Business representatives from across Kerry, Clare and Limerick attended the inaugural regional event, which honours those in the hospitality sector that have demonstrated a commitment to quality and service in the area of environmental protection.
Dromoland Castle in County Clare and The Moorings restaurant in Portmagee, County Kerry both received a Silver Award; the highest accolade presented this year. Bronze Awards were presented to the Dingle Skelligs Hotel, Killarney Park Hotel, Killarney Avenue Hotel, Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney Towers Hotel, River Island Hotel (County Kerry), Adare Manor, Castletroy Park Hotel, and Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel in Adare (County Limerick).
Meanwhile, The Quality Hotel in Limerick City, Doonbeg Lodges in West Clare and the Greenpark Racecourse near Patrickswell were commended at this evening’s ceremony. They were not considered for a Green Fáilte Award this year, as they only joined the programme in recent months.
The Green Fáilte Award is Ireland’s first environmental award scheme for the hospitality sector. Hospitality Solutions Consulting (HSC) Ltd and Clean Technology Centre coordinate the scheme, in conjunction with the Limerick Clare Kerry Regional Waste Management Office.
The Award requires continual improvement and a real commitment to the environment. If the hospitality business fails to continually improve, meet with the standards or does not act responsibly, the Green Fáilte Award can be withdrawn.
According to Mr. Gerry Behan, Director of Services with Limerick County Council, the lead Local Authority in the Green Fáilte Award Scheme, “I would like to congratulate participating hospitality businesses for embracing the Awards scheme. This level of commitment to reducing waste, protecting the environment, and improving energy and water efficiency sets a precedent for every other hospitality business to follow.”
“Limerick County Council and Limerick City Council, along with Clare County Council and Kerry County Council, is delighted to be involved in this worthy scheme, which will hopefully help to convince other hotels, restaurants, pubs, B&B’s and tourism operators to go green”, added Mr. Behan.
Commenting on the first ever Green Fáilte Awards scheme for the Limerick, Clare and Kerry Region, Mr. Maurice Bergin of Hospitality Solutions Consulting (HSC), stated, “The Green Fáilte Awards participants are among the first movers within the Region in Hospitality Environmental Management and even better – every one of them has witnessed significant reductions in costs linked to their environmental actions.”
He explained, “It is a truism in Ireland that our performance in energy, waste and water management is so poor that it is extremely easy to reduce costs. In fact, I would make a comment to the various business organisations that publicly attack price increases of utilities and services, that before they do so they first examine their members’ efficiencies and provide assistance to those members who need help.”
“The 2008 Budget has been flagged as the most “Green” budget ever and with Irelands’ current attendance at the Bali Conference on the Kyoto Agreement’s successor, coupled with Ireland’s dismal performance over the last few years, initiatives such as this will continue to be supported”, added Mr. Bergin.
Addressing the awards ceremony, Mr. John King of Shannon Development’
The Green Fáilte Award was developed by Cork County Council and the Clean Technology Centre, CIT in the late 1990’s in order to facilitate hotels and restaurants to improve their environmental performance. However, economic considerations then were not the same as the present day and the concept lay idle. The Award Scheme was revitalised in 2003 and re-launched in 2004 with its first Award Winners. The Award can be seen in hotels, restaurants, and bars throughout Cork, Waterford, Carlow and now in Clare, Limerick and Kerry.
For more on the Green Fáilte Award Scheme see www.greenfailteaward.ie. For further information on the Limerick Clare Kerry Regional Waste Management Office log on to www.managewaste.ie.
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Notes to Editor
- To arrange an interview please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com.
- High-resolution images will be available from tomorrow Thursday 6th December. Requests for images should be directed to media@dunphypr.com.
