Ryan McAleer
@ryanmcaleer.bsky.social
Business journalist at The Irish News
The Irish whiskey distillery breathing new life into Donegal’s Gaeltacht www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
The Irish whiskey distillery breathing new life into Donegal’s Gaeltacht
The Crolly Distillery is a thriving new hub of industry and tourism in Gweedore
www.irishnews.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:55 AM
The Irish whiskey distillery breathing new life into Donegal’s Gaeltacht www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
Belfast hospitality group launches bid for new city centre hotel and entry bar complex
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
Belfast hospitality group launches bid for new city centre hotel and entry bar complex
Merchant Hotel owner Beannchor is proposing a new hospitality development along Crown Entry and Ann Street
www.irishnews.com
April 25, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Belfast hospitality group launches bid for new city centre hotel and entry bar complex
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
Belfast Whiskey Social: Irish and Scottish producers to take part in major drinks event www.irishnews.com/news/belfast...
Belfast Whiskey Social: Irish and Scottish producers to take part in major drinks event
Andrew Ure originally launched Belfast’s first ever whiskey festival in 2016
www.irishnews.com
April 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Belfast Whiskey Social: Irish and Scottish producers to take part in major drinks event www.irishnews.com/news/belfast...
Ebrington Hotel owners set to acquire Da Vinci’s in Derry
Ebrington Hotel owners set to acquire Da Vinci’s in Derry
Derry City hotel changes hands for second time in eight months
www.irishnews.com
April 11, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Ebrington Hotel owners set to acquire Da Vinci’s in Derry
The average home rental listing in Belfast increased 2.3% in the last quarter to £1,127 per month, according to PropertyPal (+9.6% y/y). NI rent average is up to £960p/m (+1.9% q/q +8.5% y/y). Big increase in Lisburn & Castlereagh as well +10.5% y/y.
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
Average rental listing for a home in Belfast has increased to £1,127 per month - PropertyPal
Northern Ireland rental average up 8.5% over the year to £960 per month in the first quarter of 2025
www.irishnews.com
April 10, 2025 at 8:34 AM
The average home rental listing in Belfast increased 2.3% in the last quarter to £1,127 per month, according to PropertyPal (+9.6% y/y). NI rent average is up to £960p/m (+1.9% q/q +8.5% y/y). Big increase in Lisburn & Castlereagh as well +10.5% y/y.
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
A 148-bed Belfast Premier Inn hotel has been bought by the Beannchor Group in a deal understood to be worth around £8.6m
Merchant Hotel owner buys Belfast Premier Inn on the market for £8.5m
New company set up by Beannchor Group completes deal for 148-bedroom hotel on Alfred Street
www.irishnews.com
April 8, 2025 at 6:39 AM
A 148-bed Belfast Premier Inn hotel has been bought by the Beannchor Group in a deal understood to be worth around £8.6m
Fairly big pub news in Derry City. The Downey brothers have acquired Peadar O’Donnell’s. Take over was completed on Friday.
One of Derry’s best-known pubs acquired by Downey group in multi-million pound deal
Well-known Waterloo Street pub had been owned by Martin McGuinness’ brother William
www.irishnews.com
April 5, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Fairly big pub news in Derry City. The Downey brothers have acquired Peadar O’Donnell’s. Take over was completed on Friday.
Easyjet steps in at City of Derry Airport to reinstate route pulled by Ryanair last week
Easyjet steps in at City of Derry Airport to reinstate route pulled by Ryanair last week
Budget carrier will add a third service at City of Derry Airport from September
www.irishnews.com
April 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Easyjet steps in at City of Derry Airport to reinstate route pulled by Ryanair last week
Family-run hospitality group confirm purchase of Armagh City Hotel
Family-run hospitality group confirm purchase of Armagh City Hotel
McKeever Group portfolio extends to seven hotels
www.irishnews.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Family-run hospitality group confirm purchase of Armagh City Hotel
Moxy: Co Down man’s fast-growing hotel group prepares to open its first Northern Ireland venue
Moxy: Co Down man’s fast-growing hotel group prepares to open its first Northern Ireland venue
Warrenpoint native Paul Higgins’ MHL Hotel Collection invests £8m in Moxy Belfast City
www.irishnews.com
April 1, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Moxy: Co Down man’s fast-growing hotel group prepares to open its first Northern Ireland venue
After more than a century of family ownership, McAtee's Bar in Fintona is up for sale
‘We’ve been in it all our lives’ Well-known pub owned by the same family for more than a century up for sale
Third generation of McAtee’s seek to pass on Fintona pub after 115 years in the family
www.irishnews.com
April 1, 2025 at 7:44 AM
After more than a century of family ownership, McAtee's Bar in Fintona is up for sale
Belfast watchmaker Nomadic to open new city centre shop and assembly line
New Belfast city centre shop and assembly line for watchmaker
Peter McAuley’s company to invest £1m to double workforce in next 24 months
www.irishnews.com
March 25, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Belfast watchmaker Nomadic to open new city centre shop and assembly line
Irish whiskey bonder’s sales soar by 50% after signing up with Bournemouth and Vegas Golden Knights owner
Irish whiskey bonder’s sales soar by 50% after signing up with Bournemouth and Vegas Golden Knights owner
Two Stacks on course for £10m in three years boosted by Foley family connection
www.irishnews.com
March 24, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Irish whiskey bonder’s sales soar by 50% after signing up with Bournemouth and Vegas Golden Knights owner
Santander to shut seven more bank branches in Northern Ireland this summer
Santander to shut seven more bank branches in Northern Ireland this summer
Closures in Armagh, Downpatrick, Dungannon, Larne, Magherafelt, Portadown and Strabane reduces banks branch footprint to just 14
www.irishnews.com
March 19, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Santander to shut seven more bank branches in Northern Ireland this summer
The Range to open two new stores in former Homebase sites in Northern Ireland
The Range to open two new stores in former Homebase sites in Northern Ireland
All remaining Homebase stores in the north will close this week
www.irishnews.com
March 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The Range to open two new stores in former Homebase sites in Northern Ireland
Co Down hotel where Churchill and Eisenhower stayed is up for sale
Co Down hotel where Churchill and Eisenhower stayed is up for sale
The Kilmorey Arms has been trading in Kilkeel since 1843
www.irishnews.com
March 18, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Co Down hotel where Churchill and Eisenhower stayed is up for sale
Dupe fragrances are big business. From a bedroom start-up in 2019, Connor Martin's JAQ Group now employs 230 from a base outside Randalstown. The company is now planning to invest £11m opening a 2nd facility in Co Antrim, which could create 300 jobs
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
Dupe fragrance founder Connor Martin launches £11m bid for new factory in Ballymena ‘creating 300 jobs’
JAQ Group’s Connor Martin claims The Essence Vault is now “a £100m brand”
www.irishnews.com
March 14, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Dupe fragrances are big business. From a bedroom start-up in 2019, Connor Martin's JAQ Group now employs 230 from a base outside Randalstown. The company is now planning to invest £11m opening a 2nd facility in Co Antrim, which could create 300 jobs
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
PropertyPal's analysis suggests monthly mortgage payments for the average first-time buyer have fallen back below the average rent costs for a 2/3-bed home. Rate cuts appear to be filtering through, but rent inflation does not appear to be slowing down. www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
March 13, 2025 at 9:21 AM
PropertyPal's analysis suggests monthly mortgage payments for the average first-time buyer have fallen back below the average rent costs for a 2/3-bed home. Rate cuts appear to be filtering through, but rent inflation does not appear to be slowing down. www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
Not surprised given Translink launched a card payment system on buses that can't be used to accept contactless payment for topping up travel cards. I still have to pay in cash to top my iLink travel card. Translink only admitted this after weeks of back-and-forth.
www.irishnews.com/news/norther...
www.irishnews.com/news/norther...
‘Embarrassing’ Belfast Grand Central Station does not sell cross-border tickets on its machines
Rail and bus passengers heading to the Republic cannot buy seats using travel hub’s ticket machines
www.irishnews.com
March 10, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Not surprised given Translink launched a card payment system on buses that can't be used to accept contactless payment for topping up travel cards. I still have to pay in cash to top my iLink travel card. Translink only admitted this after weeks of back-and-forth.
www.irishnews.com/news/norther...
www.irishnews.com/news/norther...
The first ever restaurant week in Mid Ulster begins today in a bid to showcase the culinary talent and local ingredients of Tyrone and Derry.
Mid Ulster hosts inaugural restaurant week
The first Taste Mid Ulster Restaurant Week runs until March 16
buff.ly
March 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The first ever restaurant week in Mid Ulster begins today in a bid to showcase the culinary talent and local ingredients of Tyrone and Derry.
Clover acquire Belfast’s listed Clarence Chambers in £5.5m plan to open latest hospitality venture Rudi
Clover acquire Belfast’s listed Clarence Chambers in £5.5m plan to open latest hospitality venture Rudi
Newly refurbished Margot and Rudi venues expected to open in June
buff.ly
March 10, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Clover acquire Belfast’s listed Clarence Chambers in £5.5m plan to open latest hospitality venture Rudi
Bushmills is launching a new 46yo whiskey, which claims to be the oldest Irish single malt ever released. Just 38/300 bottles of 'Secrets of the River Bush’ will be released on the island on March 17th.
Bushmills unveil oldest single malt Irish whiskey ever released
Just 38 bottles of the 46-year-old ‘Secrets of the River Bush’ will be released in Ireland at £10,000 per bottle
buff.ly
March 6, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Bushmills is launching a new 46yo whiskey, which claims to be the oldest Irish single malt ever released. Just 38/300 bottles of 'Secrets of the River Bush’ will be released on the island on March 17th.
Firmus to cut Ten Towns domestic gas tariff by 11.84% on April 1 following utility reg review. No change for SSE customers in Greater Belfast. Both regulated tariffs broadly average £1k per year (based on avg use), which is around double what customers paid c.5 years ago.
Gas households on Ten Towns network set for 12% tariff cut from April 1
71,000 customers will save, but prices are still double what households paid five years ago
www.irishnews.com
March 6, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Firmus to cut Ten Towns domestic gas tariff by 11.84% on April 1 following utility reg review. No change for SSE customers in Greater Belfast. Both regulated tariffs broadly average £1k per year (based on avg use), which is around double what customers paid c.5 years ago.
The Blind Piglet: Dormans prepare to unveil new £750k live music and street food venue in Magherafelt
The Blind Piglet: Dormans prepare to unveil new £750k live music and street food venue in Magherafelt
Derry pub group claim new venue will broadcast sport on ‘north’s largest outdoor screen’
buff.ly
March 4, 2025 at 11:46 AM
The Blind Piglet: Dormans prepare to unveil new £750k live music and street food venue in Magherafelt
The CEO of Invest NI has said "the possibility of relocating" should be among the options when discussing the future utilisation of the organisation's Belfast headquarters
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
Invest NI chief says relocation should be on the table for discussion on future of Belfast headquarters
Kieran Donoghue raises “possibility of relocating” in debate on modernising Bedford Street HQ
www.irishnews.com
March 4, 2025 at 8:35 AM
The CEO of Invest NI has said "the possibility of relocating" should be among the options when discussing the future utilisation of the organisation's Belfast headquarters
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...
www.irishnews.com/news/busines...