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June 2013 Archives

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June 20, 2013

Top Quality Action Guaranteed at Adelaide Masters Round 2



adelaide-masters Visitors to Round Two of the Adelaide Masters Series are guaranteed top quality action as Ireland’s premier Motorcycle Racing Series returns to the Mondello Park National Circuit this coming Saturday and Sunday (June 22nd & 23rd). The Mondello Park Sports Club will be in charge for a busy event with twenty one races to be run over the two days.


The Adelaide Masters Series continues to develop as the top Irish Short Circuit Racing championship with the backing of Motorcycle Insurance Specialists, Adelaide Insurance Services. This weekend's event will be the second of the five event schedule and already the battle lines have been drawn in the feature Superbike and Supersport classes.


Derek Sheils leads the way in Superbike ahead of Mark Glasgow with Jonny Buckley and Damien Byrne tied for third place. Just one point further back and a man to watch this weekend is Marshall Neill on the Wilson Craig Honda. Joining the established stars for the second event of the year will be two of Ireland's top British Superstock competitors Cody Nally and Lee Johnston and they are certain to get in amongst the championship front runners as will David Haire who makes his first 2013 appearance following an early season injury.


The Supersport class is even more competitive than the Superbike with more than a dozen riders on the grid capable of winning. Leading the way here is Richie Ryan who took two wins at the opening event. Second in the standings is the other 2013 race winner, Marshall Neill and he is followed by a trio of young guns, pre-season favourite Carl Phillips, the ever improving Jamie Patterson and last years Cup champion Luke Johnston. These five are joined by the likes of David Haire, Jason Lynn, Dean McMaster, James Kelly and Conor Parkhill.


Proving once again the appeal of the series, this weekend's event will see the addition of a new series sponsor. Joining Adelaide Insurance, Irish Ferries, Dunlop and Safety Direct will be Energy Drink Mountain Dew.


Sunday's event will also include the second round of the Irish Stunt Riding Championship organised by Stunt Ireland. The series is starting into just its second year but is already seen as an integral part of the Adelaide Masters race day entertainment. The stunt action takes place all day at the back of the circuits first Turn, Ford Corner.


The timetable for the weekend sees the first of three races for each class take place on Saturday afternoon. The remaining two races will be run on Sunday with the Second and third Supersport and Superbike races being the focus of the day. The first of the feature races gets under way at 12:30 and the timetable continues after a lunch break with the last of the feature events set to get the green light at 16:00.


Admission to each day is just €10.00 for adults with under sixteen’s admitted free of charge. All admission includes both the race event and stunt series and a complimentary event programme while stocks last. For further information on the Adelaide Masters Series see www.adelaidemasters.ie.


 


Peatland Educators to launch Peatland Passport for Ireland

IPCCEducators representing the network of 23 peatland sites open to the public around the country are to meet in the Bog of Allen. They are set to launch a peatland passport for Ireland and to develop a back pack of fun activities for family visitors to do as they visit peatlands during the summer holidays.

The Bog of Allen Nature Centre is run by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council and is a centre of excellence in peatland conservation, education and research. The IPCC will be hosting this first ever get together of educators from around the 32 counties of Ireland who have indicated their willingness to become involved in the peatland passport initiative.

“The project ticks all the boxes. It’s getting everyone involved, broadening our view of peatlands, attracting visitors from home and overseas and it has a low outlay of funds and maintenance” says Dr Catherine O’Connell, the project leader.

The conference is being funded by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Science, Technology, Research & Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) Programme 2007 – 2013.


June 14, 2013

Irish Open set to become great Festival of Golf

The 2013 Irish Open is poised to become a spectacular Festival of Golf next month when Carton House Golf Club welcomes a world class field to County Kildare from June 27-30.

17th-hole.pngFour Irish Major Champions – Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy - will compete at Carton House along with Carton’s Touring Professional, Shane Lowry, a host of Tour winners and Ryder Cup stars and 2014 captain Paul McGinley, creating a superb platform for the event’s return to the Republic of Ireland after a visit to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland last year.

The atmosphere ‘outside the ropes’ promises to be equally impressive. The European Tour can today announce two unique initiatives which are certain to add to the party mood and engage with the spectactors attending Ireland’s biggest golf event of the year, and also the thriving local communities within easy reach of Carton House.

 

The Tour has unveiled plans to transform the 17th hole into a rousing ‘spectator stadium’, with an imposing grandstand seating almost 1,500 fans enveloping the picturesque 176 yard, par three, penultimate hole of the Montgomerie Course, where fans can cheer or even jeer the shots from the famous names, as they watch all of the drama unfold.

 

Inspired by the famous 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale during the Phoenix Open on the US PGA Tour, the hole will be re-named ‘Open House at the 17th’ for the duration of the tournament, with the principal aim of creating a special Irish atmosphere at one of the critical holes at Carton House.

Another unique concept is the Three Towns Initiative - part of a wide range of features aimed at ensuring that the Irish Open becomes a great festival, not just in terms of golf but also the manner in which it involves the wider community including the towns of Maynooth, Leixlip and Celbridge.

Additionally, three former Irish Open champions have all agreed to become Ambassadors for each of the three towns for the duration of the tournament. Richard Finch will represent Celbridge; Australian Brett Rumford, the 2004 winner will be the ambassador for Maynooth, while 2010 champion Ross Fisher of England will join forces with Leixlip.

The combined population of Maynooth, Celbridge and Leixlip and their environs is around 50,000 people, with all three towns located between two and three miles from the front gate at Carton House.

Representatives from the towns’ social, business, cultural and political communities have focused on this year’s Irish Open to galvanise their combined communities into turning North Kildare into an exciting and attractive feast of golf and a festival that the entire community - especially families - can enjoy.

This initiative will help promote the ‘festival of golf’ ambience which helped elevate recent Irish Opens in Killarney and Royal Portrush into highly significant social and cultural – as well as sporting - events for those respective towns and wider communities.

A range of initiatives are underway to ensure that there is a ‘Cead Mile Fáilte’ for players, sponsors, media, golf enthusiasts, casual visitors and those who live, work or visit the area to share in the excitement and sense of occasion.

Antonia Beggs, Championship Director of the Irish Open, said: “The European Tour is delighted to announce those two exciting new initiatives which we believe will add to the sense of fun and enjoyment both on the golf course and in the immediate vicinity of Carton House, engendering a wonderful sense of community spirit to complement world class sport.

“After the success of the Irish Open in recent years, including last year’s sell-out at Royal Portrush, we felt this tournament was the perfect vehicle to tap into Ireland’s well known sense of fun and community. I’m sure the Irish golf fans will get behind these enterprises and make them hugely successful.

“We recently announced a programme events for ‘Super Saturday’ incorporating the British and Irish Lions rugby on the big screens in the morning of June 29 followed by the third round of the tournament and the chance to see the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh in the evening. We are very excited about the ‘Open House at 17’initiative which is a first for The European Tour and one which we hope will create a truly special atmosphere at this year’s tournament.”

Peter Minnock, from Kildare County Council and the driving force behind the Three Towns Initiative along with Carton House Director, Conor Mallaghan, is equally thrilled to be part of the campaign for 2013.

He said: “We want to provide a compelling reason for people living close to Carton House to come along to the Irish Open and be part of a wonderful experience. Many local residents may never have been to a golfing event of this nature and this initiative is aimed at enabling as many people as possible to see golf and the world’s best exponents of their craft at first hand, with a focus on youth, local residents and convenience.

“A delegation of representatives from each of the three towns, together with Fáilte Ireland, recently visited Killarney, with the intention of building on that experience. We aim to recreate Killarney’s whole hearted engagement and support for such a national and international competition. The coming together of the business community and public agencies to energise and support a common agenda is being used as the basis for the planning and preparation needed to make north Kildare a fertile venue for hosting the Irish Open.”

Among the plans for the three towns are:

  •  The inclusion of a simple guide to golf in a locally produced brochure is intended to help newcomers to understand the basic rules of golf as a sport. 
  •  A shuttle service between the towns and the event to allow easy access to the venue throughout the days of the competition, partly because of the proximity of the population to thevenue, but also to limit the inconvenience of significant traffic associated with such an event. 
  • Each town to adopt a colour-coordinated clothing theme that will identify each town, to add tothe level of engagement between the townspeople and the golfers and patrons of the event in away that will highlight town support for the Player Ambassadors of those towns.
  • A charter being adopted in common between the three towns across the business community to demonstrate through fair pricing for accommodation, food and refreshments that will ensurevalue for money for visitors and residents alike.
  • Dressing windows in golfing paraphernalia. This will include best shop front competitions to reinforce the golfing theme and underline the promotion and advertisement of the Irish Open being in town as a ‘not to be missed’ event.


Each town will seek to have an official launch of their particular programme of activities and attractions around the Irish Open at Carton House. This will include the schedule of events being held in Irish Open week and also the support of the town for particular named ambassadors.

Shane Lowry, Touring Professional for Carton House, said: “This is great news. Irish golf has never been stronger with four Major Champions in our midst and I would encourage everyone living nearby to come along and enjoy the atmosphere and be part of a fantastic event.”

Meanwhile, fans can now reserve their seat in the 17th hole grandstand for just €10 per day, ensuring that in the year of The Irish Gathering they are part of this exhilarating crowd experience. Big screens will also be erected at the 17th hole allowing spectators to watch all of the action from elsewhere on the course.

Spectators will be encouraged to show their support for all the players and offer a rapturous reception when they take on the 17th hole, with the River Rye running down the right hand side adding further jeopardy and drama.

Information about the 17th hole grandstand at the 2013 Irish Open can be found on www.europeantour.com/tickets, where special advanced tickets offers for the tournament can also be located.

An advance season ticket for all four days of The Irish Open can be bought for €70, a saving and €10 on admission at the gate. Adult day tickets are priced at €30 pre-event, and €35 on the gate. Concessions are available at €50 for a season (€60 on the gate) and €20 for any one day (€25 on the gate).Under-16s accompanied by an adult are admitted free of charge and all car parking is also free. Reserved grandstand seating can also be purchased immediately for Thursday, Friday and Saturday (€10) and the Sunday (€15) of the event.

Additionally, as part of the Irish Open ticket campaign, fans of golf and horse racing can enjoy both sports on the same day – Saturday, June 29 – by purchasing a specially priced ‘Irish Double’ ticket to enjoy the third round of the Irish Open and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day for a combined price of €50.

Corporate Hospitality packages are also available with prices ranging from €245 to €295 (plus VAT). For all enquiries please contact Joanne in CSL Hospitality on 01 676 6650 or joanne@cslhospitality.ie For further information please visit www.cslhospitality.ie

Full ticket information can be found at: www.europeantour.com/tickets or telephone Ticket Hotline: +440800 023 2557. Irish callers can phone: 1890 252 698. Postal enquiries should be sent to: European Tour Tickets, Mirren Court Three, 123 Renfrew Court Three, Paisley, PA3 4EA.


June 13, 2013

Adelaide Masters almost ready to return to action


adelaide-mastersIt seems a very long time since the first event of the 2013 Adelaide Masters Series back in April but Ireland's biggest Motorcycle Racing Series is almost ready to burst back into action with its next event scheduled for Mondello Park on the weekend of June 22nd and 23rd.

Backed by Motorcycle Insurance Specialists, Adelaide Insurance Services the series got off to a flying start with its opening three rounds in the first week of April. A very strong field was assembled despite the early start to the championship particularly in the Supersport class where the competition was particularly tight.

Derek Sheils was the man on form in the Superbike class as he took three relatively easy wins on his CD Racing machinery. Mark Glasgow was the other big points scorer as some of the more fancied runners, such as Marshall Neill and Alan Bonner, did not have the best of days. Sheils did not prove as dominant in Supersport where the battles were between Richie Ryan and Neill. These two shared the wins to end up first and second in the points while pre-race favourite Carl Phillips had an off day to end up only third in the points.

Rounds four, five and six will be contested over the two days of the next event and as usual the riders will be battling for a major prize fund as well as the championship. Races one and two will have a sizeable fund on offer but the third race will be the one they all want to win as the money on offer to the winner almost triples.

Race one for each class takes place on Saturday with races two and three scheduled for Sunday. The featured Supersport and Superbike races will form the main part of the day with these races scheduled to take place between 14:00 and 16:30.

Additional entertainment will be provided off track by the second round of the Stunt Ireland Irish Stunt Riding Championship with viewing of this additional event included in the great value for money admission fee of just €10.00.

Information on the Adelaide Masters Series is now available on a dedicated championship web site www.adelaidemasters.ie.


Pop up Information Fair for the Unemployed, June 18-20

CKLPCounty Kildare Leader Partnership have announced the return of their pop-up information fair to Newbridge from Tuesday 18th  June to Thursday 20th June 2013. The fair, which will be held in the Courtyard Shopping Centre, Newbridge adjacent to the Whitewater Shopping Centre, will offer a one stop shop of supports available to unemployed people from Newbridge and the surrounding areas.

Geraldine Hewson, Employment Support worker with County Kildare LEADER Partnership said that the fair, which ran last year for one day, is now being extended to three days following feedback from the public. “The benefit of this event is that all the information individuals, who find themselves unemployed, will be under the one roof” added Ms. Hewson.

The forthcoming information fair will bring together information on education and training options, work experience and employment programmes, self employment options as well as information on rights and entitlements. The fair will feature services from County Kildare LEADER Partnership as well as other local services including the Department of Social Protection, Kildare Adult Guidance Service (VEC), Kildare Local Employment Service (Obair), EmployABILITY Kildare, the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed, Kildare Volunteer Centre, Citizens Information Service/Money Advice and Budgeting Service, Newbridge Resource Centre for the Unemployed, National University of Ireland Maynooth and IT Carlow.

Pat Leogue, Social Inclusion Manager with County Kildare LEADER Partnership, stated that the information fairs had proved very successful in helping local unemployed people to avail of services that are willing to be of assistance. “We have found that these fairs act as a gateway for unemployed people to access state services and the agencies also find the fair an opportunity to directly assist the people who need their service” added Mr. Leogue.

The fair will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, and everyone is welcome to drop in and have a chat or ask questions. KFM Radio will broadcast live from the fair on Wednesday 19th June from 12 noon until 3 p.m. and will be talking to local people who have been assisted by County Kildare LEADER Partnership.

Further details can also be found on their Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter @CountyKildareLP, or contact them directly:

Tel: 045 895450
Email: info@countykildarelp.ie
Web: www.countykildarelp.ie


Single Chamber of Commerce proposal - Introductory evening June 17

chambers-irelandPresented by North Kildare Chamber / Newbridge Chamber

To be held in The Osborne Centre, Irish National Stud, Kildare Town, Monday 17th June 6.30pm

This follows on from similar presentations made in Athy and Leixlip over the past few weeks

This Business to Business event will consist of a brief presentation outlining the anticipated benefits of single Chamber representation throughout the county followed by a question and answer session.

David O’Reilly, President of Newbridge Chamber explains, “At a challenging time for our Country, we need the business community to take a leadership role in our society. The proposed merger is in line with the scheduled closure of all Town Councils in Ireland next year when Kildare County Council will become the single unit of Local Government in the county.”

Eilis Quinlan, North Kildare Chamber president added, “A countywide Chamber could have a membership of over 500 companies providing the critical mass that a modern Chamber of Commerce requires to deliver a fit for purpose, permanently staffed and resourced operation meeting the needs of business in the county. We look forward to working closely with the business people of Kildare to maximise our impact on the economic development of the county as a whole” she concluded.

The event is open to all business, big or small, who wish to help make County Kildare the location of choice for existing and potential business enterprises.


June 11, 2013

Boylesports Launch Curragh Sponsorship



Katie Walsh, Nina Carberry and Jane Mangan at the launch of the Ladies Derby.Boylesports are delighted to renew their association with the Curragh after a break of two years.


Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker will sponsor the Ladies Derby taking place on Sunday 30th June, Day 3 of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, as well as the €100,000 Rockingham Handicap taking place on Sunday 21st July as part of the Darley Irish Oaks Weekend. Boylesports previously sponsored the Irish 1000 and 2000 Guineas from 2003 to 2009 and the National Stakes in 2010.


The Rockingham Handicap was first run in 1938 and has consistently been one of the most competitive sprint handicaps in the Irish racing calendar, attracting a lot of UK runners. This year for the first time, the 5 furlongs contest will carry record prize money of €100,000, while the Ladies Derby is now established as one of the premier races in Europe for lady riders.


Leon Blanche, Head of Communications at Boylesports, commented “Boylesports are delighted to have renewed their association with the Curragh Racecourse and look forward to an action packed flat season at Ireland’s racing headquarters.”


He added “The Rockingham Handicap is now one of Ireland’s leading premier handicaps ran over five furlongs and always attracts some of the best sprinters from both Ireland and the UK, whilst the Ladies Derby is the highlight for all female jockeys across Europe.”


Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager of the Curragh Racecourse, commented, “We are delighted to have Boylesports back at the Curragh to be part of both our Derby and Oaks weekend.


He added “I am confident that their association will ensure that we can attract the best horses to compete in two of our most competitive races and raise the profile of both races with a strong betting market and incentives to customers of Boylesports to come to the races for what promises to be two excellent race days.”


June 06, 2013

Local Enterprise Offices to Support Small Business at Local Level


Kildare County Council welcomes the publication of the Framework Service Level Agreement (SLA) between local authorities and Enterprise Ireland for the new Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). The SLA along with the new branding for the LEO offices were recently revealed by Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Mr Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr Phil Hogan TD and Minister of State for Small Business, Mr John Perry TD. LEOs will act as a one-stop-shop to support micro and small businesses in each county. The LEOs are being delivered through a Framework Service Level Agreement between Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities. Kildare County Council is committed to playing its part to ensure that the LEO will be up and running by the end of 2013.

The Ministers recently launched the initiative in Fingal County Council. The LEOs are the result of a major restructuring of State support for small and micro sized businesses, which was previously delivered by County and City Enterprise Boards.

“The LEOs are a new initiative to further support local economies and entrepreneurship with high level support delivered at local level” said Mr Michael Malone, County Manager. “The ultimate aim is to create enhanced, integrated and tailored support in Kildare, benchmarked by Enterprise Ireland and delivered in partnership with Kildare County Council.”

The LEOs will be part of the broad range of support given by Kildare County Council for economic development but it will have a clear focus on local enterprise development. The main services provided by LEOs include; business information and advisory services, enterprise support services, entrepreneurship support services and local enterprise development services.


Weekend of celebration for 'Mondello 45'

Mondello-45

Mondello 45, a celebration of 45 years of Ireland's only International Motor Racing Circuit, is set to take place at Mondello Park this Saturday night followed by a full days racing on Sunday.

Saturday night's Birthday celebration will be hosted by Mondello Park owner Martin Birrane and will include a rare interview with Mr. Birrane along with interviews with Stuart Cosgrave, one of the founders of the circuit, and other famous names from Mondello Park's past and present. Prior to the party a guided tour of the Circuit's museum will take place at 19:00 and both the museum tour and the party are free events open to all motorsport enthusiasts.

Sunday's race event will centre around a race for the very impressive, newly created, Birrane Trophy and this will go to the class with the largest entry. At present there is only one championship in the running to take that honour and that is the brand new Patch Tyres Fiesta Championship which in only its second ever race will have almost forty entries.

Alongside the Fiestas another series is set for an auspicious début as GT racing returns with a new set of regulations and increased promotion. Having secured sponsorship from independent Porsche Specialists OPH the new series has attracted a quality field of cars, including Lotus’s, Porsches and RT2000 Supercars amongst others, in a field which now looks likely to top fifteen cars.

Admission to Sunday's event is at its lowest ever level with a special birthday price of €4.50 for adults while under sixteen’s are admitted free. Also admitted free of charge will be anyone arriving in a Mini of any vintage. Those who do arrive will be allowed take part in a lunchtime parade, which will be led away by John Keaney, winner of the first ever Mondello Park race in a Mini and in celebration, John will be driving the very latest JCW Cooper Works MINI when leading the parade. The JCW Cooper MINI is supplied courtesy of Mini Ireland, who are on-site as part of the Mini celebration, with all the current models on display.

The remainder of a busy days racing will be made up of double headers for Stryker Sports Cars, Formula Sheane and Irish Touring Cars, while the Formula Vee and Future Classic drivers will both have a single race. Racing gets underway at 11:30 and if you can’t make the event, you can watch all the action live on Mondello Park's live streaming TV station, Mondello.TV.


June 04, 2013

Chambers Amalgamation proposal - Introductory Evenings 11 & 17 June

Single Chamber of Commerce proposed for Co. Kildare in 2014

Introductory evening to be held in



  • Springfield  Hotel, Leixlip 11th June 6.30pm

  • Irish National Stud, Kildare Town 17th June 6.30pm




Eilis & David with Enda Kenny The next promotion for the proposed amalgamation of the Chambers of Commerce in Co. Kildare will take place in The Springfield Hotel, Leixlip, 11th June 6.30pm and in The Irish National Stud, Kildare Town 17th June 6.30pm.

This Business to Business event will consist of a brief presentation outlining the anticipated benefits of single Chamber representation throughout the county followed by a question and answer session.

David O’Reilly, President of Newbridge Chamber explains, “At a challenging time for our Country, we need the business community to take a leadership role in our society. The proposed merger is in line with the scheduled closure of all Town Councils in Ireland next year when Kildare County Council will become the single unit of Local Government in the county.”

Eilis Quinlan, North Kildare Chamber president added, “A countywide Chamber could have a membership of over 500 companies providing the critical mass that a modern Chamber of Commerce requires to deliver a fit for purpose, permanently staffed and resourced operation meeting the needs of business in the county. We look forward to working closely with the business people of Kildare to maximise our impact on the economic development of the county as a whole” she concluded.

The event is open to all business, big or small who wish to help make County Kildare the location of choice for existing and potential business enterprises.



 


Water and Plants; Understanding the functioning of a raised bog

 
IPCCThe Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) are delighted to announce that of one of their priority projects for 2013, a detailed analysis of the links between hydrological functioning and surface ecology on Lodge Bog Co. Kildare, is now underway.
 
This analysis, known as an eco-hydrology study, is now considered best practice and has been recommended to be carried out on all raised bogs of conservation concern in the country. It involves detailed analysis of the current hydrological state of the bog, both at the surface and lower in the groundwater system, which allows for mapping of the historical plant assemblages as well as today’s ecosystem functioning within the bog habitat.
 
“This study will be using the latest techniques in peatland research that will in the coming years be used to assess the conservation value of peatlands right across the country. IPCC are delighted to be at the forefront of this research allowing us to maintain Lodge Bog as one of the best studied bogs in the country” says Tadhg Ó Corcora, Conservation Officer with the IPCC.
 
The project has kindly been supported by Kildare County Council under the Community Heritage Grants Scheme and will be carried out over the next 3 to 4 months.
 
“Only through analyzing what is going on below the ground can we get an insight into what the surface we see everyday has done historically and what it is likely to do into the future” Mr. Ó Corcora continued