Join the Camino information evening attracts enthusiastic walking tourists
MAYO ADVERTISER, MAY 17, 2013.
A section of the crowd at the Join the Camino information evening in Portwest, Westport.
There was a great turnout at the inaugural Join the Camino information evening in the Portwest Bridge Street store, Westport.
Guest speaker and veteran of the Camino, Derek Lavelle, gave a vivid and engaging account of his journey across the Pyrenees to the burial site of James the Apostle in Santiago de Compostela in north-western Spain.
There are many different routes to choose from. Mr Lavelle spoke predominately about the French way, by far the most popular way through the Camino. The French way starts in a small town in the French Pyrenees, St Jean Pied de Port, and passes through some of the most magnificent landscapes in northern Spain, as shown in the images displayed in Portwest during the evening.
The Camino route has grown in popularity in recent years with many more Irish making the voyage. Speaking at the event in Portwest, Mr Lavelle explained that the pilgrimage provides some much needed “time out from our busy schedules and a chance to switch off” recommending that mobile phones are left behind.
The line-up was completed by Emer McDermot from Mc Dermot’s Travel Westport and Tom O’Dowd, Portwest. Ms McDermot gave a comprehensive outline of travel to the Camino and accommodation available along the route, along with an offer to tailor packages to individual pilgrims. Mr O’Dowd and the Portwest staff rounded off the evening by taking the audience through the essential kit required for a trip along the Camino, with emphasis on equipment that is light, quick-drying and packable. This is key, given that Camino travellers must work to be almost entirely self sufficient, carrying all their belongings on their back.
The Join the Camino information evening is part of the Portwest lecture series, with a session on a more local adventure, the Bangor Trail, to follow in the coming months.
Castlebar Sprint Triathlon
Mens podium: (L to R) 3rd Ruaidhri Geraghty, 1st Stephen Donnelly
2nd Aichlinn O’ Reilly
Stephen Donnelly & Cecilia McGuinness prevail in Liquid Motion Castlebar Sprint Triathlon 2013.
Challenging conditions in the West didn’t prevent a strong turnout at the Castlebar Sprint Triathlon for this early season pool based race which is in its second year. TI Junior athlete Aichlinn O’ Reilly set the pace in the swim leg with a top time of 00:09:18 which gave him a clear lead going into the bike.
Stephen Donnelly fresh from his exploits in the North Tipp Sprint the previous day answered back with a very strong bike in difficult head wind conditions to open a twenty second lead going into T2. With Aichlinn, Ruairi Geraghty and Louis Kelleher in hot pursuit Stephen delivered a strong run to take first place in an overall time of 00:59:04. Aichlinn O’ Reilly, the other wonder kid from Westport T.C. held on to second place while last year’s winner Ruairí Geraghty completed the podium.
In the women’s race Cecelia McGuinness took top spot, the Sligo T.C. member posted a very solid bike and run split to stay ahead of Lorraine Carey from Liquid Motion who was delighted to be racing having recently recovered from injury. Sarah English who posted one of the fastest swim times of the day took third spot just ahead of Jacinta Mulroe.
Portwest appoints Tom O Dowd as Retail Operations Manager
18/12/2012
Portwest Retail Ireland's biggest outdoor retail chain, has announced Tom O’Dowd has joined Portwest in the position of Retail Operations Manager.
Tom has more than 15 years management experience in the Outdoor retail coupled with a passion for outdoor pursuits. Tom has previously owned and managed Exposure sports in Castlebar. Commenting on his appointment Tom said “I am delighted to join the Portwest team as Retail Operations Manager. The Portwest Retail Group has established a prominent position within the outdoor industry in Ireland, with its significant portfolio of retail outlets and online store. I look forward to working with Portwest and its team of excellent retail managers, staff and suppliers to build upon that success in the future
Commenting on Tom's appointment Managing Director Owen Hughes said "We are delighted to appoint Tom to lead our retail operation, I have no doubt Toms impressive experience within the industry will be of huge benefit to the continued growth of our retail division".
Portwest is Irelands largest outdoor retail chain with 6 stores throughout Ireland in Dublin, Galway, Westport, and a franchise store in Dundalk and Lahinch.
The Portwest company and brand is 100% Irish owned. With over 20 years’ experience in outdoor retail Portwest offers a comprehensive range of outdoor clothing and equipment .All products are tested to ensure a high level of quality and value for money for customers.
PORTWEST ON TOP 1000 COMPANIES LIST
Top 1000 is a guide to the biggest companies in Ireland and is compiled by The Irish Times business team.
http://www.top1000.ie/portwest
GRAND REOPENING OF THE BRDIGE STREET STORE
Portwest is proud to announce the renovation and re-opening of its landmark Bridge Street store here in the heart of Westport.
For over a century Portwest has led the field in the manufacturing and selling of a wide range of affordable outdoor clothing. Under the towering shadow of Croagh Patrick this bastion of local industry and enterprise has, like the mountain itself, endured the changing weathers of climate and commerce.
As a model of local enterprise the company’s growth from it’s humble beginnings echoes the pioneering spirit of Ireland and its people against a backdrop of uncertain times and widespread hardship.
On a summer day in 1904 a budding young Westport native and draper’s assistant, Charles Hughes opened his shop. Shortly after he placed his first advertisement locally in the Mayo News, announcing “A Great and Genuine sale” and promising “Selling prices that will surprise the public”.
As restless as the weather on any Mayo day, Charles Hughes adapted and developed his business, expanding into wholesale inside just 10 years and even running free buses for his eager customers from areas like Achill and Clifden, such was the popularity of the shop.
In more recent times Portwest has seen off the many challenges borne out of emigration, economic rollercoasters and the growth of the major retail chains. In the 1990’s the Portwest Shop became rebranded as Westport’s first specialist outdoor shop, carving out a niche as the preferred supplier of watersports and related items from wetsuits to wellingtons.
The imprint of the third generation Hughes family runs through the business like patterns in a piece of cloth and nowadays the management team is headed by the sons of previous owner (and nephew of Charles Hughes), Padraig Hughes and they are Cathal, Harry and Owen.
Within the irish operation alone there are 120 people employed under Portwest and as well as the two local stores there are others in Galway and Dublin and two franchise stores in Dundalk and Lahinch. Portwest has a strong presence across Europe, currently selling to over fifty countries and is continually developing its innovative product range. At the core of company’s identity is the commitment to value and quality.
With deep roots in Westport, we adapted the town name to create the Portwest brand and Croagh Patrick as our corporate logo. You don’t get more local than that!
The aim is to continue surprising the public for many generations to come!
GREEN DRAGON COMPETITION WINNER
Our Green Dragon Competition Winner set sail last Friday Morning, here is an update on how he got on!
It was a great opportunity to have and I am very grateful to Postwest for the prize. We left The Royal St George club in Dun Laoghaire at 5:30 on Friday morning in great weather, (that didn’t last too long). We travelled as far as the Isle of Man and made a turn towards the Northerly tip of Ireland. From here on we faced 25 knot winds and slightly rough seas. We sailed through the night using a 3 hour on 3 hour off system.
A few of the 17 man crew were sea sick, thankfully not me. 36 hours after we left Dublin we arrived to a warm welcome in Aran Mór and spent the night in a local hostel. It was great to have a warm bed and a warm meal after the wet journey. We left Aran the next morning and travelled along with a flotilla of 110 boats to the dock in Galway. The true speed of the Green Dragon was clear relative to the other boats that followed us (for a short time although). The welcome we received in Galway was by far the most memorable aspect with hundreds of people lining our final route. The boat was finally docked in Galway harbour on Sunday evening at 6pm. I can safely say that the experience will live long in my mind.
REMARKABLE LEVEL OF GOODWILL SHOWN FOR MAYO AUTISM SCHOOL
TUESDAY, 05 JUNE 2012 13:24
The capacity of autism to be a unifying force in the community has been forcibly demonstrated by the success of the 5th annual Croagh Patrick seven day challenge.
Over 1,800 climbs were recorded during the course of the week as efforts intensified to try and save an educational facility for autistic children in Kiltimagh from closure.
While previous fundraising achievements may not be equalled this year due to the recession, the organisers are optimistic the east Mayo facility will be rescued due to the generosity of hundreds of supporters across the county and beyond.
Pat Kearns, main event organiser, said: “Our decision to switch the climb from March to May was fully vindicated.
“While we experienced some wet weather over the closing days, the reaction of our dedicated climbers to the change was widely enthusiastic and there were no serious injuries.
“It’s remarkable to think that 155 people scaled the Reek on each of the seven days and some of them did it more than once every day.
“In my view, it reflected the massive goodwill that exists for Mayo Autism Action and the children for whom it caters. I was genuinely touched by the sense of generosity and enthusiasm.
“But anybody whose lives are touched by autism in any way know that it presents a challenge that can be richly rewarding.”
Anybody who heard Pat speak with such passion about the event with Gerry Glennon on Mid West Radio on a number of mornings of last week will realise just how committed he is to the cause.
Jordan Kearns, son of Pat and Siobhan, inspired the seven-day challenge which has raised close to half a million euro since 2008.
The organisers are indebted to a number of loyal sponsors, including Super Valu, Portwest, Cashin Printing, Griffith Motors, Ketterick Butchers and many more.
PORTWEST & ADVENTURE ISLANDS SPONSORSHIP
“Adventure Islands” Westport and Portwest provide sponsorship for Rice College Racing (Sailing) team 2012.
Mr. Michael Rabbette, principal of Rice College Westport, gratefully appreciates the generous sponsorship from both “Adventure Islands” for providing sailing boats for training and Portwest of Softshell fleece Jackets, to the Rice College Racing (Sailing) team 2012.
The team competed in the Irish Schools Team Racing championships in Schull, West Cork on 21st/22nd April. Twelve teams competed from Connacht, Leinster and Munster. Rice College boys did themselves and the school proud. West Cork schools took the first three places in the competition.
Pictured L-R: Adrian Feerick, Manager Portwest store; Andrew Moran, Cian Mullee, Mr. Michael Rabbette, Principal; Conor Boylan, Thomas Staunton, Cathal Mac Reamoinn, Jim McNicholas, Ciaran Collins from “Adventure Islands”.
Posted: May 6th, 2012 under Sport.
PORTWEST TO SUPPORT TOWN OF TOMORROW COMPETITION
THE MAYO NEWS MONDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2012 19:52
Anton McNulty
The Westport Town of Tomorrow competition received a significant boost ahead of the competition in April when Westport clothing company, Portwest, agreed to become a major sponsor.
The annual competition gives second level students the chances to redesign different parts of Westport town, and local outdoor clothing manufacturer, Portwest have agreed to be a sponsor of the 2012 Westport Town of Tomorrow Urban Design Competition.
The competition involves the re-design of the centre of the Heritage Town of Westport using the popular architectural software Google SketchUp, and Portwest’s Owen Hughes said that he ‘would love to support this project’.
The competition, which was first launched in 2007 by Daniela Brica, the European 3D Captain from Google, involves the re-design of the centre of ‘Virtual’ Westport using the popular architectural software, Google SketchUp.
The competition is supported by Westport Town Council and Mayo County Council and County Manager, Peter Hynes said they were expecting some fabulous entries.
“Each student or team can choose a section of the town to work with. Their design brief is purposely rather loose so they can take full advantage of the Google design software, whilst enabling them to make the maximum use of their imagination. If previous year’s entries are anything to go by we are expecting some fabulous new ideas on how our Heritage Town could be developed in the years to come,” he said.
Details of this Google supported competition can be found on the website: https://sites.google.com/site/townoftomorrow2011/. Students can register via this web site and the deadline is February 29 with the final models being submitted by March 31.The Judges will once again be from Google in Colorado and the Presentation evening is scheduled for the end of April.
Brendan Hafferty of the Town of Tomorrow competition said this year’s competition has attracted students from all over Mayo and encouraged other Mayo businesses to join Portwest in supporting the competition. They can do so by contacting Brendan at bphafferty@anu.ie or via 086 858 4873 or 098 66674.
When the competition was first held some several years ago it was confined to Westport’s three post-primary schools, but as its popularity grew it was decided to extend it to the whole county of Mayo.