Christmas Gift Vouchers
From Ard Nahoo
Stuck for a gift idea? Why not give something that will really be appreciated. Ard Nahoo Gift Vouchers can be given for a number of day retreats, treatments and chillout breaks, or a cash value.
The Stressbuster €90
Relax and unwind with an Uisce Hour (a session in our indoor/outdoor wet area, including Detox Box Sauna and Hot Tub) and then indulge in a massage of your choice. Your day includes detox tea and healthy snacks.
The Detox Treat €75
Repair your body after the festive period with a session in our Detox Box followed by a massage. Includes detox tea and healthy snacks.
Uisce Hour €30pp
Soak away your cares with a session in our Uisce Area, complete with detox box, steam room and hot tub. Lay back in the bubbles and gaze upon Loch Nahoo. Minimum of 2 people per session.
Yoga & Relaxation Retreat €90
Balance body and mind with a yoga session in our stunning new studio, along with a restorative Uisce Hour. A delicious organic light lunch will be served, along with detox tea and healthy snacks throughout the day.
Chillout Weekend €300
The ultimate gift! A chillout weekend break offers our Eco Cabin for the weekend, sleeping 2 - 4. Included is an organic welcome pack to make your stay as comfortable as possible. You can book in for treatments or an Uisce Hour, or use Ard Nahoo as a base to explore the beautiful local area.
Retreat Vouchers
Why not treat a loved one to a retreat? In Spring 2008, we have numerous retreats planned. A gift voucher for one of these weekend breaks would be the perfect way to bring in the new year.
Yoga & Relaxation - 22nd - 24th Feb €350pp
This weekend retreat focuses on asana practice, pranayama (breath work), relaxation techniques and visualisation. There will be plenty of free time to soak in the hot tub, or to explore the local area.
Mammas & Pappas - 7th - 9th March €395pp
An exciting new retreat preparing prospective parents for childbirth and beyond. With groundings in yoga, the weekend will cover acupressure and breathing as well as birth rehearsal. Pregnancy is an exciting but daunting time, and our retreat is aimed at calming those nerves in a safe and supportive atmosphere.
Eco Retreat - 10th - 13th April €410pp
Our certified Eco Retreat is really something special. Connect with your inner self as well as the surrounding beauty of nature. Enjoy herb walks, daily yoga, guest teachers and native exploration. The weekend promises great food, likeminded company and the chance to truly transform yourself.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Launch of Greenbox Ecotourism Label
PRESS RELEASE
Ireland’s lead in the €5 billion global ecotourism sector was further enhanced this week when The Greenbox Company publicly launched its innovative Ecotourism Labelling System and also acknowledged the first ecotourism holiday and short break packages to be accredited by the system at a special awards ceremony. The launch took place at Fáilte Ireland’s annual National Tourism Conference on 27th November, which this year took the theme of “Tourism and the Environment 2007, Current Climate, Future Trends”. In total twelve individual businesses operating in the Greenbox region were awarded their certificates by Shaun Quinn, CEO Fáilte Ireland and Mr David Sollitt, Executive Director of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).
Work on the label began in autumn 2006 by a panel comprised of Greenbox Staff and Greenbox Network member businesses, as well as representatives from Sligo Institute of Technology and The Western Development Commission (WDC). Over a number of months a set of criteria was designed that would reflect the efforts of existing ecotourism operators in the Greenbox region, who were already providing experiences for guests that were “based in nature, providing interpretation and information, environmentally friendly, contributing to conservation and local communities, responsibly marketed and culturally respectful”. Criteria were also chosen that would reflect the uniqueness of the region, particularly in a cross border peace and reconciliation context.
The standard was piloted in Spring 2007 by a number of tourism businesses and involved the provision of a training and mentoring programme for those embarking on the certification process. In the Autumn the first applications were assessed and approved by an independent panel comprised of representatives from Fáilte Ireland, National Standards Authority of Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The development of an ecotourism sector in Ireland is regarded as an important strategy in addressing recent issues including the trend towards shorter urban breaks which has posed significant challenges for rural areas. The North West in particular has experienced a 19.4% decline in international visitor numbers between 2000 and 2004. Ecotourism by its nature tends to be more rural and visitors tend to spend 8-14 days per trip. Based on international figures, the Irish market has a potential value of up to €51 million a year.
Speaking at the event Greenbox CEO Mary Mulvey said “ Today really marks a watershed in Irish tourism and a way forward to develop a new type of tourism based on strongly held environmental principles and closely linked to learning, conservation and local communities. The Greenbox has developed a practical and user friendly Ecotourism Labelling approach which is designed to meet the need of small businesses. The ecotourism packages created to date have been very well received by tour operators and the responsible travel media”.
A cross-border initiative, the Greenbox is Ireland’s first integrated ecotourism destination. In 2006-2007 the Greenbox Capital Development Programme encouraged €4 million of private sector investment in the ecotourism sector. The organisation has grown to cover a network of more than 150 attractions, activity providers, guest houses, health farms, organic operators and leisure centres throughout Fermanagh, Leitrim, West Cavan, North Sligo, South Donegal and North West Monaghan. For more information click on to www.greenbox.ie for a flavour of the Greenbox ecotourism breaks that will be available in 2008.
Ireland’s lead in the €5 billion global ecotourism sector was further enhanced this week when The Greenbox Company publicly launched its innovative Ecotourism Labelling System and also acknowledged the first ecotourism holiday and short break packages to be accredited by the system at a special awards ceremony. The launch took place at Fáilte Ireland’s annual National Tourism Conference on 27th November, which this year took the theme of “Tourism and the Environment 2007, Current Climate, Future Trends”. In total twelve individual businesses operating in the Greenbox region were awarded their certificates by Shaun Quinn, CEO Fáilte Ireland and Mr David Sollitt, Executive Director of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).
Work on the label began in autumn 2006 by a panel comprised of Greenbox Staff and Greenbox Network member businesses, as well as representatives from Sligo Institute of Technology and The Western Development Commission (WDC). Over a number of months a set of criteria was designed that would reflect the efforts of existing ecotourism operators in the Greenbox region, who were already providing experiences for guests that were “based in nature, providing interpretation and information, environmentally friendly, contributing to conservation and local communities, responsibly marketed and culturally respectful”. Criteria were also chosen that would reflect the uniqueness of the region, particularly in a cross border peace and reconciliation context.
The standard was piloted in Spring 2007 by a number of tourism businesses and involved the provision of a training and mentoring programme for those embarking on the certification process. In the Autumn the first applications were assessed and approved by an independent panel comprised of representatives from Fáilte Ireland, National Standards Authority of Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The development of an ecotourism sector in Ireland is regarded as an important strategy in addressing recent issues including the trend towards shorter urban breaks which has posed significant challenges for rural areas. The North West in particular has experienced a 19.4% decline in international visitor numbers between 2000 and 2004. Ecotourism by its nature tends to be more rural and visitors tend to spend 8-14 days per trip. Based on international figures, the Irish market has a potential value of up to €51 million a year.
Speaking at the event Greenbox CEO Mary Mulvey said “ Today really marks a watershed in Irish tourism and a way forward to develop a new type of tourism based on strongly held environmental principles and closely linked to learning, conservation and local communities. The Greenbox has developed a practical and user friendly Ecotourism Labelling approach which is designed to meet the need of small businesses. The ecotourism packages created to date have been very well received by tour operators and the responsible travel media”.
A cross-border initiative, the Greenbox is Ireland’s first integrated ecotourism destination. In 2006-2007 the Greenbox Capital Development Programme encouraged €4 million of private sector investment in the ecotourism sector. The organisation has grown to cover a network of more than 150 attractions, activity providers, guest houses, health farms, organic operators and leisure centres throughout Fermanagh, Leitrim, West Cavan, North Sligo, South Donegal and North West Monaghan. For more information click on to www.greenbox.ie for a flavour of the Greenbox ecotourism breaks that will be available in 2008.
Friday, November 30, 2007
greenbox photo competition: the chosen ones
Hi everybody, Ollie here.
Here is a list of the pictures that won the photo competition guys. Pics will be revealed on the 13th, our Christmas party. We are very pleased with the standard, and are looking forward to getting these fantastic pics out there.
We'll put the pics up here quite soon after the 13th, so you can all have a goo.
Overall winners:
Gold: #43 early morning last Summer, across from Inisrath Island, L. Erne, Co. Fermanagh. This is the point at which guests get on the ferry to go to Inisrath. Taken by: Tim McEvitt
Silver: #11 silver gleniff horseshoe.
Caption: a forest stream in the Gleniff Horseshoe area of County Sligo, near to Ballintrillick. This area is popular with Hillwalkers and hikers alike.
Taken by: Niamh McGarvey
Bronze: #2 Aroo mountain, south Donegal
Taken by: Dick Whitehead
Highly commended: #12 Bundoran sunset:
Caption: A fishing boat returns to the harbour at Bundoran during a summer sunset.
Taken by: Paul McCarter
Commended:
#1: Devenish Island, County Fermanagh
Taken by: Austin McQuaid
#18: Bee out fox(glov)ed
Taken by: Peter Hughes
#31: Red berry bushy tree and distant walk, Cuilcagh Mountain Park in Fermanagh,
Taken by: Tim McEvitt
#37: Looping pathway around Inisrath Island, Co. Fermanagh.
Taken by: Tim McEvitt
#48: Wedge tomb, Cavan Burren. One of the best examples of such in the now forested townland rich in ancient monuments.
Taken by: Tom Hyde
#55: Sweathouse: Sweathouse in Legeelan Co. Cavan. Ancient Irish treatment hut, almost exclusively found in the Greenbox region of Ireland. It’ll cure what ails you. Still in use until the early 1900’s.
Taken by: Tom Hyde
#59: pathway: Wintertime walk on Houghton’s Shore, Lough Garadice, Co. Leitrim, on the Shannon-Erne Waterway (where R199 R205 meet).
Taken by: Tom Hyde
#64 sunset: Lough Garadice, Co. Leitrim, a large and beautiful, tree-bound, island-studded expanse of water, mid-way between Ballyconnell and Ballinamore.
Taken by: Tom Hyde
#3 The one horned sheep and the windy tree. Glencar, Co. Leitrim.
Taken by: Dick Whitehead
#26 orange tip butterflies
Taken by: Peter Hughes
#6: Lough Arrow at dusk with the Bricklieves and the passage tomb at Carrowkeel in the distance. Photo taken from near Ballindoon, Co. Sligo.
Taken by: Jeri Reilly
Here is a list of the pictures that won the photo competition guys. Pics will be revealed on the 13th, our Christmas party. We are very pleased with the standard, and are looking forward to getting these fantastic pics out there.
We'll put the pics up here quite soon after the 13th, so you can all have a goo.
Overall winners:
Gold: #43 early morning last Summer, across from Inisrath Island, L. Erne, Co. Fermanagh. This is the point at which guests get on the ferry to go to Inisrath. Taken by: Tim McEvitt
Silver: #11 silver gleniff horseshoe.
Caption: a forest stream in the Gleniff Horseshoe area of County Sligo, near to Ballintrillick. This area is popular with Hillwalkers and hikers alike.
Taken by: Niamh McGarvey
Bronze: #2 Aroo mountain, south Donegal
Taken by: Dick Whitehead
Highly commended: #12 Bundoran sunset:
Caption: A fishing boat returns to the harbour at Bundoran during a summer sunset.
Taken by: Paul McCarter
Commended:
#1: Devenish Island, County Fermanagh
Taken by: Austin McQuaid
#18: Bee out fox(glov)ed
Taken by: Peter Hughes
#31: Red berry bushy tree and distant walk, Cuilcagh Mountain Park in Fermanagh,
Taken by: Tim McEvitt
#37: Looping pathway around Inisrath Island, Co. Fermanagh.
Taken by: Tim McEvitt
#48: Wedge tomb, Cavan Burren. One of the best examples of such in the now forested townland rich in ancient monuments.
Taken by: Tom Hyde
#55: Sweathouse: Sweathouse in Legeelan Co. Cavan. Ancient Irish treatment hut, almost exclusively found in the Greenbox region of Ireland. It’ll cure what ails you. Still in use until the early 1900’s.
Taken by: Tom Hyde
#59: pathway: Wintertime walk on Houghton’s Shore, Lough Garadice, Co. Leitrim, on the Shannon-Erne Waterway (where R199 R205 meet).
Taken by: Tom Hyde
#64 sunset: Lough Garadice, Co. Leitrim, a large and beautiful, tree-bound, island-studded expanse of water, mid-way between Ballyconnell and Ballinamore.
Taken by: Tom Hyde
#3 The one horned sheep and the windy tree. Glencar, Co. Leitrim.
Taken by: Dick Whitehead
#26 orange tip butterflies
Taken by: Peter Hughes
#6: Lough Arrow at dusk with the Bricklieves and the passage tomb at Carrowkeel in the distance. Photo taken from near Ballindoon, Co. Sligo.
Taken by: Jeri Reilly
Thursday, November 22, 2007
financial managment briefing
Hi guys Ollie here.
Have a look at this:
Donegal Business Network Breakfast Briefing Financial Management
The Donegal Business Network are hosting a breakfast briefing on Financial Management in the
The workshop will focus on financial management, with the emphasis on managing cash flow and getting paid on time. Padraig Considine will deliver the workshop, and with his experience of working with small businesses, and expertise in financial management and delivering training programes, he will provide a very interesting and worthwhile morning.
Padraig set up Professional Accounting Solutions eleven years ago to cater for the bookkeeping / taxation requirements for the small businessperson. Since then the company has branched out into training and has delivered a wide range of training programes designed to assist businesses in all aspects of financial management.
Clients include Enterprise Boards, Chambers of Commerce, Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland and County Childcare Committees.
This workshop is open to all businesses in Donegal, and the purpose of the Donegal Business Network is to provide a forum where business owners / managers can meet and share experience.
The workshop is free of charge and to book a place please contact the County Enterprise Board 074 91 60735 or 0861729667
Friday, November 9, 2007
business training, web, marketing
Ollie here guys
have a look here for some very interesting, affordable and innovative business training:
(if link doesn't work, try the url below)
http://www.improvethroughchange.com/events/
This include direct marketing , blogging for business and maximising your on line presence
have a look here for some very interesting, affordable and innovative business training:
(if link doesn't work, try the url below)
http://www.improvethroughchange.com/events/
This include direct marketing , blogging for business and maximising your on line presence
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Greenbox Christmas Party and Awards
Party and Awards!
Date for your diary: Keep Thursday 13th December free, because we have our annual network Christmas Party coming up. This year we are starting early, to give people a chance to get away at a reasonable hour if they so decide. We are also presenting a range of Greenbox awards, the details of which are below. All in all it should be a great night.
Here’s all the details:
Venue: Blacklion golf club, Blacklion, Co. Cavan.
Cost: €30/£20 per head
Booking: is highly recommended, as the venue is limited in capacity. Book through the Greenbox office: info@greenbox ie, 071 9856898 or greenbox, park road industrial estate, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim.
Timeline:
4.00-4.30 National Certificate in Ecotourism class graduation
4.30-5.00 Starter Canapés, juice, tea/coffee and prosecco. (Ambience provided by a photo exhibition of winning pictures and jazz musicians)
5.00-6.30 Spectacular seasonal meal, with an emphasis on local, seasonal and organic food. Plenty of veggie options.
6.30-8.00 Greenbox awards: Leave No Trace awards, Greenbox photo competition, Greenbox people of the year!
8.00-late Music with highly acclaimed musicians…bring your dancing shoes!
Awards: because there were so many people to give awards to, we decided to compress them all into one awards ceremony night. The Ecotourism class are the second set of graduates from Ireland’s only national certificate in Ecotourism. Leave No Trace is an outdoor ethics code for the sensitive use the rural space; the Greenbox has recently facilitated the first formal training of a class of LNT trainers, who are now qualified to teach LNT to others. We have also been running a photography competition over the year, and the best 12 will be both on display and receiving their awards on the night. Finally, we are having our own awards for network members.
The categories for Greenbox people of the year are:
Most active member of the year
Most innovative member of the year
Most ecologically sound member of the year
Best website of the year
Best new member
Network’s choice: network member of the year
We want to hear your nominations for these categories. Send in your nominations by Friday 30th November at 5, by post phone or email. This latter award, network’s choice: network member of the year, is your chance to pick the person from the greenbox network who has done the most to interact with you, help you, inspire you, motivate you and so on. (Note: staff not included!) . The network’s vote will be what decides this category! Again, just send in your choice to info@greenbox.ie , ring 071 9856898 or post to Greenbox, Park Road Industrial Estate, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim. One entry only per person, and closing date for entries is Friday 30th November at 5pm
Date for your diary: Keep Thursday 13th December free, because we have our annual network Christmas Party coming up. This year we are starting early, to give people a chance to get away at a reasonable hour if they so decide. We are also presenting a range of Greenbox awards, the details of which are below. All in all it should be a great night.
Here’s all the details:
Venue: Blacklion golf club, Blacklion, Co. Cavan.
Cost: €30/£20 per head
Booking: is highly recommended, as the venue is limited in capacity. Book through the Greenbox office: info@greenbox ie, 071 9856898 or greenbox, park road industrial estate, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim.
Timeline:
4.00-4.30 National Certificate in Ecotourism class graduation
4.30-5.00 Starter Canapés, juice, tea/coffee and prosecco. (Ambience provided by a photo exhibition of winning pictures and jazz musicians)
5.00-6.30 Spectacular seasonal meal, with an emphasis on local, seasonal and organic food. Plenty of veggie options.
6.30-8.00 Greenbox awards: Leave No Trace awards, Greenbox photo competition, Greenbox people of the year!
8.00-late Music with highly acclaimed musicians…bring your dancing shoes!
Awards: because there were so many people to give awards to, we decided to compress them all into one awards ceremony night. The Ecotourism class are the second set of graduates from Ireland’s only national certificate in Ecotourism. Leave No Trace is an outdoor ethics code for the sensitive use the rural space; the Greenbox has recently facilitated the first formal training of a class of LNT trainers, who are now qualified to teach LNT to others. We have also been running a photography competition over the year, and the best 12 will be both on display and receiving their awards on the night. Finally, we are having our own awards for network members.
The categories for Greenbox people of the year are:
Most active member of the year
Most innovative member of the year
Most ecologically sound member of the year
Best website of the year
Best new member
Network’s choice: network member of the year
We want to hear your nominations for these categories. Send in your nominations by Friday 30th November at 5, by post phone or email. This latter award, network’s choice: network member of the year, is your chance to pick the person from the greenbox network who has done the most to interact with you, help you, inspire you, motivate you and so on. (Note: staff not included!) . The network’s vote will be what decides this category! Again, just send in your choice to info@greenbox.ie , ring 071 9856898 or post to Greenbox, Park Road Industrial Estate, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim. One entry only per person, and closing date for entries is Friday 30th November at 5pm
Friday, November 2, 2007
The Guardian
Another article featuring the Greenbox. See link below:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/sep/30/escape
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/sep/30/escape
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