Cheap Dublin Airport car hire deals

A bizarre protest was held yesterday by Irish workers whose jobs are under threat at Thomas Cook branches in Dublin. A group of protestors went to a church that Thomas Cook boss Manny Fontenla-Novoa attends in Northampton bringing along with them a model camel.

Recent reports have suggested that top brass in Thomas Cook are planning on closing high street stores in Dublin meaning the loss of seventy seven jobs.  They currently operate two Thomas Cook stores and one Direct Holidays store in Dublin.

Five Irish staff members stood with the camel outside the church with a sign that read “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a Rich Man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

The protest was supported by the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association. The group then traveled to Mr. Fontenla-Novoa’s home and handed in a letter as he was not at the church.

Thomas Cook has given assurances that jobs will be kept at their call centre in Parkwest – Dublin. Northern Ireland will not be affected.

One of Irelands leading daily newspapers the Irish independent this week received a letter from an angry reader criticising the cost of getting a taxi from Dublin Airport.

It is certainly a lot easier to get a taxi in Dublin these days. Taxi ranks all over the city are full of vacant taxi cabs A few years back it was almost a hopeless cause getting a taxi in Dublin at certain times of the day.

A letter published in the Irish Independent last week spoke of being charged forty five euro for a twenty five minute taxi trip from Dublin Airport to the Spa Hotel in Lucan. The incident happened one week before Christmas and was a mid afternoon fare.

The woman who wrote the letter called on the DAA or the Taxi regulator to step in and stop this kind of situation from happening again.

It is quite a remarkable amount to pay when you consider the cost of hiring a car at Dublin Airport. Prices start from just twenty euro a day depending on when you book.

There has been huge shock and surprise in Dublin and throughout Ireland during the last few weeks. People have expressed amazement at recent events exclaiming delight at what is being seen by some as a miracle. What am I talking about? Dublin is actually getting a hot summer!!!

Over the last few weeks Dublin and many other parts of Ireland have been on the receiving end of warm rays of sunshine. After such disappointing summers weather wise over the last few years the recent heat wave is wonderful news for the city.

Irish people can be seen walking around the city with patches of red on their skin apparently being caught unaware by the intensity of the sun during sunbathing. How long will it last? This is Ireland so your guess is as good as mine. I’ve stopped listening to the weatherman.

One thing is for certain and that is that we must make the most of it while it lasts. Get moving now as it’s only two days to the weekend. Maybe work up some time and get off early on Friday. Hit the road and see how Ireland looks when it’s not raining . If you require transport we have a wide range of Dublin hire cars at the airport and downtown locations.

Drive carefully and bring lots of sun cream!

PS: Ignore this post if it is raining again by the weekend

There have been a lot of initiatives over the years in Ireland to help improve road safety. TV legend Gay Byrne fronted a highly publicized road safety campaign. Hard work undertaken by many now seems to be paying off with Ireland managing to rise to sixth place in a recent road safety report.

The report was published by the European Transport Safety Council. Two years ago Ireland came in ninth position in the survey. In 2008 there were fifty nine less fatalities than the previous year. There have been forty one percent less fatalities on Irish roads since 2001.

Targets set for 2010 are not expected to be met however a spokesman for the Road Safety Authority said that the most important thing was to set realistic targets.

Dublin was named as the safest capital city in Europe in which to drive. Ireland joined its Scandinavian neigbours Norway and Sweden in obtaining 5 stars for occupant protection with new cars. The survey showed that only ten percent of all cars in Ireland are over seven years old.

Gay Byrne of the RSA pleaded with drivers to slow down. He went on to say that is it still the leading cause of road deaths in the country.

It seems impossible to turn on the TV today without getting round the clock coverage of Ronaldo’s imminent move to Real Madrid. Press are scrambling around the world famous footballer desperate for a quote as they track his every move at his LA base.

The good news for Dubliners is that you may get a chance to see Ronaldo play up close this summer (good news if you are a fan of his of course). Real Madrid have just announced pre season plans which include a trip to Dublin. They will play a game here against yet to be named opposition.

The team will spend nine days in Dublin arriving on July 13th and departing on July 22nd. Irish football fans may also get a chance to see top players such as new signing Kaka play.

So will you be booing or cheering Ronaldo if he plays in Dublin? Liverpool fans – yes? United fans – yes? – Most seem to be happy that he is leaving. Eighty million is a good price I think but United have a big gap to fill*.

*Note: Unbiased Opinion: I don’t support any of the teams mentioned above

Dun Laoghaire in County Dublin has been touted as a possible stopover for the next Volvo Ocean Race. Last time out there was a stopover in Galway which was a hailed as a huge success for all involved.

Race officials expressed gratitude for the wonderful hospitality that was received as well as the excellent organizational skills involved.  Crew member Rick Deppe remarked that Galway was the “perfect stop”. Ken Read (Skipper) also heaped praise on the Galway contingent seeing it as a model for future stopovers and congratulating all involved.

Dun Laoghaire however will have competition in securing the stopover with the likes of Belfast and Galway again also in the frame for the event which is set to take place in 2011. Over six hundred thousand attended the event in Galway this year.

It is estimated that the race boosted the economy in Galway by up to forty million.  Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council member Jane Dillon has already begun talks with the Dun Laoghaire harbour authority regarding the event.

We will certainly be keeping a close eye on developments here at Dublin Airport car hire having unfortunately been unable to make the Galway event.