Write a comment
A new £7.3million Whiskey Distillery, Bar, Restaurant and Visitor Centre is on the way to Newry after planning permission was granted at yesterdays Newry, Mourne and Down Council Planning Committee meeting. The Distillery aims to produce around 9000 cases per year of single malt, ultimately retaining stock for at least ten years for the premium market.
The project is expected to take around 18 months and will create around 50 hospitality jobs, as well as positions for a Master Distiller and staff with cooperage skills, to oversee the future maturation process of the whiskey distilled at the Monaghan street site.
Whiskey tourism is a multi million pound business and when completed, Newry will have a thriving international tourist attraction focusing on the US, Chinese, European and Australasian markets.
Michael McKeown the well-known Newry businessman and entrepreneur is the brains behind the project which will be located on the site of the ArmaghDown Bar in Monaghan Street in Newry, the former location of the Matt D’Arcy & Company distillery business which goes back as far as 1817.
The newly revived Matt D'Arcy & Company will include a fully restored Victorian bar, restaurant and international visitors centre.
The site will be returned to its former use as a fully functioning whiskey distillery producing single malt for the premium market on the international stage. The size of the entire project site is expected to be around 14,000 square feet over several floors with the £7.3million investment spread over three years.
Commenting on the potential of the project, Andrew Cowan, Chief Executive, Matt D’Arcy & Company who has over 20 years international experience with a host of iconic Irish brands such as Jameson & the delivery of Ireland’s largest tourism initiative, The Gathering 2013, said “We are thrilled to have received such good news on the positive planning decision. This will now see us move to the next stage of the plans for Matt D’Arcy.
“This is a really special development which will create jobs, fill local hotels and bring many tourists to this key attraction on the eastern corridor of Ireland, perfectly positioned between Belfast and Dublin.
“We have already received a significant amount of interest in the plans to develop the Irish whiskey tourism offering on this part of the island which we believe will be very successful.
“The Irish whiskey market is hugely successful and growing at a significant rate. Last year the market produced a modest 9 million cases with the 2020 target of 12 million cases looking like it will be exceeded.
“Our ambition is to create a world class tourist offering through the restoration of the 200 year old site famous for whiskey distillation."
Michael McKeown, owner and investor of Matthew D’Arcy & Company added “We took our time in bringing forward the plans to make sure that we got the proposal for the restoration of such a key site in Newry just right. The development of this location into a flagship international tourist attraction has been a passion of mine for some time and is an exciting investment.
“I’m thrilled that we are now moving forward with enthusiasm and that the benefits of this great asset will be felt by the business and hospitality sectors locally and nationally.”
Speaking of time frame Andrew Cowan concluded "“For some years now, we have been maturing our own whiskey off site and will release a premium matured merchant Irish Whiskey in early 2019 prior to distilling at the Monaghan Street location on completion of the construction phase.
“Very soon we will be creating roles for a specialist Whiskey distiller, maturation experts and are also at the developmental stages to bring forward the first recognised cooperage course to train young apprentices and rekindle a dying art.”
Edit 9/7/18
Newry & Armagh MLA Conor Murphy has welcomed the news saying “I must commend Michael and the Matt D’Arcy Company on their commitment to Newry and this project.
"He has worked diligently with all, including elected representatives, to bring his vision of creating this project at the old Matt D’Arcy Whiskey Distillers to life.
"This is good news for Newry City and the entire region with the potential of 50 jobs being created.I look forward to work on the development starting soon”.
Write a comment
MJM Group at Carnbane have announced that they have 30 new posts to be filled before the end of the year at their Newry based headquarters. It's part of ongoing expansion plans at MJM Group who currently employ around 500 people. A new phase of office accommodation is also due to open later this year.
The group are celebrating 35 years in business this year and new job roles include Contract Managers, Quantity Surveyors, Designers, Production and Workshop Operatives and a range of other posts and these can all be viewed on the MJM Group website.
The firm, which is part of the McConville family group of companies, has been in the public eye recently with the acquisition of specialist glass company Topglass in Toomebridge and for bringing the first major refit of a cruise ship to Belfast for many years.
Brian McConville, Founder and Chair of MJM Group said, “We are delighted to be making this announcement this morning. We are a dynamic and agile group of businesses and we believe we offer our people something different compared to the traditional construction sector. Our marine based projects give many of our team, the opportunity to travel all over the world, as well as locally on projects such as the Azamara Pursuit currently being refitted in Belfast.
“We have filled some posts in recent weeks but we are particularly keen to add to our project teams with talent from across the construction sector. We will soon be recruiting in our other companies as Mivan is growing and we have exciting growth plans for Topglass. We believe it is an ideal time for ambitious, talented people to come join our team.”
Gary Annett, CEO of MJM Group said, “We have a fantastic team of people working at MJM Group who do an amazing job but as we continue to grow, we need to expand our team. The McConville family are celebrating 35 years in this industry this year. Over the years we have continued to commit to investing in our people and offering them career development opportunities, including taking many of our people up through the ranks of the company. This announcement today helps us to continue to grow our business with the right people to take us through the next 35 years.”
Gary Annett continued, “We are one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting, growing companies. If you are considering a new or change of career in the construction sector, with a difference- come and talk to our HR team about the opportunities available in MJM Group.”
The McConville family group of companies incorporates MJM Group, Mivan, Topglass and a number of retail and commercial developments across Northern Ireland.
Write a comment
It was a day to hold their heads high for management and staff of MJM Group as they proudly showed the media the end product of their latest and quite possibly their greatest project, the multi million pound refit of the amazing Azamara Pursuit Cruise Ship at Belfast Harbour.
The £150M Azamara Pursuit with a capacity of nearly 800 passengers and 400 crew has been completely transformed and renewed in the four month refit, a historic first for MJM. It's the first time a cruise ship owner (Royal Caribbean Cruises) has awarded complete project management responsibility to just one organisation.
Speaking of how the project came to be MJM founder, Brian McConville said "We've had an amazing trip this last year going out to Miami. We met up with the senior team, the directors in Royal Caribbean. We negotiated this contract - very very difficult"
The negotiations resulted in MJM becoming a preferred partner, an external partner of Royal Caribbean. "This is really really working well for us, so much so that we now have a pipeline of work thanks to Royal Caribbean and Azamara." Mr McConville added.
"I want to say this has been huge for me personally, this journey, this trip, bringing this all together, bringing it to Belfast. We had the opportunity, we did look at other places, Belfast wasn't the cheapest option
"We wanted to bring the ship, for 35 years in business, we wanted to bring it to Belfast. We had great support from our partners with Royal Caribbean, so eventually we got the ship here and I believe it is history in the making to get this vessel here"
Speaking of a test sailing this week, Gary Annett, CEO, MJM Group said "We have had a wonderful couple of days aboard the ship, trying out and testing the facilities and we can all say we had a very good time. We managed to get to the Isle of Man yesterday, Captain Carl Smith's home town"
Azamara Pursuit Captain Carl Smith started with Azamara in September 2007, spent a year on Azamara Journey and has spent the last ten years on the Azamara Quest. "I have to tell you when I left that ship in January, there were tears. I really really didn't believe that we could create an atmosphere on board a ship that would anyway close approach the atmosphere on board the Azamara Quest and the Azamara Journey.
"It's taken us four months of hard work and sweat and cover-alls and dirty hands, but we've got to that situation now. We've got 400 crew on board, we've been working hand in hand with Brian's team from MJM for the last 4 months and it's been fantastic co-operation both ways. It's been a pleasure and a privilege to watch. I've been at sea for 28 years, I've done many of these refits, and I've never yet been involved in one that didn't involve raised voices during the morning meetings. We haven't had a single raised voice in 4 months. It really has been fantastic co-operation so I'd like to thank Brian and all of his team from MJM."
Newry.ie asked Brian McConville how does it make him feel as part of a Newry Based Company competing with the best in the world to get a contract like this to which he quipped "Well if you weren't recording me I'd say we are the best in the world, It's everybody else who is watching our space!"
The MJM founder added "I have to say and I'm not an emotional guy, but the ship leaving and Captain Smith pulling six blasts on the horn as we let the ropes go and we moved out, two nights ago to go to the Isle of Man, I was almost overwhelmed of what me, my team, the MJM team, and I can tell you there's no other team like it in this world.
Concluding he added "It's about the team. It's about putting hard working decent people together, that everybody stands up and backs up each other to make it happen. That's what you actually need to make this a success."
Richard Twynam, MD, UK and Ireland, Azamara Club Cruises showed the visitors around the ship's suites and staterooms, the spa, two luxurious spa suites with every spa facility possible, a massive gym, although it wouldn't be the place us folk at Newry.ie would be heading to every day, The restaurants and bars on board, looked much more inviting!
Exploring the marvelous rear deck of the ship Mr Twynam asked visitors to close their eyes for a moment "It's New Years Eve, the suns setting, you're moored off the the Copacabana, the fireworks are just starting and this is your spot" not a difficult thing to do in today's balmy temperatures although opening our eyes and confronting the reality that if we really really wanted to 'push the boat out' so to speak, the best suite on the ship would set us back a cool £20K+, for a wee fifteen day cruise around Japan complete with your own butler of course..... Aw well back up the road to beautiful Newry - Rio will just have to wait till the numbers come up!
Write a comment
One of the UK’s best-known and most influential voices on Brexit will address the Institute of Directors (IoD) Chairman’s Roadshow when it arrives in Newry later this month.
Allie Renison, the IoD’s Head of Europe and Trade Policy will be guest speaker at the event taking place at Flexi Work Space at Monaghan Street in the city on 30th August.
Hosted by IoD NI Chairman Gordon Milligan, the event is part of a series sponsored by KPMG, as the business organisation seeks to engage with leaders across Northern Ireland.
Gordon said “During my tenure as Chairman, I have set out to engage with members across all sectors and in all parts of Northern Ireland.
“The Chairman’s Roadshow presents an important opportunity for business leaders to take part in topical discussions regarding business in Northern Ireland, that can make a real difference.
“Our members are drawn from across the public, private and third sectors which means the range of expertise we have collectively is outstanding.
“The Chairman’s Roadshow gives us a platform to share that expertise with our peers in the business community and other civic leaders.
“We look forward to hearing Allie Renison’s insights on the latest developments of the Brexit debate, of particular concern to businesses in Newry and the wider border region.
“Learning best practice from other business and public leaders plays a vital element of any business strategy as we aim to drive growth, improve corporate governance and create a stronger economy in Northern Ireland for the benefit of all.”
The event, which is open to members and non-members of the IoD, will feature a panel discussion and question and answer session.
To book a space, or to find out more about the Chairman’s Roadshow series, call 028 90 683 224 or by visit www.iod.com/ni.
Write a comment
Newry Chamber are hosting the inaugural Greater Newry Area Employee Awards in September and are asking local businesses and their workers to nominate their staff member or colleague for the awards which have 11 different categories. You have until 17 August to get your nominations in!
The Awards have been organised to show appreciation for the valued efforts of employees who go above and beyond to deliver exemplary service.
Newry Chamber are calling on businesses within the Newry Mourne & Down Council area to reward staff by nominating employees who have shown great dedication and commitment to the company.
Employers – Do You Have An Employee Who Deserves Special Recognition?
You can reward your employee by nominating them via the application form at newryemployeeawards.com
Employees: Do You Have A Colleague Who Deserves Special Recognition?
Support your colleague by recommending them for nomination by your Employer!
Employees of the Year will act as a benchmark for colleagues, Promote a higher standard of workforce, Contribute to a strong work ethic with company culture
Why Nominate
Your employees are the single most important asset to your organisation. Employee motivation is crucial as it allows management to meet its goals.
By nominating employees for an award, Employers demonstrate the importance of individual contributions by staff members. Organisations which show appreciation are proven to achieve higher levels of output through enhanced motivation and productivity of employees.
Additional benefits of nominating Employees: Promote employee satisfaction and well-being by illustrating how individuals contribute to overall organisational success, Promote positive communication and praise within the workplace, Increase employee retention rates through gratitude by rewarding employee excellence and Incorporate a strong ethos into your organisation which values recognition and loyalty.
Full terms and conditions at www.newryemployeeawards.com
The Gala Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday 15th September 2018 at the Canal Court Hotel, Newry
Cost: £40 + VAT for members and £45 + VAT for non-members
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Bookings can be made online at www.newryemployeeawards.com
Contact: admin@newrychamber.com or Tel: 028 302 50303 ext 2 for more information
Write a comment
Innovation Nation 2018, a major innovation and technology conference is taking place in Newry next month.
Innovation Nation 2018, which is being run by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and a number of supporting partners from the public and private sectors, will show how organisations can use the latest innovations and technology to drive their businesses and will shine a light on the burgeoning tech scene in Newry and the surrounding area.
The conference will take place on the 27th & 28th September, with the second day delivered in partnership with Catalyst Inc. which is lending its expertise to shape an exciting programme for up to 300 school children from 10 schools across the Council area, the Day of Ambition.
Liam Hannaway, Chief Executive, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said: “Innovation Nation will celebrate the powerhouse innovation and tech scene which has emerged in the Newry, Mourne and Down district over the last few years, showcasing the ground-breaking work which some of our local companies have been carrying out.
“With innovation and technology now infiltrating every aspect of our work and personal life, Innovation Nation is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the fourth industrial revolution taking place all around.”
Newry, Mourne and Down has a long history of innovation and entrepreneurship in the technology sector, spawning global market leaders such as First Derivatives plc and STATSports. The district also has a number of leading innovative companies that continue to adopt technology in order to remain ahead of the competition and maintain a strong export trajectory, such as Norbrook Laboratories.
First Derivatives plc and Norbrook Laboratories have demonstrated their support for the conference by becoming Innovation Nation 2018’s headline sponsor and gold-level sponsor respectively. KPMG, STATSports and Invest NI are also supporting the inaugural event as silver-level sponsors and will also play an important role.
Adrian Toner, COO, First Derivatives plc said: “We are pleased to become the headline sponsor of Innovation Nation in its first year and believe it will perfectly position Newry, Mourne and Down as a great place in which to locate and invest.
“It will highlight the impressive pipeline of talent in the district and showcase the world-leading technology companies already operating here. Furthermore, it will also heavily promote education to align with the skills required to help shape the future of innovation and to meet the requirements of key employers in the region.”
“Innovation Nation 2018 will host some of the world’s leading thinkers on all aspects of innovation and technology – from cyber security to artificial intelligence, robotics to augmented reality – and offer practical advice on how businesses can harness current and future trends to improve efficiency and grow their bottom line.”
Liam Nagle, CEO, Norbrook Laboratories also added: “As one of the largest employers in this area, we are delighted to play our part in showcasing the attractiveness of the district alongside the talent and innovation which has always been in our DNA.
Looking forward to the conference, Cllr Mark Murnin, Chairman, Newry, Mourne and Down Council spoke of how this generation is the workforce of tomorrow and how we need to make sure we are producing the right talent to meet the future demand from the sector. “I have pledged to make sure the young people of this district are fully equipped to help drive the economy in the future so Day of Ambition is particularly important to us at the council. We want to get the next generation excited about the brilliant things which are happening in the technology sphere in the district and give them the best opportunities to experience the world of work.”
Write a comment
Work has started on the construction of a new 300 ton crane at Warrenpoint Port. It's part of a £3M investment announced in June and is expected to be in operation in September.
The crane provision will help facilitate further growth ahead of Brexit and beyond at Warrenpoint, Northern Ireland’s second largest port. In 2017, the Port handed a record 3.56 million tonnes of cargo valued at £6.2 billion.
The crane, which is supplied by Finnish manufacturer Konecranes, will significantly improve efficiency by reducing loading and unloading times with the ability to lift 100 tonnes up to 42 metres above sea level.
Clare Guinness, CEO, Warrenpoint Port commented “It is an exciting time for Warrenpoint Port as construction of our latest crane addition begins, enabling us to further improve our already high standards of service to customers.
“The purchase of the Model 3 Mobile Harbor Crane, which itself will weigh 300 tonnes, is an example of our commitment to invest in our operations, thereby boosting prosperity in the area for both local people and businesses.”
Earlier this year, Warrenpoint Port announced a major 25-year growth plan which anticipates core roll on, roll off, freight to rise by up to 80% by 2040, regardless of the outcomes of Brexit negotiations.
Clare continued “We are fully prepared for the forecasted growth in freight shipping, with two other cranes also undergoing refurbishment.”
Write a comment
Four top local performers from the world of business and sport will be the inspirational speakers at Newry Junior Chamber's "Perform in Your Field" event in September in Newry.
Newry Junior Chamber members invite individuals, local business representatives and sports teams to join them on Wednesday 19th September for their annual autumn event which will focus on the theme of performance.
Taking to the stage first will be Darren Mullen, 1st Team Manager at Newry City Athletic Football Club. Darren played for many local clubs over the years before taking up a youth coaching role at Newry City in 2007. A High Court order saw Newry’s IFA membership terminated early in the 2012-13 season but following the reformation of Newry City AFC in 2013, Darren was promoted to first team manager and led the team to three promotions in four seasons. A feature length film ‘Here We Are’ documents the fortunes of the club over the course of the 2016-17 season as they battled for promotion. Darren will share the story of the fall and rise to glory of Newry City AFC, who took the 2017-18 NIFL Championship title.
Also taking to the stage are Paul McKernan and Barry Watters from sports technology company, StatSports. Managing Director, Paul will take us through the StatSports journey which saw the Newry company go global to become the world’s leading GPS player tracking and analysis company with offices in Ireland, London, Chicago and Florida. Sports Scientist, Barry Watters will provide an insight into the technology that has been designed and shaped by the world’s top strength coaches, medics and sports coaches to track the performance of elite teams and athletes in football, basketball, American football, rugby and athletics.
The final speaker is Ardee man, Mark McCormack, a social care worker who is passionate about helping people to overcome adversity and reach their potential. Mark has spent 5 years working in secure care for Tusla (Child and Family Agency) on the outskirts of Dublin, and conducted research into the challenges facing young males in Ireland. This enabled him to identify solutions to improve their success in education, life, and reduce suicide rates. Mark has delivered various programmes for men over the age of 18 which focus on topics such as gender, sexuality, violence, masculinity and justice. In 2017, he established mentoring organisation, ‘Create the Great in You’ as a social enterprise and has worked with over 300 secondary school children in their transition year to build confidence, communication and learning skills.
Our speakers will participate in a Q&A session so come prepared with your questions!
Newry Junior Chamber wish to extend their thanks to all of their speakers, their member led event management team, photographer Brendan Monaghan and to event sponsors, IFS Global Logistics, without whose contributions this event would not be possible.
IFS Global Logistics specialise in Supply Chain Services, importing and exporting both internationally and to/from the UK and Ireland. Gerry Heaney, Sales Manager from IFS said: “We work with several NJC members and key speakers, StatSports. Newry Junior Chamber do great work in the Newry area and we’re really looking forward to being involved in 'Perform in Your Field'. The event is all about elite performance, which reflects our promise to deliver elite logistics solutions for all of our customers.”
Early bird ticket rates and group discounts are available until 31st August. Ticket numbers are also limited so do book early!
To get your tickets or for further information on the event, contact NJC member and Event Co-ordinator, Denise Hamill on denise@digital-den.co.uk or 07736067608. Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/perform-in-your-field-tickets-48954066932
Write a comment
Dublin native Mark Little, one of the world’s most prolific online entrepreneurs, is to headline the inaugural Innovation Nation 2018 conference in Newry this September.
Mark will address the technology and innovation event on the opportunities in the digital age for companies from all sectors of the business world and will tell his story of starting successful technology companies and working for one of the most well-known social media firms, Twitter.
A former Washington correspondent for RTE covering everything from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan to the election of Barack Obama, Mark founded the world’s first social news agency Storyful, which pioneered new models of verification and collaboration, before selling it to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp in 2013 for €18m.
He was then Twitter’s Vice President of media partnerships in Europe before co-founding The Neva Labs last year.
Innovation Nation 2018, which is being run by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and a number of supporting partners from the public and private sectors, will showcase how organisations can use the latest innovations and technology to drive their businesses and will shine a light on the burgeoning tech scene in Newry and the surrounding area.
The conference will take place on the 27th & 28th September, with the second day delivered in partnership with Catalyst Inc. which is lending its expertise to shape an exciting programme for up to 300 school children from 10 schools across the Council area, the Day of Ambition.
Cllr Mark Murin, Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, said:
“Mark’s story is one which will inspire and engage everyone who is interested in technology and in becoming an entrepreneur. In creating two successful businesses he has demonstrated exactly the kind of drive which the Newry Mourne and Down District is well-known for and I know we will learn a lot from him and the other speakers.
“Innovation Nation 2018 will cement the district’s growing reputation for technology, innovation and industry and help pave the way for more success for our organisations in the coming years.”
Other speakers at the event include INCISIV founder Dr Cathy Craig; Brian Conlon, Founder and Chief Executive of First Derivatives; Norbrook Laboratories Chief Executive Liam Nagle; Peter McCaul, Chief Executive Officer at Péarlaí; Adrian Toner, Chief Operating Officer at First Derivatives; STATSports Chief Commercial Officer Sean O’Connor and Steve Pette, Co-founder at Ormeau Baths.
As well as Newry Mourne and Down District Council, the event is being sponsored by First Derivatives plc, Norbrook Laboratories, KPMG, STATSports and Invest Northern Ireland.
Innovation Nation 2018 is being held in Newry Town Hall and The Sean Hollywood Arts Centre on 27th & 28th September 2018. For more details on the programme, speakers and how to get involve visit nmdinnovationnation.com
Follow Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for live updates: @nmdcouncil / #innovationnation18.
 |
 |
 |