Launch of Food Academy Start Programme

The second Food Academy Start Programme was launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny at last months National Ploughing Championships.

The Academy, an initiative of Bord Bia, SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Offices, aims to help local food producers grow their businesses and create 150 new jobs. The programme combines training modules and mentoring on growing a food business. It also offers graduate businesses the opportunity to secure their first retail listing with SuperValu stores. 85 food businesses have already benefitted from the first Food Academy Start Programme.

Programmes are currently being run, contact your Local Enterprise Office to find out more.

An article on the programme's relaunch is available on businessandleadership.com.

Euro-toques Ireland Young Chef of the Year Competition

Euro-toques Ireland, the Irish branch of the European food lobby group Euro-toques, is running a competition for Ireland's young chef of the year.

Entrants must be professional chefs aged between 18 and 26. To enter, send an online entry to Euro-toques Ireland with a link to a social media entry on this year's competition theme 'No Chef is an Island'. The entry can be on a blog, microblog, social networking or image sharing site. Entrants will be shortlisted for further stages in the competition.

The last two winners of the competition, Mark Moriarty and Ciarán Elliot, were both DIT students.

The deadline is fast approaching though and entries need to be sent in before 12 noon on 30th September. More information on the competition is available here.

Its term-time again!

As from Monday 15th September, Cathal Brugha St Library returns to term-time hours. These are: Monday to Wednesday: 9am - 9pm. Thursday: 9am - 5.15pm Friday: 9am - 5pm. We will open the following Saturdays from 10am - 5pm.: November 22 and 29, December 6 and 13, April 25, May 2, 9 and 16.

Good advice from DIT lecturer

DIT Cathal Brugha St's own Mary O'Rawe, lecturer in Management and Strategy at the College of Arts and Tourism, has some good advice for students starting college this year.

Mary's recent article in the Irish Independent has lots of tips on how to manage your own study and make the most of your time at college. She also suggests getting help with academic learning from your librarian.

The article is available here.

August Bank Holiday

The library will be closed for the August Bank Holiday on Monday, August 4th.

Opening hours for that week are as follows:

Tuesday - Friday

9:30 - 5:15

10% rise in overseas visitors to Ireland

According to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the number of overseas visitors to Ireland in the first half of 2014 has risen by over ten per cent in comparison to the same period in 2013.

Fáilte Ireland's CEO, Shaun Quinn, said the figures could signify "our best tourism season since the downturn began". However, Mr Quinn added that the sector needs to avoid complacency and needs to work hard to "maximise tourism growth".

Tourism Ireland is "determined to ensure that the tourism growth continues", according to the company's CEO, Niall Gibbons. The company will promote initiatives like the Wild Atlantic Way, Limerick City of Culture and the Croke Park Classic.

The Minister for Tourism, Paschal Donohoe, said he hoped the trend will continue. Mr Donohoe will be finalising a new Tourism Policy Statement later this year that he said "will set ambitious targets for the tourism sector in the period to 2025 and outline a range of policy priorities to achieve these targets".

For further information please see the Irish Times article and Tourism Ireland article on the CSO figures.

You can also access the CSO website and its section dedicated to Tourism and Travel.

Library Closure

DIT Cathal Brugha St Library will close at 12:00PM on Thursday 12th June to facilitate staff training. The library will reopen, as normal, at 9:30AM on Friday 13th June.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

June Bank Holiday

The library will be closed for the June Bank holiday on Monday, June 2nd. 

Opening hours for that week are as follows:

Tuesday - Friday

9:30 - 5:15

Opening hours for all the DIT libraries are available here.