DP Energy Australia to power up Euston, New South Wales, with new 700MW wind farm development

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DP Energy Australia is pleased to announce a significant advancement in its nominally 700MW Euston Wind Farm project, located 8km north of Euston in New South Wales within the Balranald Local Government Area. Having recently received the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, DP Energy has now commenced preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a critical step towards Development Approval (DA).

 

Situated within the South-West Renewable Energy Zone (SW-REZ), the Euston Wind Farm aims to contribute to New South Wales’s climate action targets of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The project is expected to generate enough electricity to power up to 324,903 New South Wales homes, incorporating approximately 100 wind turbines and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The project will contribute significantly to local development supporting jobs and local community programs.

 

DP Energy Australia’s Head of Projects, Hugh Cantwell, expressed enthusiasm about reaching this pivotal stage. “The receipt of the SEARs marks a key milestone in the Euston Wind Farm project, we are excited to be moving forward with this quality project which aligns well with the New South Wales Government’s goals to transform the electricity system into one that is affordable, clean, and reliable,” said Cantwell.

 

Jack Murphy, DP Energy Australia’s Environment and Development Manager, also commented on this milestone, saying, “As we move into the EIS phase, I am excited to further engage with the local community and the NSW Government. This project will play a crucial role in bolstering the NSW South-West Renewable Energy Zone and is a significant step toward Australia’s transition to achieving net-zero emissions.”

 

Established over 30 years ago, DP Energy has developed over 1GW of renewable energy projects across Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the UK to date and have a current project pipeline of over 9GW. DP Energy’s lead Australian projects include the 320MW Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park in South Australia, and the 430MW Callide Wind Farm in Queensland.

 

A dedicated website for the Euston Wind Farm project has been updated with the latest information and can be accessed at www.eustonwindfarm.com.au.

 

About DP Energy

 

DP Energy is an Irish company that develops renewable energy projects across the world. Head-quartered in Cork, Ireland, DP Energy has to date developed over 1GW (1,000MW) of renewable energy projects which are built and operational. With over 30 years’ experience in the global renewable energy sector, DP Energy is 100% committed to using the most sustainable and environmentally responsible methods in all of their energy developments.

 

Shortlist unveiled for ‘New Voices: The An Post Writing Prize’ in association with the An Post Irish Book Awards

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100+ writers from the Irish based Ukrainian community entered original short stories,

essays or poems in new competition and six have now been shortlisted

 

The shortlist has been unveiled for ‘New Voices: The An Post Writing Prize’ which, this year, focuses on the Irish based Ukrainian community.

 

This new writing competition was introduced for this year’s awards, inviting new and established writers from the Irish based Ukrainian community aged 16+ to compose a new and original short story, essay or poem in either English or Ukrainian describing their experiences of flight and exile in no more than 1,000 words.

 

Entries received covered a broad range of themes including the difficulties of abandoning one’s home to flee violence and destruction and the experience of settling in a new country. However, in the midst of these stories of hardship, there was hope, with many writers sharing the kindness and support of strangers and the establishment of new friendships where they had settled. These connections provided these writers with the strength to rebuild their life.

 

Over 100 entries were received for the new writing competition with six writers now shortlisted. They will be invited to attend the An Post Irish Book Awards ceremony at the Convention Centre, Dublin on the 22nd November where the overall winner will be announced.

 

The shortlisted writers are:

  • Anna Hodovychenko from Letterfrack, Co Galway with 3465 days / 3465 днів
  • Borys Koval from Dublin with The Way from War to Peace. The Valley of Gratitude / Шлях від війни до Миру. Алея вдячності
  • Lyudmila Boyko from Dublin with Ode to volunteers / Ода волонтерам
  • Olga Kitik from Letterkenny, Co Donegal with Memories License / Ліцензія на спогади
  • Tetiana Petrukhnova from Dublin with The Leap / Стрибок
  • Valeriia Shmyrova from Dublin with The Border / Кордон

The winner will be presented with an official An Post Irish Book Awards trophy and a €500 voucher to use in creative writing courses at the Irish Writers Centre. The five other shortlisted writers will each receive a €100 voucher for the Irish Writers Centre which can be used for a variety of writing courses.

 

Now in its 18th year, the An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible. Each year it brings together a vast community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of Irish writing talent.

 

The awards feature a diverse mix of exceptional writing from new and established writers across 19 categories, including Novel of the Year, Children, Cookbook, Crime Fiction, Popular Fiction, Non-fiction, Sports, Lifestyle, Short Story, Irish language, Poem, Newcomer, Teen and Young Adult, Irish Published and Biography.

 

To tie in with the announcement of the An Post Irish Book Awards shortlist, the public are now being asked to have their say and cast their votes online for the best books of the year on the An Post Irish Book Awards website anpostirishbookawards.ie/vote. All voters will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five €100 National Book Tokens vouchers. Voters may cast their votes from 7pm on 19th October until voting closes on 9th November at 5:00pm.

 

Meanwhile, a one-hour television special, hosted by Oliver Callan, will be broadcast on RTÉ One on 6th December giving viewers an exclusive insight into the six books and the authors competing for the accolade of ‘An Post Irish Book Awards Book of the Year 2023’, culminating in the reveal of this year’s overall winner.

 

The hugely successful #ReadersWanted campaign will also continue this year by An Post, celebrating the value and joy of reading and encouraging everyone to pick up more books, more often. Simply search the hashtag online to get involved.

 

Brendan Corbett, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, says:

“We are delighted this category was introduced to give new and established writers in the Ukrainian based Irish community an opportunity to share new and original work which gives us a very real and personal insight into their stories of flight and exile. We would like to thank everyone who entered and shared their experiences with us through the written word. This shortlist displays the sheer writing talent we have in this country and our incredible literary community which is constantly evolving and growing. I look forward to meeting all the shortlisted writers at the awards ceremony on the 22nd November and wish them all the very best of luck.”

 

David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, says:

“It is exciting to be able to use the platform of the An Post Irish Book Awards to introduce new writing. Even more so to share the work of Ukrainian writers as they navigate their experiences of war, exile and working to build new lives here. Our hope is that the works of these writers leads to a better understanding of Ukraine and contributes, in some way, towards the healing of those hurt by war.”

 

www.anpostirishbookawards.ie

Facebook: @AnPostIBAS

Instagram: @anpost_irishbookawards

Twitter: @AnPostIBAS

 

For a range of reading recommendations, check out www.anpost.com/readerswanted

Young Irish consumers feeling more optimistic about their financial futures and property prospects than their older counterparts – new Dye & Durham ‘Ireland Pulse Report’

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  • impacted compared to 2022
  • Almost one-in-five (19%) would consider moving to a more affordable town or city in a different county to help improve their standard of living
  • Most Irish consumers have not yet tried AI for either personal use (58%) or professional use (68%)

  

Young Irish consumers are more optimistic than older generations when it comes to their financial futures, according to a newly launched report by Dye & Durham, the provider of practice management solutions to legal professionals. The Ireland Pulse Report for Q3 2023, a survey of 1,000 adults in Ireland conducted by YouGov, explores trends in the economy, the property market and technology.

The report’s younger respondents are feeling the best about their financial situations, with 29 per cent of those aged 18-24 and 26 per cent of those aged 25-34 saying their finances have improved over the past 12 months.

On the other hand, those aged 45 and older are feeling the most financially vulnerable, with more than half (55%) confirming that their finances have been negatively impacted compared to 2022.

Overall, almost half of respondents (48%) confirm their finances are in a worse place than they were 12 months ago and only 19 per cent of people suggest their finances have improved.

While sentiment about personal finances has dipped for some, consumers’ plans to purchase or sell properties over the next year have not experienced the same downward pressure, especially among younger buyers and sellers.

“Today’s tough economic conditions are making many people in Ireland feel financially worse off,” says Martha Vallance, Chief Operating Officer, Dye & Durham.

“The knock-on effect of this is reduced transaction activity across many industries, including the legal industry that we operate in. However, younger cohorts in Ireland are clearly optimistic about their financial futures, so we expect to see an upswing in areas like property transactions, business originations and others that should help legal firms bounce back from a slower-than-normal year.”

Younger cohorts also more optimistic about property

Those aged 25-34 have been the most active on the property market over the past 12 months, and plan to continue to be the most active cohort over the next 12 months. More than one-in-ten (11%) of those aged 25-34 bought their first home in the last year, and 16% intend to do the same over the next year. At the same time, 13 per cent sold an investment/income property and purchased a new investment property in the last year, and 10 per cent plan to purchase an investment property over the next year.

The next most optimistic cohort is those aged 18-24, 10 per cent of whom plan to buy their first home in the next year, and 8 per cent will be in the market for an investment/income property.

For those looking for a reprieve from the elevated cost-of-living, moving in search of affordability may be an option. Nearly one-in-four (24%) said they would consider moving to a different country to find a lower cost-of-living. Almost one-in-five (19%) would consider moving to a more affordable town or city in a different county, and 18 per cent would consider moving to a more affordable town or city in their current county.

Consumers gradually embracing AI

The Ireland Pulse Report also explored trends in technology and found that most consumers in Ireland have not yet tried AI for either personal use (58%) or professional use (68%).

Older consumers are least likely to have explored generative AI tools. Four-in-five of those aged 55+ (80%) have not experimented with AI for personal use, and 87 per cent have not experimented for professional use.

On the other hand, younger consumers (aged 18-24) are the most likely to have experimented with AI for personal (68%), while those aged 25-34 are the most likely to have experimented with AI for professional use (60%).

Overall, Irish consumers are hesitant about skilled professionals incorporating AI into the services they provide to their customers. Just one-in-five (20%) would be comfortable with real estate agents/brokerages and insurance brokers using AI. This drops to 16 per cent for mortgage brokers and 12 per cent for lawyers/conveyancers.

When asked what would help increase their comfort with generative AI being used by lawyers and conveyancers, 27 per cent said they would be more comfortable if it was used to improve their performance without replacing a real person, while 26 per cent said if it would guarantee a better outcome or better accuracy. A quarter (25%) would also feel more comfortable with lawyers and conveyancers using AI if it would significantly reduce the cost of the service provided.

“Ireland’s legal industry is already exploring the enormous potential for AI to provide cost efficiency and accuracy benefits – from estate agency through to finance and conveyancing – but consumer education is essential. It’s important to demonstrate how AI is already being deployed and the benefits it offers legal professionals in terms of efficiency and accuracy, which ultimately pass through to the client,” – says David Nash, Chief Product Officer, Dye & Durham.

For more information, visit https://dyedurham.ie/

 

DP Energy Australia successfully awarded Development Approval for 430MW Callide Wind Farm, Queensland

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DP Energy has been awarded Development Approval (DA) for its Callide Wind Farm project by the State Assessment Referral Agency.

 

The project, which will be located in the Calliope Range approximately 22km north north-east of Biloela and 75km west south-west of Gladstone and in the Banana Shire Council local government area, has the potential for a capacity of 430MW and is expected to produce enough energy to power around 130,000 average Queensland households.

 

The Callide Wind Farm will create direct employment opportunities during construction and operation, as well as indirect opportunities through increased demand for local products, materials, and services.

 

Commenting on the milestone, Hugh Cantwell, DP Energy Australia’s Head of Projects said: “We are delighted to have been awarded Development Approval for our Callide Wind Farm project in Queensland. This marks a significant milestone in the project’s lifecycle, and the DP Energy Australia team look forward to the next phases of the project, with the ultimate goal of creating a greener future for Queensland.”

 

Established over 30 years ago, DP Energy have developed over 1GW of built renewable energy projects across Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the UK and have a current project pipeline of over 9GW. DP Energy’s lead and announced Australian projects include the now operational 320MW Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park in South Australia, and the Euston Wind Farm project in New South Wales.

 

More information on the project is available at https://callidewindfarm.com.au/.

Acquisition of Speed Fibre Group by Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Ltd finalised following all regulatory approvals in Ireland and the UK

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Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited (LSE:CORD) completes acquisition of Speed Fibre Group

 

Speed Fibre Group, the holding company of Ireland’s leading wholesale and retail fibre services providers Enet and Magnet Plus, is delighted to announce that following all regulatory approvals in Ireland and the UK, it has been formally acquired by Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited (“Cordiant”), a specialist global infrastructure investor with a focus on digital infrastructure.

 

The equity consideration for the acquisition is €97million, based on a total enterprise value of €190.5 million.

 

With Cordiant, Speed Fibre Group will continue to invest and grow its network and services and expand its service offering with innovative telecommunications solutions in conjunction with the evolving requirements of its customers.

 

Cordiant will provide both sector operating expertise and a stable, long term capital base to support Speed Fibre Group’s strategy. The company’s alignment with Cordiant represents a strong partnership that will further accelerate growth and foster collaborative possibilities, while augmenting Speed Fibre Group’s customer focus and capabilities.

 

Commenting on the announcement, Peter McCarthy, CEO of Speed Fibre Group, stated:

“Both Cordiant and Speed Fibre Group are dedicated to excellence in the telecommunications sector. This acquisition arrives at a transformative juncture in the growth of Speed Fibre Group. We are poised not only to fulfil our clients’ evolving needs but also to harness momentum to expand our reach, delivering innovative telecommunications solutions on both domestic and international fronts. We eagerly anticipate the collaborative opportunities ahead as we join forces with the Cordiant team and the value that this will bring to our customers and staff.”

 

Steven Marshall, Chairman of Digital Infrastructure at Cordiant Capital, added:

“We are delighted to welcome Speed Fibre Group into CORD’s portfolio, which is now further diversified by asset class and geography. Fibre remains an integral part of digital infrastructure, supporting economic growth and social connectivity. As we remain committed our “Buy, Build, and Grow” strategy, the plan is to invest further in Speed Fibre Group’s network and work closely with the Irish government and local partners to extend high-speed digital access. This will nurture domestic innovation and provide a thriving ecosystem for homegrown tech companies to flourish.”

 

About Speed Fibre Group:

Speed Fibre Group is a prominent force in the Irish telecommunications sector, encompassing influential entities such as Enet and Magnet+. With an annual turnover in excess of €80 million, a dedicated team of over 230 professionals, and a customer base exceeding 11,000, Speed Fibre Group plays a pivotal role in shaping the connectivity landscape of Ireland. The group’s commitment to innovation and excellence has earned them a place of prominence in the industry.

www.speedfibregroup.ie

 

About Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited:

Cordiant Digital Infrastructure Limited is an operationally focused specialist digital infrastructure investor with a proven track record of strategic investments. The company’s “Buy, Build & Grow” approach is synonymous with driving excellence and innovation across the telecommunications sector. Cordiant’s vision aligns seamlessly with the ambitions of Speed Fibre Group, promising a future characterized by growth, collaboration, and transformative advancements.

www.cordiant.com

Grafter, the Irish flexible workspace provider, opens second premium London location at Mayfair House on Berkeley Square

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  • Mayfair House is eighth location in Grafters Dublin and London portfolio

 

  • Mayfair House extends to nearly 10,000 sq. ft over four stories and offers a blend of private and shared workspaces, lounge space and an inner courtyard

 

Grafter, the Irish flexible workspace provider that offers members a dedicated place for work, rest and everything in between, has unveiled Mayfair House, its second premium location in London. The venue will open in November and is currently taking registrations of interest.

 

Situated on Berkeley Square in the heart of the iconic Mayfair district, Mayfair House extends to nearly 10,000 sq. ft across four floors and combines stunning contemporary design and luxury amenities to provide a second-to-none business experience for Grafter members.

 

Mayfair House is the latest addition to the Grafter portfolio of beautifully restored buildings in the heart of Dublin and London. The business, which was established in 2021, has six locations in Dublin and opened Bedford House, it’s first London location last year.

 

The overall aim of the Grafter proposition is to put ‘life’ back into ‘work’ by providing stylish, luxury, productive and creative workspaces that allow work and life to co-exist in harmony. With a Grafter membership, members are free to move between any of the Grafter locations across Dublin and London.

 

Designed by award winning interior designers and architects, Mayfair House offers a blend of private and shared office workspaces, members’ lounges and a stunning courtyard, all situated in the opulent surroundings of Berkley Square. The building features exquisite furnishings and art, making comfort a priority and eliminating the rigid formality of a normal office space. One of the design highlights is the private members’ inner courtyard with live greenery and the large indoor tree which extends from the ground floor through to the first floor.

 

Mayfair House has also been fully rewired with CAT 6 cabling throughout, along with managed wired and wireless WiFi networks, ensuring every member device is guaranteed fast, consistent and reliable web browsing, video conferencing and VoIP calls. Mayfair House also has an on-site support team along with shower facilities, a self-serve bar in the basement, fully stocked kitchens, and a range of social meeting spaces.

 

Emma Kennedy, CEO of Grafter, says:

“We are very excited to be opening our second London location at Mayfair House in the heart of the city. Mayfair is such a well-known and historic location and we are proud that we have refurbished such a beautiful building. We worked alongside award winning architects and interior designers to create a visually stunning but also cosy and comfortable space. With its excellent location, beside some of the city’s best restaurants and hotels and such close proximity to Hyde Park, we knew Mayfair House was the perfect location for our second London project.

 

We are looking forward to welcoming new members to Mayfair House and offering them a beautifully designed space where they can work and relax. We are also actively looking for opportunities to expand across different cities around the word and I personally look forward to seeing Grafter continue to grow.”

 

Mayfair House boasts a second-to-none location. Nestled in the heart of London bordering leafy Hyde Park, Mayfair is a renowned London neighbourhood. Grafter members can enjoy some of the city’s best dining, hotels, entertainment, culture and history – all a stone’s throw from their doorstep. A number of underground and main line train stations are close, while Oxford Street only a ten-minute walk.

 

You can find out more about Grafter here: www.grafterhouse.com

You can follow Grafter on

Linked In: Grafter

Instagram: grafterhouse

 

‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ longlist revealed for 2023

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Twelve bookshops around Ireland selected for the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ longlist

 

  • Shortlist of six bookshops will be revealed on October 19th and the overall winner announced at the An Post Irish Book Awards on November 22nd

 

12 bookshops across the country have been longlisted for the ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ category at this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards, the annual literary event that celebrates and promotes Irish writing and authors to the widest range of readers possible.

 

The ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ category is designed to acknowledge the significant role played by independent bookshops and local branches of bookshop chains in helping their local communities to find and savour the titles of their choice. Previous winners include Kennys Bookshop and Art Gallery, Galway in 2021 and Bridge Street Books, Wicklow in 2022.

 

The longlist of twelve bookshops around Ireland for 2023 are:

  • Bridge Books Dromore, Co. Down
  • Bridge Street Books, Wicklow
  • Castle Book & Card Centre, Castlebar, Mayo
  • The Clifden Bookshop, Connemara, Galway
  • Halfway Up the Stairs, Greystones, Wicklow
  • Kerr’s Bookshop Clonakilty, Co. Cork
  • Liber, Sligo
  • Little Acorns Bookstore, Derry
  • Maynooth Bookshop, Kildare
  • O’Mahony’s Booksellers, Limerick
  • Tales for Tadpoles, Bray, Wicklow
  • Tertulia, Westport, Mayo

Customers were asked to vote for their favourite bookshops and to explain the reason for their choice. The bookshops that received the most votes were then longlisted and invited by the judges to enter a written submission.

 

Mystery shoppers will now visit the twelve bookshops as part of the judging process to establish the shortlist of six bookshops. The shortlist will be officially announced on the 19th October. The overall winner of ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ will be presented with their trophy at the An Post Irish Book Awards event on 22nd November along with a prize worth €15,000 from An Post Commerce.

 

Each year, the An Post Irish Book Awards bring together a vast community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of new and established Irish writing talent and 2023 will be no different. Other categories in the An Post Irish Book Awards include Novel of the Year, Children’s (Junior and Senior), Cookery, Crime Fiction, Popular Fiction, Non-fiction, Sports, Short Story, Poetry, Teen and Young Adult and Irish Language.

 

Brendan Corbett, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, says:

“Bookshops are at the core of communities’ all throughout Ireland and act as a cultural and social hub for many. We introduced this category to highlight the significant role Irish bookshops play, not only to their communities and readers, but also to the Irish book business. I’m delighted to see such deserving bookshops on the longlist and wish them all the best of luck.”

Dawn Behan, Chair of Bookselling Ireland, says:

“Booksellers have such an important role connecting readers with books they love and it truly is wonderful to see them getting recognition. Bookshops foster a love of reading in communities, especially for those new to the word of literature, helping them find titles they will enjoy. The An Post Bookshop of the Year award acknowledges Irish bookshops and it’s great to see such a diverse longlist.”

 

Commenting on the important role bookshops play in local communities, Garrett Bridgeman, Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels says:  

“Bookshops are an integral part of local and wider communities throughout Ireland as their accessibility with ecommerce has changed immensely in recent years. Bookshops open up a world of possibilities for every age and are a place of joy, solace and enjoyment for so many people. Here at An Post Commerce we are proud to work with bookshops across Ireland and we celebrate the twelve bookshops listed here and all that they represent.”  

The shortlist for all categories in the An Post Irish Book Awards 2023 will be announced on the 19th of October, while the winners will be announced on Wednesday 22nd November. A television programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One television in December and will culminate in one of the 2023 winning titles being announced as the ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2023’.

An Post is also continuing with their hugely successful #ReadersWanted campaign, celebrating the value and joy of reading and encouraging everyone to pick up more books, more often. Simply search for the hashtag online to get involved.

 

For further information, please visit to the An Post Irish Book Awards website or social media channels:

www.anpostirishbookawards.ie

Facebook: @AnPostIBAS

Instagram: @anpost_irishbookawards

Twitter: @AnPostIBAS

Nationwide search to find Ireland’s top employers unveiled by The Sunday Times

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‘The Sunday Times Best Places to Work’ is powered by WorkL

 

The Sunday Times and employee experience platform WorkL have launched a new workplace awards initiative to recognise and celebrate the very best places to work in Ireland. ‘The Sunday Times Best Places to Work’ highlights employers that recruit and retain top talent along with industry-leading best practices in areas such as engagement, wellbeing and job satisfaction.

 

The initiative aims to find businesses where individuals feel they have more control over their work life balance, wellbeing and environment and, as a result of this, take more responsibility for the success of their employer.

 

Companies can enter through the WorkL for business platform where organisations can set up and distribute a survey designed by employee experience experts. The survey includes key questions which will give an insight into the organisation and employee sentiment. The link is: Stbestplacestowork.ie

It takes under 10 minutes for organisations to set up WorkL’s survey and less than five minutes for employees to complete it. Questions cover six key drivers of engagement: Reward and Recognition; Information Sharing; Empowerment; Pride; Job Satisfaction; and Wellbeing.

The deadline for entry is the 12th April 2024 and the results will be announced in The Sunday Times in June 2024. Every organisation that enters will also receive digital subscriptions to The Times and The Sunday Times.

 

Brian Carey, Business Editor of The Sunday Times, says:

“A new era of employment has begun. With the morphing of kitchen tables and bedroom corners into remote boardrooms and Zoom-ready office space, workers everywhere have begun to rethink their lives.

Employees today are resetting their priorities and adjusting their goals, leaving many organisations scratching their heads over how to re-engage them. In other words, there has never been a better time to find out what makes staff tick, what motivates them and what brings them the kind of happiness at work that salary alone cannot buy.

In this evolving landscape, The Sunday Times is proud to partner with employee experience platform WorkL to deliver fresh insights into what makes a Best Place to Work.”

Mark Price, Founder of WorkL, says:

“I am delighted that WorkL is powering The Sunday Times Best Places to Work Awards. Our unique Instant Action Software enables companies to benchmark their results against other organisations within their industry as well as receive detailed analysis across multiple demographics. Recognition as one of the best places to work is crucial for effective employee retention and recruitment strategies, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for organisations to enter to be recognised as the best place to work.”

 

thesundaytimes.ie

 

Facebook @thesundaytimesIE
Twitter @ST__Ireland
LinkedIn @The Sunday Times Ireland
Instagram @sundaytimesireland

 

GamerFest, Ireland’s leading gaming and esports festival, returns to Dublin’s RDS on 21st & 22nd October with biggest content line-up ever for gamers

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  • Four Key Zones across the event: PLAY, COMPETE, CONNECT and DISCOVER
  • Multiple Live Stages featuring content creator appearances, esports, gaming challenges and talks
  • Sim racing experiences over the weekend including the Curry’s Fastest Lap Challenge with multiple prizes up for grabs
  • Experience the EA FC24 Area, including free-play and casual tournaments
  • Learn about careers in the gaming industry from some of the top gaming companies in Ireland including Black Shamrock Studio and 2K Games.

The biggest ever GamerFest, Ireland’s leading gaming and esports festival, will take place at Dublin’s RDS on 21st and 22nd of October. The epic GamerFest weekend is a celebration of all things gaming and will feature the latest gaming releases, virtual reality experiences, esports, gaming challenges and a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators.

 

Visitors to GamerFest can immerse themselves in a huge amount of gaming content across four Key Zones: PLAY, COMPETE, CONNECT and DISCOVER.

 

PLAY Zone

In the PLAY Zone, visitors to GamerFest can get hands on with the very latest upcoming games including EA FC24, Sonic Superstars, NBA 2K24 and Mortal Kombat 1. The latest VR racing experiences will also be playable with Official Network Partner eir, as well as Forza Motorsport on Xbox with Official Car Partner CUPRA and cutting edge immersive VR gaming titles will be on show with Official Drinks Partners Club Loaded and Energise. The incredibly popular Retro Area will also allow gamers take a trip down memory lane and play the old classics on retro consoles including Mega Drive, Super Nintendo and Atari.

 

COMPETE Zone

The COMPETE Zone at GamerFest is all about esports. Check out the Grand Finals on the Live Esports Stage as Ireland’s top esports talent battle it out across a selection of titles including VALORANT, Rocket League, EA FC24 and Rainbow 6 Siege. Visitors to GamerFest can also take part in various causal tournaments at the event including CS:GO, EA FC24 and Rocket League. Fans of racing can test their skills in the Curry’s Fastest Lap Challenge, competing in cutting edge sim racing rigs for prizes.

 

CONNECT Zone

A hugely important part of GamerFest is community, and the CONNECT Zone is the place to meet Ireland’s leading content creators. The Mooju Live Stage will also host a packed line-up of content for the whole weekend including gaming challenges, the Cosplay Challenge and content creator Q&As. Visitors to the event can also purchase the latest gaming equipment and merch from companies including Trust Gaming and GG Machines.

 

DISCOVER Zone

For everyone that wants to learn more about gaming, the DISCOVER Zone highlights the incredible education and career opportunities that the games industry offers, with leading companies and colleges including 2K Games, Black Shamrock Studios and Pulse College in attendance. Visitors can also check out the latest games from Ireland’s indie game developers and give their valuable thoughts and feedback. Budding PC gaming enthusiasts can also take part in workshops provided at the event showing How to Build a Gaming PC with thanks to GG Machines.

 

Founded six years ago, GamerFest has firmly established itself as a diverse, community-led gaming event for everyone with a passion for gaming, with over 25,000 visitors to date. The event welcomes a broad range of gamers including causal gamers and families right through to professional esports players and teams.

 

The upcoming GamerFest in October will be the organisation’s biggest festival yet, with floor space increasing by 50% to 4,500m2, including a new dedicated hall for the GamerFest COMPETE Zone.

 

GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey says: “We’re incredibly excited to see GamerFest growing with each event and this October will be our biggest and best yet. Whether you are a seasoned gamer, or just curious to find out more about the event, GamerFest has more gaming experiences than ever for all to enjoy.”

 

GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this 21st and 22nd of October with

tickets on sale now at GamerFest.ie.

 

Find us on Instagram (gamerfest_ie) or follow us on Twitter or Facebook on @GamerFestIE

RAYGUN, the award winning creative post production house, appoints Leandro Arouca as Colourist

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New investment in Baggot Street facilities enhances post-production picture

and sound service from edit to delivery

 

RAYGUN, the creative post production house that provides full picture and sound finishing services for TV and Radio Commercials, Film, TV documentaries and programming, Animation and Digital Content, has appointed the award-winning colourist Leandro Arouca to the team.

 

With over 15 years international experience in the craft of colour grading, Leandro Arouca has worked on a range of award-winning TV documentary and series, commercials, features, shorts and music videos.

 

They include Vardy V Rooney, a TV Drama for Channel 4, Mustard and Every Five Miles (Storyland 2022), The Black Guelph, Holy Island, Tripped Up (Universal) and Pray for Our Sinners. Leandro has also worked on commercials for a number of domestic brands such as Guinness, Jameson, Redbreast, Electric Ireland, Boots, Arnotts, Cadbury’s and An Post. His work was recently recognised at the Sharks Awards 2023 where he won ‘Best Colour Grading for Music Video’ for his work on the music video Lacuna by Irish artist Boku.

 

Before moving to Ireland, Leandro spent a number of years with O2 Filmes, the largest production and post production company in Brazil. During his time there, he worked alongside some of the best Directors and Cinematographers in Brazil such as Fernando Meirelles, César Charlone, Adriano Goldman, Adrian Teijido and Cao Hamburger among many others. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Communication, Radio and Television from Universidade Metodista de São Paulo and later studied photography at Senac São Paulo.

 

Leandro is the latest in a number of new additions to the RAYGUN team over the past two years. Ciara Walsh was appointed as Head of Facilities in late 2021 following a successful decade with Outer Limits. Ciara’s ability to support producers through the post production process on big projects is highly regarded within the industry.

 

In early 2022 Andy Kirwan, a Sound Engineer known for his work on dramas such as Kin and Smother, joined the team after eight years at Windmill Lane. They are now all part of the award winning RAYGUN team that boasts a wealth of creative and technical expertise across offline, online, sound, grade, visual effects and motion graphic effects.

 

The sound team includes Steven Maher, who has received six Emmy nominations for his work on projects such as Angela’s Christmas and Peter Rabbit, as well as IFTA award winning Colm O’Rourke, who has been with RAYGUN for almost 10 years. Michael Dowling leads the Online department with 25 years’ experience in the industry, alongside Francesca Howlett and other industry stalwarts such as Elaine Brennan O’Dwyer in Production, Derek Pelly in Offline and Emmet O’Farrell in Visual Effects and Graphics.

 

The RAYGUN team is currently looking after full picture and sound post production on a range of productions including Treasure Films latest Feature, Kathleen, written and directed by Eva Birthistle of Bad Sisters fame. They have also just completed full post services on Mia Mullarkey’s RTE Storyland drama Wrapped.

 

In addition, the team has worked on a range of recent television projects for RTE and TG4 including The Way We Were, Gaelic in the Joy, Fia’s Fairies, Seisiun, The Hardest Harvest, Keys To My Life, Two Tribes, Taking Sides: Britain and the Civil War, Fleadh Cheoil and Márú inár Measc, as well as big commercial work for well-known brands such as Three, Dunnes Stores, 123.ie, SuperValu, Opel, Lidl, LEGO, Mace and Burger King.

 

Recently RAYGUN has invested heavily in their facilities on Baggot Street with upgrades to their 5.1 sound studios already complete and a new Grade Suite due to be completed in the coming weeks, further enhancing all aspects of their post-production service from edit to delivery, across picture and sound.

 

Welcoming Leandro’s appointment, Ciara Walsh, Head of Facilities at RAYGUN, says:

 

“Myself and the team are delighted to welcome Leandro to RAYGUN as a colourist. Leandro brings significant experience in the art of colour grading as well as extensive knowledge of the Irish and international film, broadcasting and music industry. He really thrives on exploring new stories and bringing his Directors and Cinematographers visions to life by combining his technical knowledge, trained eye, and creativity. This, combined with his supreme passion for his art, means will be a fantastic addition to our dedicated team as we continue to work on a number artistic concepts across a broad spectrum of projects.”

 

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