Category: Hospitality

The 47th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival takes place this October Bank Holiday weekend

One of Europe’s most celebrated music events, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, has launched its 2025 programme, which takes place this October Bank Holiday weekend (23–27 October).

Now in its 47th year, the festival will feature a world-class line-up that spans jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop, and electronic innovation, with global icons and cutting-edge new talent. Headliners already announced include Cymande, JP Cooper, Orchestra Baobab, techno pioneer Jeff Mills, legendary hip-hop collective The Pharcyde, and the soulful voice of Sienna Spiro.

More acts were revealed at the official launch this evening:

Tickets for these newly announced shows go on sale this Friday, 5 September at 10am on guinnesscorkjazz.com.   Organisers say they have more surprises in the bag to announce in the coming weeks.

• Lee Fields & The Expressions  – the legendary American soul singer, whose career began back in 1969, has drawn comparisons to James Brown and Otis Redding, but with a nuanced originality. Lee returns to Irish shores for the first time in 5 years.
• Nubya Garcia – a British jazz musician, saxophonist, composer and bandleader – one of the leading names in the new wave of UK jazz.
• Jape – Rituals – an exclusive tribute to Richie Egan’s early, groundbreaking work.
• Summer Pearl – soulful rising star destined to captivate audiences.
• Norma Winstone & Glauco Venier: Distances and Beyond
• Vallon-Michel-Rossy – Pianist Colin Vallon joins focus with two of Europe’s most prominent and original musicians – Matthieu Michel on trumpet and Jorge Ross on drums.
• Elina Duni & Rob Luft Quartet: A Time To Remember – connecting music from different parts of the world. Supported by Swiss Flugehorn player Matthieu Michel and one of the great contemporary British jazz drummers, Corrie Dick.
• Yankari Afrobeat Collective –  carrying the fire of Afrobeat forward, pushing the genre beyond its roots while staying true to its soul.
• Mås Exödus – a modern contemporary jazz band that emerged in 2021, conceived by festival director Mark Murphy (ChoiceCuts) and guitarist Max Zaska.
• Stella Performs Ella – Stella Bass Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald
• And more local additions including Smithereens, Yankari, Estratos, and Tu-Ki.

“Guinness Cork Jazz is Ireland’s largest jazz festival and a cultural institution.  Every year, Cork becomes the beating heart of jazz, but the festival has grown into so much more – a celebration of musical innovation and cultural energy,” said Mark Murphy, Festival Director.   

Over five days, the festival will feature more than 500 musicians across 100 events in nearly 80 venues, from headline venues for ticketed shows to a free Guinness Music Trail.   The festival also spills into the streets with surprise pop-up gigs, and brass bands with The Big Fringe.  The reach of the festival also extends beyond the city to surrounding areas such as Douglas and Kinsale, making it a key cultural draw for both domestic and international visitors.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival has attracted more than 100,000 attendees in recent years, establishing itself as Ireland’s premier jazz event and the biggest city-based music festival.

Already announced highlights include:

• Cymande – the influential British funk and soul collective, celebrating their first album in a decade.
• JP Cooper – with his soulful vocals and crossover hits.
• Orchestra Baobab – Senegalese legends blending Afro-Cuban rhythms and West African sounds.
• The Pharcyde – revisiting Labcabincalifornia on its 30th anniversary.
• Jeff Mills – presenting Tomorrow Comes the Harvest, a fusion of techno and jazz improvisation.
• Sienna Spiro -19-year old singer-songwriter whose soulful voice and raw lyricism has gained her widespread acclaim.
• Returning favourites Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Le Boom.
• Saul Williams & Carlos Niño, Ross From Friends, Adrian Younge Orchestra, Annie & The Caldwells, The Congos, Khakikid, Vieux Farka Touré, James Holden & Wacław Zimpel, Tolü Makay, and a wide range of emerging Irish talent including God Knows, Zaska, Winnie Ama, and Toshín.

With its mix of jazz greats, global innovators, and breakthrough Irish talent, it’s set to be another incredible weekend of music with a great festival vibe across the city.

The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival takes place from 23-27 October. Tickets and full programme details are available at guinnesscorkjazz.com

The ‘It’s All About Food’ initiative will celebrate Ireland’s world-class produce and the passionate producers behind it

Tourism Ireland has launched a new food campaign in Germany, in partnership with the well-known German barbecue brand MONOLITH Grill and German tour operator Wolters Rundreisen. Called ‘It’s All About Food’, the initiative will celebrate Ireland’s world-class produce and the passionate producers behind it, highlighting Ireland as a must-visit destination for German food lovers and outdoor adventurers alike. Outdoor sporting equipment brand ORTLIEB Sportartikel and knife brand Dick Knives are also supporting the promotion.

Chef Olaf Deharde Explores the Wild Atlantic Way

The campaign is fronted by German chef, journalist and videographer Olaf Deharde, who travelled along the Wild Atlantic Way this summer, uncovering the people and stories behind our superb produce – and capturing all the special moments along the way in a series of videos. His journey took him from harvesting seaweed in West Cork with Atlantic Sea Kayaking, to learning about oysters with Kelly Oysters in Galway and sampling spirits at Dingle Distillery. He also visited Dingle Sheepdogs, as well as Tig Bhric and West Kerry Brewery.

In the videos, viewers will see Olaf create various dishes, all using locally sourced ingredients, on his MONOLITH grill in some of the most scenic locations along the Wild Atlantic Way. The videos, as well as recipes and food stories, are being shared via Tourism Ireland’s social platforms in Germany, as well as via the social channels of the four partner organisations, inspiring German audiences to taste – and travel – their way around Ireland. ]

New Culinary Road Trip: ‘Genussvolles Irland’

Complementing this collaboration, Wolters Rundreisen has launched a new tour called  ‘Autoreise Genussvolles Irland’ (meaning ‘Road Trip Enjoyable Ireland’). The itinerary takes visitors from Cork through the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula and on to the Cliffs of Moher, combining Ireland’s spectacular landscapes with fantastic food experiences – from street food at Cork’s Marina Market to a picnic in the Burren and a stop at Murphy’s Ice Cream.

Nadine Lehmann, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Germany, said:

“We are delighted to launch our new food campaign, ‘It’s All About Food’. This initiative is a fantastic way to showcase Ireland’s exceptional local produce, talented producers and the unforgettable culinary experiences awaiting our German visitors. By combining the spectacular scenery of the Wild Atlantic Way with our vibrant food culture, our aim is to inspire even more German visitors to come and discover that Ireland truly is ‘All About Food’ – and so much more.”

Dan brings a wealth of international experience most notably cooking for the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace

Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort is delighted to announce the appointment of Dan Ottaway as its new Executive Head Chef, bringing a wealth of international experience and a prestigious culinary background to the four-star Wicklow resort.

Dan Ottaway joins the team following a distinguished career in some of the world’s most renowned kitchens, most notably cooking for the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace. During his tenure with the Royal Family, Dan prepared daily meals for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and played a central role in state banquets and high-profile events attended by international dignitaries. Traveling extensively with the Royal Family, Dan has experience in delivering exquisite cuisine in settings ranging from private dinners for two to grand banquets for over 250 guests.

“I am thrilled to join the team at Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort to work with such high-quality local ingredients here in Wicklow,” said Chef Dan Ottaway. “My goal is to create a dining experience that celebrates the best of Irish produce while bringing international techniques and flavours to every dish.”

Dan’s culinary journey began at Thanet Catering College in Kent and continued at Deesons in Canterbury. His career has spanned Michelin-starred kitchens, prestigious London institutions such as Brasserie Chavot, the Wallace Collection, the Royal Academy of Arts, Selfridges, Ascot Racecourse, and the London 2012 Olympic Village, as well as Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

At Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort, Dan will lead the kitchen with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced produce, working closely with Irish farmers, growers, and artisans. Guests can look forward to innovative menus in The Fairways Restaurant and The Brasserie Bar that reflect both the richness of Wicklow’s food landscape and Dan’s world-class experience.

The announcement comes as Tulfarris Hotel & Golf Resort celebrates its recent approval into the Good Food Ireland® Collection, the trusted standard for authentic Irish food and hospitality. Following an independent inspection, the resort was recognised for its commitment to local sourcing, culinary excellence, and warm Irish hospitality. The resort now joins a prestigious network of hotels, restaurants, food producers, and experiences across the island of Ireland, all of whom champion Irish ingredients and sustainable practices.venues to life.

Following a meeting today with Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister Jack Chambers, the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has reiterated its call for targeted measures in Budget 2026 to place Irish tourism and hospitality on a more stable and competitive footing. This is against a backdrop of ongoing challenges, including serious cost competitiveness issues for hospitality food-related services.

IHF Chief Executive Paul Gallagher states: “Restoring the 9% rate of VAT on food services is a key priority for our industry in line with the commitments set out in the programme for Government. We understand from today’s meeting that this measure is still under active consideration as part of deliberations for the upcoming Budget. It is essential that a reduction is implemented from the start of January 2026 given the enormous challenges facing hospitality food businesses throughout the country.”

Restoring the 9% VAT rate for food-related services would be a vital policy intervention for a sector that supports over 270,000 livelihoods and contributes significantly to the economy. Crucially, more than 70% of these roles are outside Dublin, making our industry a key driver of regional employment, economic diversification and rural development.

Mr Gallagher notes that a rate of 9% VAT for food related services would bring Ireland back in line with the majority of our European competitors. For instance, Germany has recently announced a reduction in its VAT rate on food services to 7% from January next year, down from 19% currently in place. This move recognises the broader social and economic role played by the hospitality sector and the particular challenges facing food businesses.

Commenting on the outlook for the sector, Mr Gallagher highlights the difficult headwinds that Irish tourism is facing on multiple fronts, including declining tourism revenues, economic challenges across key source markets, increased political uncertainty internationally and the fallout from EU/US tariffs.

“We are particularly concerned about the ongoing drop in expenditure by overseas visitors, as reported by the CSO today. Figures show a 4% drop in tourism spend by visitors in July compared to last year, following an already weak performance year to date. This poses a very significant challenge for tourism businesses nationwide that are already struggling under unsustainable increases in operating costs.”

Caroline is the first woman to hold the position of CEO at Fáilte Ireland

Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, has today announced the appointment of Caroline Bocquel as Chief Executive Officer of the National Tourism Development Authority. She will assume the role in November 2025.

Ms. Bocquel is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years of expertise in driving strategic change, innovation, and sustainable growth across complex sectors. With a strong foundation in financial management, corporate governance and strategic planning, she most recently served as Chief Executive of BIM where she successfully led the Irish seafood industry through significant post-Brexit disruption, transforming it into Europe’s most modern, sustainable seafood processing sector.

She has a proven track record of leadership in senior positions in the public and NGO sectors, including as Chief Financial Officer in the international humanitarian response agency, GOAL and Director of Corporate Service in the Marine Institute. Caroline is the first woman to hold the position of CEO at Fáilte Ireland, and her appointment follows a comprehensive and competitive recruitment process.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said: 

“I was happy to approve the appointment of Caroline Bocquel as Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland. Tourism is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and Caroline has the strategic skills, development mindset and governance experience needed to support the sustainable growth of our tourism economy into the future. I am confident that Caroline and her team will work closely with the industry and my officials as we develop and support the Irish tourism sector together.

Ruth Andrews, Chairperson of the Fáilte Ireland Authority, commented on the appointment:

“On behalf of the board of the Authority of Fáilte Ireland, I am pleased to announce Caroline Bocquel as the new CEO of Fáilte Ireland, following a highly competitive recruitment process. Caroline’s leadership experience, along with a proven track record in strategic development, driving growth and commitment to innovation make her ideally suited to lead the organisation into its next chapter. As we continue to support the sustainable growth of Irish tourism, Caroline will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sector.”

Incoming CEO Caroline Bocquel said:

“I am honoured to take on the role of Chief Executive at Fáilte Ireland, an organisation central to one of Ireland’s most vital industries. Tourism supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in communities nationwide, and its sustainable growth is essential to our economic and cultural future. I look forward to working with the Fáilte Ireland team, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, industry partners, and communities to ensure Ireland continues to offer world-class experiences while building a resilient, innovative, and inclusive tourism sector.”

Paul Keeley, Director of Regional Development, has been appointed by the Board of the Authority of Fáilte Ireland as Interim CEO to oversee the organisation from 1st September 2025, until Ms. Bocquel formally takes up the role.

Fáilte Ireland’s role is to support the long-term sustainable growth in the economic, social, cultural, and environmental contribution of tourism to Ireland. Tourism is of critical importance to the national economy and to regional development and employment, driving €10billion in revenue per year and supporting over 225,000 jobs.

Following a meeting this week with Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister Jack Chambers, the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has reiterated its call for ‘targeted measures’ in Budget 2026 to place Irish tourism and hospitality on a more stable and competitive footing.

The federation noted that this is against a backdrop of ongoing challenges, including serious cost competitiveness issues for hospitality food-related services.

“Restoring the 9% rate of VAT on food services is a key priority for our industry, in line with the commitments set out in the Programme for Government,” said Paul Gallagher, IHF chief executive.

“We understand from today’s meeting that this measure is still under active consideration as part of deliberations for the upcoming Budget.”

Gallagher added, “It is essential that a reduction is implemented from the start of January 2026, given the enormous challenges facing hospitality food businesses throughout the country.”

 

‘Vital Policy Intervention’

The IHF believes that restoring the 9% VAT rate for food-related services would be a ‘vital policy intervention’ for a sector that supports over 270,000 livelihoods and contributes significantly to the economy.

Crucially, it noted, more than 70% of these roles are outside Dublin, making the industry a key driver of regional employment, economic diversification and rural development.

Gallagher notes that a VAT rate of 9% for food-related services would bring Ireland back in line with the majority of its European competitors.

For instance, Germany has recently announced a reduction in its VAT rate on food services, to 7%, from January next year – down from the 19% rate currently in place.

‘Unsustainable’

Gallagher believes that this move recognises the broader social and economic role played by the hospitality sector and the particular challenges facing food businesses.

 

“We are particularly concerned about the ongoing drop in expenditure by overseas visitors, as reported by the CSO today,” he said.

“[The] figures show a 4% drop in tourism spend by visitors in July, compared to last year, following an already weak performance year to date.”

Gallagher added, “This poses a very significant challenge for tourism businesses nationwide that are already struggling under unsustainable increases in operating costs.”

The Nuremore Hotel & Country Club, Carrickmacross, has been acquired by the McGettigan Group.

The new owners would also like to acknowledge the support received from Monaghan County Council, who has played a significant role in ensuring that the hotel will continue to serve its community and county.

Work is already underway to transform the hotel into a world-class leisure, lifestyle and hospitality destination. The ambitious redevelopment project will create over 100 new jobs by the end of the year and promises to make the 72-bedroom hotel “a cornerstone once again of the local community and a beacon for Irish tourism”.

Dennis McGettigan, CEO of McGettigan Group, said:

“When the opportunity arose to acquire the Nuremore Hotel & Country Club, I immediately recognised its immense potential. Our mission is to breathe new life into this historic property whilst honouring its legacy. We have a bold vision for the future of this wonderful property, and we look forward to opening its doors to the public later this year.”

The newly reimagined Nuremore Hotel & Country Club will feature:

• A McGettigan’s Pub
• A refreshed golf course, spa and wellness retreat
• Upgraded leisure facilities, meeting spaces and guest rooms
• New experiences for locals, tourists, business travellers, corporate events and destination weddings.

The hotel will remain closed during the redevelopment.

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has urged the government not to approve a proposed 17% increase in the value of personal injury awards – a move that it noted would result in a hike in insurance costs for already-struggling hospitality businesses.

Following recommendations from the Judicial Council, the proposed increase is set to be brought before the Cabinet by the Minister for Justice this week.

“At a time when cost competitiveness should be key, there is simply no justification for approving such an enormous increase in personal injury awards,” said Michael Magner, IHF president. “Current levels of awards in Ireland are already far higher than in other countries.

“For instance, it is only a few years ago that the Personal Injuries Commission found awards here to be over three times higher than those in England.”

Magner went on to say that the disparity feeds directly into “exceptionally high” insurance premiums, which businesses throughout the sector and wider tourism industry simply cannot afford. He noted the cost of doing business is already the biggest challenge facing hotels and other hospitality businesses.

 

“The prospect of the government approving the proposed increase is truly baffling and threatens to undo much of the progress on insurance reform achieved by the last government,” said Magner. “Unfortunately, these reforms have yet to deliver any meaningful benefits for policyholders.

“Priority should be given to addressing the record levels of profits by insurance companies and the unjustifiable volume of cases going into expensive litigation through the courts – cases that should be resolved by the Injuries Resolution Board.”

Scandinavian property companies Pandox AB and Eiendomsspar AS have agreed to buy Ireland’s largest hotel group Dalata for €1.4 billion, the companies said on Tuesday.

Dalata shareholders will get €6.45 euros in cash per share, representing a premium of about 12% to the closing price on June 2 – the day before the Scandinavian hotel investors first disclosed their interest in the Irish company.

Dalata had rejected an initial proposal in early June from Pandox and Eiendomsspar, valuing it at €1.3 billion, saying that the price undervalued the group.

The latest offer, which has the backing of the board, concludes the Dublin-based company’s strategic review that was launched in March to drive up shareholder returns.

Dalata operates 56 hotels under the Maldron Hotel and Clayton Hotel brands, with most located in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Recently, it has been expanding its portfolio into Continental Europe.

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has expressed ‘serious concerns’ about an ongoing drop in expenditure by overseas visitors, according to the latest CSO statistics for inbound tourism.

Figures show a drop in expenditure of 6% in June compared to last year following an already weak performance year to date.

“While our own industry data indicates that occupancy rates for hotels are on a par with last year, we are seeing a softening in revenue and room prices,” said Paul Gallagher, IHF chief executive.

“This appears to be part of a wider decline in tourism spend so far this year as indicated by recent CSO figures.”

Mr Gallagher noted that recent research by Fáilte Ireland shows that 51% of tourism businesses have seen a decrease in revenues to date in 2025 compared with last year.

 

The IHF believe the results indicate that overseas visitor spend, which typically accounts for 70% of tourism revenue, is a significant concern.

The federation said this is particularly challenging for ‘Food & Drink’ businesses, with 75% reporting a drop in overseas revenue so far this year.

“If this weakness continues throughout the summer, it would pose a very significant challenge for tourism businesses nationwide that are already struggling under unsustainable increases in operating costs,” said Paul Gallagher.

“This is at a time when we are experiencing difficult headwinds on a number of other fronts, including economic challenges across our key source markets, increased political uncertainty internationally and the fallout from EU/US tariffs – all of which threaten Irish tourism.”