Evans Advertisement THE end is in sight for Martin's other fix-me-up project in the Welsh Valleys. His hotel in Blaencwm sits at one end of an incredible two-mile railway tunnel that has been closed off for more than 60 years. Martin is patron of the campaign to reopen the tunnel, which links the Rhondda and Afan Valleys, and turn it into a major tourist attraction. When it reopens it will be the longest all-year-round-use tunnel in the world for cyclists and walkers. Advertisement Last week Railway Paths, a charity that restores old railway infrastructure, became a partner in the Rhondda Tunnel, which was used to transport coal from mines in the Valleys to Swansea docks. The £2million restoration could be open in two years. Martin says: 'Now all we want is for the Department for Transport to give us the tunnel. It's not going to cost the UK or the Welsh governments anything. 'The partnership with Railway Paths is a marriage made in heaven. Advertisement 'This could be the vital step to finally making our dreams and hopes a reality. 'Being the longest continually open walking and cycling tunnel in the world will attract visitors from all around the globe to this area.'
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Our rental car burst into FLAMES while we were sat in traffic – we escaped by the skin of our teeth
A COUPLE whose hire car unexpectedly caught fire within minutes while on holiday now want answers from the rental company - who they claim appeared "completely unbothered" by the frightening ordeal. Jenna Willcox, 41, and her partner, Matt Jackson, 39, were driving near Killorglin, a small town in County Kerry, Ireland, when their rented Peugeot 3008 began to emit white smoke and a terrible smell. Advertisement 4 A couple's hire car burst into flames while they were on holiday in Ireland Credit: Matt Jackson 4 A rented Peugeot 3008 started smoking and then suddenly ignited, sparking a nightmare for the holidaymakers Credit: Matt Jackson 4 It left the car reduced to a burnt-out shell Credit: Matt Jackson 4 Burnt-out wreck of hire car leaves couple demanding answers from rental company Credit: Matt Jackson Sensing a major issue, they quickly got out of the car and pulled most of their belongings out with them, including their suitcases. Moments later, the car was completely engulfed in flames, leaving them stunned. 'It literally happened within minutes, we were sitting in traffic outside this little town and smoke started coming out of the bonnet,' said Jenna, speaking exclusively to Sun Motors. 'It was pouring out, it was the worst thing I've ever smelt. I don't know what was on fire, but it smelled like hell.' Advertisement Read more Motors News The couple ran up the road to a nearby petrol station, watching in shock as the car they'd been sitting in was reduced to a burnt-out husk. 'I keep thinking, if the lock hadn't worked or if we hadn't been able to get away in time. 'Luckily, people around us were able to drive away - but what if we'd been inside a tunnel or stuck in traffic?' After the ordeal, the couple managed to get a bus back to their accommodation, expecting Enterprise, the company they'd hired the car from, to provide assistance - perhaps with an offer of compensation or a replacement car. Advertisement Most read in Motors Exclusive But Jenna says their response was slow and disorganised, with the company completely unprepared to manage the situation. She claims they were passed around and transferred to a vehicle recovery company, despite there being "nothing to recover." Cars & 30-tonne HGV collide in high-speed pile-up – but is all as it seems 'We literally spent the whole of the next day on the phone to Enterprise to get them to send us another vehicle - we thought the least they could do was send us another vehicle.' After speaking to Jenna, Sun Motors reached out to Enterprise. Advertisement A spokesperson for the company said: 'At Enterprise we aim to always deliver high-quality customer service. 'If incidents occur, we maintain consistent communication with the customer during and post-incident to provide ongoing support and keep them informed of progress. 'We believe that our actions in this case followed all necessary steps to resolve the situation.' However, Jenna and Matt vehemently disagree with Enterprise's assessment. Advertisement They claim that instead of offering immediate assistance, Enterprise told them they needed to return to the nearest outlet - some 100 miles away - despite the fact they no longer had a means of transport. How to deal with a vehicle fire If your car catches fire or emits smoke while driving, stop safely, evacuate all passengers and call emergency services. Leave the vehicle quickly, as electrical systems might fail. Use an extinguisher on small external fires only if safe, but don't put yourself at risk. Avoid opening the bonnet as it could worsen the fire, move away from traffic lanes, stand behind barriers if possible and keep a safe distance due to risks like toxic fumes, tyre explosions, or flying parts. Inform emergency services about the vehicle type and any flammable cargo, especially if it's an electric vehicle, as these require special handling. Most of all, prioritise your safety over saving the car. It was only after failing to find a taxi and making several further phone calls, they claim, that an employee eventually drove a replacement car to them. Enterprise disputes this claim, saying that it promptly offered transport to the customers. "It seemed like they had absolutely no contingency plan in place,' added Jenna. Advertisement 'Even if the car had broken down, you would think they'd have some sort of plan to bring us one. 'The whole thing with Enterprise, the whole way through, they were really bad at communication. 'They didn't apologise or ask us how we were - they didn't seem to care about any of that.' Jenna and Matt continued to chase a response from Enterprise after the incident happened in September. Advertisement 'Eventually, they got to the stage where they're like, 'Okay, we need to do an investigation into what happened.' 'But it was all from that perspective; what they were interested in was, was it our fault?' Jenna says they never explained or shared any details about the evidence they had - pointing out it was impossible to figure out what caused the fire since the car was completely destroyed. 'At this point, we were terrified, like, what if they think it's our fault? They could prosecute us or take us to court . There was no explanation or communication on what the consequences might be.' Advertisement Eventually, Enterprise concluded their investigation, finding that Jenna and Matt were not at fault. However, much to the couple's frustration, that was the end of the matter. When they contacted the Ombudsman group European Car Rental Conciliation Service (ECRCS), they said they were told by Enterprise that there was a complex investigation ongoing involving many departments. When the couple asked Enterprise about this directly, they claimed the company did not respond - which meant ECRCS said they were unable to act. Advertisement Eight months later, Zurich, Enterprise's insurance company, finally offered them £600 in compensation, later increasing it to £900. However, this failed to account for the ruined holiday, emotional distress and time spent resolving the issue. 'Sometimes when I drive home from work, it does go through my mind. 'You'll sometimes get a weird smell, and you don't know if it's your car or someone else's car, and it does go through my mind - what if it happens again? Advertisement 'Before this fire, I would have just been like, 'Don't be ridiculous, a car can't just catch on fire.' But now I know that it does happen for no reason. That does go through my mind, which is pretty horrible.'
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
IDA Ireland to spend ‘very significantly more' than €100m on site for FDI
IDA Ireland will spend 'significantly more' than €100 million to develop the first of three planned 'next generation sites' around the State, according to Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke . It is understood to be targeting the computer chip sector. The agency, charged with sourcing foreign direct investment for the State, plans to 'develop up to three significantly larger scale, pre-permitted developments' in regional locations, it disclosed in a five-year programme published in February. Speaking in advance of Enterprise Ireland 's Food Innovation Summit in Croke Park, on Wednesday, the Minister said the cost of acquiring the sites would be 'very significant'. 'We will be, in the next couple of weeks, bringing a very significant proposal to Cabinet for our first large scale next generation site,' he said, adding that it would be a site in the west of Ireland, capable of attracting a 'significant company of scale'. READ MORE It would, Mr Burke said, be a 'very strong competitive offering' to foreign direct investment. Asked whether the sites were being earmarked for computer chip manufacturers, the Minister said: 'The KPMG report [into the outlook for Ireland's semiconductor sector] sets out an absolute opportunity here of getting an additional workforce of over 30,000 by 2040, which would be very significant for the sector. 'Right through Covid, we saw significant blockages in manufacturing. We saw blockages in the automotive sector brought to a standstill. Why? Because of a lack of chips. Chips are so important to the digital economy. 'Obviously, the geography of Ireland is very attuned to semiconductor activity, but also need utilities and you need a very significant capacities, and infrastructure,' he said. The Government is looking at 'putting together a war chest for two more additional sites' with pathways to be 'utilities rich' in tandem with the National Development Plan Review, the Minister said. 'The cost will be very significant' given the cost of achieving utility connections with 'the way the site is structured', he said, though he declined to go into specifics on cost of the first site. Asked if it would be more than €100 million, the Minister said: 'Oh, very significantly more than that.' 'We need strategic forward planning to enhance our offer to investors,' the IDA said. 'Ireland must fundamentally reposition its offering to develop a select number of significantly larger-scale solutions in order to be competitive in attracting the next generation of very large-scale, sustainable, capital-intensive FDI.' IDA chief executive Michael Lohan said the sites would be between 500 and 1,000 acres in size but had not yet been identified.
