British money starting to flow into Irish banks

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

The announcement by the Government that it will guarantee all money saved with an Irish institution for two years has enticed overseas investors to withdraw their money fropm their own countries and put into the named Irish banks and institutions.

Child’s play pays as Smyths set to open 35th store

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Smyths Toys, the company which has grown from humble beginnings in the West of Ireland is set to continue its expansion into the UK when it opens a new store in Cardiff in two weeks time.

Gulf building boom’s a boost for Alpine Recruitment

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Leading specialist agency Alpine Recruitment is going from strength to strength in the construction/engineering recruitment sector, especially in the Middle East. Recruiting for both Arab and international building and civil engineering developers, project management, and professional quantity surveying companies, Alpine is proving to be unrivalled in sourcing the best candidates for the right jobs.

First woman president of agri-food professsional body

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Elaine Farrell has been elected the first woman president in the 66-year history of the Agricultural Science Association (ASA). She takes over from Athenry-based Teagasc man Gerry Scully whose term of office ended at the association's national conference in Galway in mid-September.

Can VAT help my cashflow problems?

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Q. I am running my own business and I am registered for VAT and prepare bi-monthly returns based on my invoices. I am currently experiencing some cashflow difficulties due to economic conditions, a friend recommended that I account for VAT on a cash receipts basis. What is this and how does this work?

Collins remains on in Vhi chair

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Vhi Healthcare announced this week that Mr Bernard Collins has been re-appointed as chairman of Vhi Healthcare by Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children for a further five years. Mr Collins was first appointed to the board in September 2003. Bernard Collins is chief executive officer of Lifemed Consulting Limited. A native of Cork, now living in Galway, Mr Collins received a BA honours in applied industrial psychology/business from University College Cork, Ireland. Mr Collins maintains positions at board level on many other companies in Ireland and in the USA. He served for a decade as vice president of international Operations at Boston Scientific Corporation until 2003.

How should Ireland be run?

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Opinions on how Ireland should be run will be aired next week when the Western region of the Chartered Institute of Personal and Development (CIPD) will hold its annual conference at GMIT.

The ‘Leadership – Strategy to Execution’ will be headlined by economist David McWilliams who will address the Government directly by demonstrating his strategy in the very topical ‘How To Run Your Country’ and how his plan should be executed.

The best of Irish

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Although celebrating its 70th birthday this year, Ó’Máille’s store in Galway’s High Street is nowhere near ready to pick up its pension.

Local businesswoman shortlisted for Young Entrepreneur Award

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Athenry native Irene Trowell of the Galway Laser & Skincare Clinic has reached the final six of the prestigious Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2008 Awards. Ms Trowell (24), and five other young entrepreneurs from the west will be showcased at the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in Westport next Thursday, October 9.

Facebook and Bebo sites are betraying Irish staff on ‘sickies’

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Workers pulling a “sickie” were today warned bosses are using modern technology to spy on them.

Top European committee in Athlone to discuss helping small businesses

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Political representatives from local and regional governments from across the 27 Member States of the European Union will gather in Athlone’s Sheraton Hotel on September 29-30 for a major conference, to discuss the problems that SMEs are facing and how to help these businesses grow and create jobs.

With most jobs in the EU provided by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) in conjunction with the Association of Irish Regions and the BMW Regional Assembly, will organise a conference on ‘Supporting our SMEs – overcoming barriers to their development’ which will discuss the contribution that SMEs make to the economy and the impact of the proposed Small Business Act for Europe which the European Commission is bringing forward to help make policies more SME friendly.

Hospital team wins catering award

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

The ARAMARK Ireland team at University College Hospital Galway (UCHG) has been presented with one of the hospitality industry’s top awards at the 20th Hotel & Catering Review gold medal Awards, when they beat stiff competition to win the gold medal award for Institutional Catering sponsored by the National Hygiene Partnership.

Tysabri can improve life quality, says Elan

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Athlone-based Elan has claimed that a post-hoc analysis showed that its controversial multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri increases the probability of achieving sustained improvement in physical disability over two years when compared to a placebo.

We thought bank shares had hit floor six months ago. What should we do?

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Q. My wife and I have AIB and Bank of Ireland shares that we bought about six months ago in the expectation that the stock has reached its floor. We were obviously very wrong. I have now huge paper losses on these stocks. Should I sell them and realize a loss which presumably I can offset against my tax? Can I use the paper loss in any way if the selling the shares now makes no sense?

Top Galway companies attend LEAP/Mazars event

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

More than 25 companies were represented at the successful breakfast briefing, How To Secure Your Company’s Long Term Future, hosted by LEAP and Mazars Tierney Galway, two of Galway’s leading businesses, at the Hotel Meyrick, Galway.

Business groups welcome Gluas but are adamant that city outer bypass is needed

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Five of the top business lobby groups in Galway have come out in support of the city’s public transport feasibility study and Gluas, the proposed light rail system.

Vision 2020 at the people’s airport

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

More words have been written and spoken on Ireland West Airport Knock than any other Irish airport. Everyone has a tale to tell, a memory to recall, an opinion to offer — and all with the same gusto that characterised the man behind the ‘people’s airport’, Monsignor James Horan.

MarCon employee wins prestigious award

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

An employee of Galway-based MarCon Computations International Ltd has received the Mary Breslin Award after successfully developing new software which will help to target new markets in the aquaculture/mariculture industry and the fisheries agencies.

Cedric’s the new head chef at the Twelve

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Recently appointed as head chef at West Restaurant in Galway’s chic and award-winning boutique hotel The Twelve, French-born Cedric Bottarlini has been working in Ireland for the past eight years.

New college to teach Alexander Technique

Thu, Sep 25, 2008

Many people think that the Alexander Technique involves improving posture by ‘sitting up straight’. Nothing could be further from the truth. It involves releasing unconscious tension from our body to allow us to move through life with greater ease. It can dramatically help or prevent backache, arthritis, insomnia, and a whole range of physical aches and pains. By learning the technique you may find that your confidence and self-esteem naturally grow. You may also find a natural spontaneity, a greater contentment, and a deeper love of life.

Our bodies are our most precious possession, yet most of the time we give little attention to them. The human body is an amazing anti-gravity mechanism, but most of us unconsciously interfere with the natural working and reflexes to such an extent that millions of people throughout the world suffer acute backache every year. It is also estimated that many more people will suffer from asthma, insomnia, arthritis, headaches, and migraine, all due to stress or excess muscle tension throughout the body.

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