Budweiser Dream Job Launches in Ireland

Kevin Dillon helps launch Budweiser Dream Job

Budweiser today announced details of their latest marketing campaign, Budweiser Dream Job. The new project offers Irish fans the opportunity to kick-start their dream career. Basically, Budweiser are offering someone a prize fund valued at €50,000. The Dream Job prize fund is made up from a €40,000 cash prize, a €5,000 equipment bursary and practical mentoring sessions with experts in the winner’s area of interest. 4 runner-up finalists will each receive an equipment bursary of €2,000.

Star of ‘Entourage’ Kevin Dillon was in Dublin to launch the project. Dillon explained, “Budweiser Dream Job is an amazing opportunity for someone in Ireland to kick-start the career they’ve always dreamed of. The reality is most people don’t get the chance due to lack of funds, support or encouragement. I say if you have a talent and you’re passionate, go for it!”

To get involved, members of the public over 18 years can apply for their Dream Job on the Budweiser Ireland Facebook page by uploading a creative CV from today until 9th August.

Budweiser Dream Job has some well-known judges from various backgrounds to help with the shortlisting of applicants, all of whom are inspiring figures who have been brave enough to follow their passions in life. Once the judges have narrowed it down to the best five applications, the public will decide on the overall winner that inspires them the most.

The judges include Dave Harris, a well-known music mogul in Ireland, is Marketing Director at Universal Music Ireland. He recently joined Rihanna on her famous 777 tour and is coined as the man responsible for singer Imelda May’s rise to fame. He also selects the music for RTE’s The Voice of Ireland.

Alongside Harris, Budweiser is excited to have successful fashion designer and business woman, Heidi Higgins. Heidi graduated from NCAD in 2008 and less than a year later she proudly introduced her own label to the Irish market. Heidi’s Spring/Summer 2013 Collection has taken to the rails of several exclusive boutiques across the country including leading department store, Brown Thomas. Two additional judges will be announced midway through the application period.

Speaking about the Dream Job campaign, Budweiser Senior Brand Manager, Colin Donnelly commented, “The winning applicant must convey real passion, belief and determination to succeed. Dream Job is part of Budweiser’s new campaign ‘Today Is The Day’, which is all about inspiring some of the hugely talented and passionate people living in Ireland today to fulfill their dreams.”

The Budweiser Dream Job campaign is supported by ATL, Digital, and PR. The campaign will use the twitter hash tag #DreamJob.

Budweiser Dream Job Promo

The Doritos Mariachi Band Add Mexican Flavour to Dublin

The Doritos Mariachi Band add Mexican Flavour to Dublin!

Dublin enjoyed a flavour of Mexico as the infamous Doritos Mariachi band conducted an impromptu concert of their classic covers with a Mexican twist on a recent visit to the city. The famous five amigos were in town to celebrate the launch of three exciting new Doritos flavours Hint of Lime, BBQ Rib and the limited edition flavour Jalapeno Fire.

The quintet of musicians brought all the excitement and fun of a Mexican fiesta to the city centre as they serenaded unsuspecting passer-by’s from a barge travelling along the Grand Canal. Hordes of people, commuting to and from the office on their lunch break, were met with the band’s unique versions of classic pops songs including ‘Don’t You want me Baby ’and ‘Love Machine’.

Katie Hanlon, Doritos Ireland brand manager, said: “We are delighted to have the Mariachis with us today to help the public try our new flavours that promise to add a little Mexican to their day. We are thrilled to add the new flavours – Hint of Lime, BBQ Rib and Jalapeno Fire to our already hugely popular range. Doritos is a household favourite here in Ireland, and even more so during the summer months. Doritos chips and dips are perfect for picnics, barbecues, summer parties and evenings in with friends.”

Those who didn’t manage to catch the Doritos Mariachis on their visit will soon be able to enjoy their unique take on classic hits as Doritios launches its first TV ad in Ireland. The fun and engaging TV ad features the Mariachi Doritos band playing inside the lights of a jukebox to the famous track, ‘I love Rock ‘n’ Roll’. Designed to increase consumer awareness and engagement with Doritos, a brand synonymous with sharing, the advert concludes as the Mariachi band rock and roll in a light hearted way, getting the party started.

Bushmills Irish Whiskey Sets Up Legacy Fund for Emerging Artists

David C Clements and VerseChorusVerse announced as first recipients of £20,000 fund

Bushmills Irish Whiskey and artist development company Third Bar – made up of Snow Patrol lead singer, Gary Lightbody and Davy Matchett – today announced that they have joined forces to create and curate the Bushmills Live Legacy Fund.

Bushmills Live, the handcrafted whiskey and music festival, is a platform for established and emerging indie talent. This year the festival organisers wanted to take their commitment to supporting up-and-coming talent one step further and set up this Fund of £10,000. Recognising the significance this held for Northern Irish talent, Third Bar’s directors Gary and Davy pledged to curate and match this fund, creating a trust of £20,000 in total. They have selected two exciting emerging Northern Irish artists as recipients: David C Clements and VerseChorusVerse.

David C. Clements, 27, has an ongoing association with the brand having performed at Bushmills Live preview gigs ‘Bushmills Live In The City’ in both Belfast and Dublin. Last year he entertained the crowds at Bushmills Live 2012 and since then has shared a stage with Ed Sheeran, co-written songs with Gary Lightbody and performed exclusive tracks for E4.

VerseChorusVerse, aka Tony Wright, 29, founder of ‘And So I Watch You From Afar’, has recently finished recording his highly anticipated debut album with fellow Bushmills Live performer and Ivor Novello winner, Iain Archer, which is due for release later this year. He also took to the stage to perform intimate gigs in Belfast and Dublin to help celebrate the launch of Bushmills Irish Honey - the latest addition to the Bushmills collection of premium blends and single malts.

The team at Third Bar will be working with both to offer advice and guidance on the right places to invest their Fund. Additionally, Bushmills will be lending a performance platform to the two artists at this year’s Bushmills Live. Both artists will be taking to the stage on 20th June alongside headliners Of Monsters and Men, Jake Bugg, Sons and Lovers, Willy Mason, Bear’s Den, Iain Archer and Foy Vance.

Gary Lightbody’s passion for the Northern Irish music scene saw him donate Snow Patrol’s fee for headlining Bushmills Live last year to the Oh Yeah Centre, Belfast. This donation led to the creation of Bush Gardens – Belfast’s largest rooftop performance space.

He commented: “It’s no secret that I am a passionate supporter of the Northern Irish music scene. Davy and I have been friends since school and we set up Third Bar together to help advise up-and-coming artists in the music industry which is why I think it is brilliant that the Bushmills brand is prepared to get involved at this grass roots level and put their money where their mouth is.”

He added: “I am a big fan of both David and VerseChorusVerse, having watched them both live – they have incredible stage presence and fantastic material, they just need a platform to make it big.”

Bushmills Master Distiller, Colum Egan, commented: “Bushmills Live provides us with a great music platform for established and emerging indie artists. Last year it was where Gary Lightbody watched David C Clements perform and where the idea for the Bushmills Live Legacy Fund was born. We decided that we wanted to provide further support to emerging artists, beyond lending them a stage at the festival. I’m really excited about seeing the recipients of the Fund perform among the casks and pot stills at the Old Bushmills Distillery in June and then following their progress on their path to global stardom.”

Smirnoff - Yours For The Making

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a Smirnoff event in the Odeon Bar in Dublin. The event was hosted by Smirnoff's Global Brand Ambassador and Mixologist, Kenji Jesse. Kenji was in Dublin to present a Smirnoff Mad Molecular Mixology Evening to a very appreciative group of bloggers and journalists.

Essentially the evening was all about us (in teams of 5 or 6) making cocktails following Kenji's instruction. The twist was that all the drinks were designed to be particularly innovative or unexpected. We were taking traditional drinks and doing something a little different.

To give you an idea, we used ingredients like gold flakes, Vermouth mist, Ghost Pepper chilli sauce and Skittles.

It was an absolutely brilliant evening and I can't thank Smirnoff enough!

Heineken Unveils Social Tracker

Heineken Social Tracker

The Heineken Cup weekend is finally upon us and the excitement kicked off in stunning style last night with the launch of Heineken's Social Tracker in the heart of Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, at the Get in the Game Clubhouse at Ballsbridge Hotel.

The Social Tracker is a large (5 x 7.5m) projection structure that captures the Twitter chatter around the Heineken Cup. Fans can tweet at #GETINTHEGAME and see their tweets brought to life in stunning animations and visuals. Fans can also step up to the set and take a virtual conversion which, if successful, will send out a tweet of support to their selected team. Supporters can interact in real time by kicking ‘virtual conversions’ and show their support for the two finalists, ASM Clermont Auvergne and RC Toulon via #GETINTHEGAME.

Over 200,000 individual tweets have been measured since the quarter-finals with a surge of social conversation expected in the 48 hours leading up to the final. Fan conversations via the hashtag #GETINTHEGAME and tweet conversation in support of both finalists will be monitored live all weekend and this mind boggling array of tweets and data will be converted into a multi-coloured and multi-dimensional animated display on the 5m x 5m structure.

Social Tracker is just one of Heineken's many Get in the Game activities, which has seen fans engage with Heineken Cup rugby online, on their mobiles and in pubs and venues around the country in the build-up to the biggest sporting event to be held in Ireland this year. To date over 85,000 people have engaged and played Get in the Game online via www.heineken.ie/game.

The projections start from 9.15pm each night at the home of the Heineken Get in the Game Clubhouse at Ballsbridge Hotel Dublin 4 and will be displayed after daylight hours until the post-Heineken Cup Final celebrations on Saturday 18th May. Heineken’s Get in the Game Clubhouse is the best place to be this weekend to enjoy the excitement of both the Amlin and Heineken Cup finals. For live updates check out #GETINTHEGAME or www.facebook.com/heineken

'Live In The City' Gigs Announced for Bushmills Live

David C. Clements & Farriers Revealed as ‘Live in the City’ Line Up

Two of Ireland’s most acclaimed emerging artists David C. Clements and Farriers have today been announced to play two special hand-crafted gigs as part of the build-up to the global whiskey and music festival - BUSHMILLS LIVE (June 19th-20th).

Taking place on Thursday 6th June in Whelan’s Dublin and Thursday 13th June in White’s Tavern, Belfast – ‘Bushmills Live in the City’ is a welcome gesture to local music fans looking to soak up some of the whiskey and music festival’s atmosphere closer to home.

With only 500 tickets available globally for BUSHMILLS LIVE, which will see both iconic and emerging artists share the stage for intimate gigs in age-old buildings at the historic Old Bushmills Distillery, Bushmills Live in the City is a special opportunity for music fans to get a taste of what this unique music festival has to offer.

Following an electric performance at ‘Bushmills Live in the City 2012’ in Belfast, David C. Clements is set to make a return with band in tow. Since last year he has shared stages with Ed Sheeran, co-written with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol and performed exclusive tracks for E4 - all the while taking it in his stride and continuing to write some of the strongest soulful songs to emerge from Ireland in years.

Joining the lineup are Farriers, a Belfast-based five piece bringing their sound of Irish Traditional and American folk music to the fore. The last twelve months have proven eventful for the alt-folk quintet with the release of album ‘Years Ago In Our Backyard’ garnering critical acclaim from local and national press, followed by a high-profile UK& Ireland tour with Glass Records’ ever-talented Foy Vance.

As part of the bill, Bushmills has also been searching for a local band to perform at these intimate hand-crafted gigs with full information on how to participate on the Bushmills Facebook page (facebook.com/bushmills1608).

Commenting on the announcement David C. Clements said: “Having played at Live in the City last year, I am really looking forward to making a comeback for 2013. These gigs have a great atmosphere and on the night it feels like you’re hanging out with friends and making some great music together. “It’s also great that Bushmills is giving local bands the opportunity to join the bill. This is a fantastic platform for up-coming acts to get noticed.”

Jennifer Kiernan, Brand Manager for Bushmills said: “Bushmills Live in the City is a great opportunity for us to share what Bushmills Live is all about. Tickets are limited to the festival itself so ‘Live in the City’ is a great way for consumers to get a taste of the action!” “This year we’re also on the search for a local band to join the bill and play in both Dublin and Belfast. We want to find artists who craft and perform their own music, just as the Master Distillers of BUSHMILLS™ Irish Whiskey have perfected the art of handcrafting whiskey over the past few centuries.”

Bushmills Live in the City will take place on Thursday 6th June in Whelan’s Dublin and Thursday 13th June in White’s Tavern, Belfast. Bushmills Live will take place on June 19th & 20th in Old Bushmills Distillery in Antrim with updates on all events available at facebook.com/bushmills1608.

Freerunning Takes to the High Seas

Freerunning takes to the high seas with Thomson Platinum Cruises

For the first time ever, freerunning has taken to the high seas as world renowned Parkour professionals are captured on film leaping over stairwells, jumping from balconies and even scaling the side of the ship.

The short film was created by record breaking freerunning team, 3RUN who’ve worked on Hollywood blockbusters like Casino Royale and Harry Potter and use awe inspiring stunts to give customers a unique look at the makeover on the Thomson Dream.

Filmed against the stunning backdrop of the Caribbean, the freerunners pushed their bodies to the limit as they were captured flipping over the pool, vaulting tables in the restaurants and even recreating the iconic ship’s flag 20 feet above deck.

The film ends with a glimpse of the 3RUN crew relaxing with cocktails on a nearby Caribbean beach, having left the newly renovated ship and swam ashore.

Fraser Ellacott, Managing Director of Thomson Cruises says: “To celebrate the launch of the two newly renovated ships to sea and with 64,000 people expected to travel on the new Platinum Cruise ships this summer, we wanted to do something completely different to showcase the renovations. Partnering with 3RUN gave us the opportunity to highlight the multi-million pound makeovers in a truly entertaining way. We’ve moved towards a more contemporary look and feel onboard both the Thomson Dream and Celebration with refurbished cabins, revamped restaurants and bars and a luxurious spa and wanted to show it off in an equally modern way.”

Chase Armitage, CEO of 3RUN says: “The new look Thomson Dream provided the ideal free running playground for us to create some never done before stunts that show off both the ship and the skills of our team. In true action film style we’ve tried to create content that will entertain every generation.”

Bushmills Live 2013

Bushmills Live 2013 ft Of Monsters and Men

Bushmills Live has announced the second wave of artists and the big news is that Jake Bugg has joined the line up with, Sons and Lovers, who have just finished touring the UK with Ellie Goulding and US artists, One Republic; Willy Mason and Bear’s Den, who have both toured heavily with Mumford & Sons earlier this year; and friends of the festival and successful Northern Irish singer songwriters, Iain Archer and Foy Vance.

Breakthrough act of the year, British singer-songwriter Jake Bugg has today been added to the bill for Bushmills Live 2013, alongside headliners Of Monsters and Men. Troubadour Jake Bugg will perform for an audience of just 500 at Bushmills Live in June, ahead of taking to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury this summer.

Jake will be in good company at the festival, playing alongside Sons and Lovers, who have just finished touring the UK with Ellie Goulding and US artists, One Republic; Willy Mason and Bear’s Den, who have both toured heavily with Mumford & Sons earlier this year; and friends of the festival and successful Northern Irish singer songwriters, Iain Archer and Foy Vance.

Iain and Foy are set to make a triumphant return to Bushmills Live following electric performances in 2012. Since playing at the festival last year Foy has toured Europe and the US with Ed Sheeran and Iain has worked with headliner Jake Bugg to co-write and produce tracks for his number one debut album, earning them an Ivor Novello Award nomination*.

With just days to go until the draw for tickets closes, Iain reveals he is looking forward to playing at the festival in the Old Bushmills Distillery: “Bushmills Live is a unique experience: the line-up could rival some of the biggest festivals but with a much smaller crowd in a really cool setting. It’s really like a festival of friends hanging out and making some great music together. I’m really looking forward to seeing Jake playing live - although we’ve written and produced together, we’ve never actually been on the same live bill so this will be a first.”

“With last year’s festival being such a smash, it was always going to be a challenge to improve on the line up - that said, I think we’ve done it. One of the goals with the festival is to offer an event that is special for fans and performers alike. With the festival circuit in the UK growing annually, it’s a real challenge to create a day that stands out. We hope that Bushmills Live will be a festival that everyone looks forward to,” commented Graham Brown, festival curator. He continued: “I’m really pleased to be part of such an event that hosts internationally-renowned acts alongside critically-acclaimed emerging artists in such a unique setting. If you haven’t entered the draw for tickets yet enter now - don’t miss out!”

Tickets cannot be bought for the 500 person event which takes place on 19th and 20th June 2013 in the grounds of the historic Old Bushmills Distillery on Ireland’s stunning North Coast. Instead these can be won by entering a draw on the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Facebook page – facebook.com/bushmills1608* entry closes at 23:59 on 5th May 2013.

*To win tickets to Bushmills Live or to find out more, visit facebook.com/bushmills1608. Entry closes at 23:59GMT 5th May 2013. Winners will be notified by 9th May. Terms and conditions apply.

SKY Launches €10 Million Marketing Campaign

Sky Ireland - Sky Broadband Has Arrived

This week Sky Ireland launched their biggest ever marketing campaign to promote their new Broadband and Telephone offerings. The €10m campaign combines TV, press, radio, outdoor and digital. The above ad forms the centrepiece of the campaign.

Featuring Pierce Brosnan, the 60-second ad sees the famous Irishman returning home to Ireland to the apparent delight of the public. However, it is soon revealed that the cause of their excitement is in fact the arrival of Sky Broadband. In a series of everyday scenes showing Brosnan on Dublin’s quays, walking along a town main street, and enjoying a drink in a pub, the ad shows that not even a global celebrity can eclipse the arrival of Sky Broadband.

Launching the new Sky Broadband campaign, Mark Anderson, Director of Sales & Marketing at Sky Ireland said, "The inspiration for this campaign came directly from our customers, many of whom have been waiting for us to introduce broadband for ages. Our research showed that people in Ireland are excited about the prospect of getting their TV, calls and broadband from Sky in one bundle and the ad’s creative idea taps into that sense of anticipation."

Pierce Brosnan comments, "It’s great to be involved in the launch campaign for Sky Broadband in Ireland. I always love returning home whether for work or on holiday and this time was no different. The charm and tongue in cheek humour of the Sky ad really appealed to me and shooting in Dublin was a lot of fun. Hopefully, viewers will like it as much as I enjoyed making it."

The campaign was developed by ad agency WCRS who won the launch project following a competitive pitch. It was shot by director Taika Waititi (Flight of the Conchords, Boy) and Oscar & BAFTA nominated cinematographer Danny Cohen (Les Miserables, The King’s Speech).

MiWadi Brings Storytime to Life with MiBooks

MiWadi MiBook TV Ad

MiWadi, Ireland’s No. 1 Dilute brand, has just launched their latest digital initiative, ‘MiBook’. This on-pack promotion gives children the chance to star in their own story. By simply collecting three unique codes from the reverse of labels and logging onto www.miwadi.ie, consumers can redeem a free personalised children’s story book from a choice of three.

Speaking today at the launch of MiWadi MiBook, Dee Cunniam, Senior Brands & Activation Manager for MiWadi said; ““MiWadi is the brand at the heart of a child’s imagination and our MiBook activation will fuel imaginations nationwide through our three fantastic story titles, My Trip to the Zoo, My Big Adventure and My Birthday Party. Getting children to read is essential for building up grammar and spelling skills, so creating a FREE personalised book, where the children themselves star alongside their family and friends, encourages more reading.”

Guinness Marks 25 Years of the Revolutionary 'Widget'

2.75 billion widgets have been produced by Guinness since 1988

-----Press Release-----

Today, Monday 25th March, Guinness officially marked the 25th anniversary of a true icon of design and innovation - the Guinness ‘widget’. This ingenious invention replicated the draught technology used in pubs and revolutionised the beer industry, enabling Guinness fans across the globe to enjoy a perfect pint in the comfort of their own home.

The widget we are now familiar with is the second generation ‘floating widget’. This small plastic device sits at the bottom of the can until it is opened. Once opened, the floating widget jets Nitrogen through the beer, creating a longer–lasting creamy head on canned Guinness.

Speaking today, Guinness Master, Brewer Fergal Murray "The task was to put Draught Guinness in cans and make it every bit as good as Guinness in pubs. The introduction of the widget meant that consumers could now enjoy the perfect pint both in the pub and at home. It was long journey but every step was a masterful experiment and the end result is considered one of the major innovations in the evolution of the beer industry.”

Since its introduction in 1988, almost every major brewer has replicated this innovative piece of technology to produce their own creamy beers and lagers.

Alan Forage, the widget’s inventor “It’s very satisfying to invent something that revitalised both Guinness and the UK beer industry. After trying their own modifications, they (competitors) have come back to ours, because ours is the best.” (taken from the published book – A Widget’s Tale)


The science
The liquid nitrogen evaporates during the canning process, pressurising the can and forcing some beer into the small plastic device and compressing the nitrogen inside.

The widget floats on the surface of the beer, with a hole just slightly below the surface of the beer. When the can is opened, the pressure inside is immediately reduced, but the sphere acts like a blown up balloon that is suddenly released, and the contents jet out through the tiny hole and into the beer.

As the beer and gas rush through the tiny hole, this agitation causes the N2/C02 that is dissolved in the beer to form tiny bubbles that rise to the surface of the beer and form the head.


Award winning
The widget has been awarded Queen’s Award for Technology Advancement and has been named the *greatest invention of the last 40 years putting it ahead of mobile phones!

Bushmills Live to Return to The Old Bushmill Distillery in 2013

Bushmills announces the return of Bushmills Live, to be headlined by Of Monsters And Men

The Old Bushmills Distillery today announced that it will once again throw open its doors to play host to ‘Bushmills Live’ - a unique two-day festival celebrating handcrafted whiskey and music. Following the huge success of last year’s inaugural event, ‘Bushmills Live 2013’ will take place on Northern Ireland’s stunning North Coast on 19th and 20th June 2013.

To celebrate the launch, Bushmills commissioned Wishbone Dagger to make a 3D art installation that depicts the Bushmills Live poster using materials inspired by the handcrafted whiskey and music at the heart of the festival. The master craftsmen - who cemented their friendship when creating the stage set for a hugely popular American television epic that was filmed in Belfast – used 254 casks, 250 bottle tops, 30 bottles of whiskey, five metres of AMP wiring and four guitars to handcraft the 10ft by 16ft installation artwork.

The Icelandic five-piece acclaimed indie folk band, Of Monsters and Men, are currently enjoying enormous worldwide success having just won the 2013 European Border Breakers Award, which honours the best new European music acts. Of Monsters and Man have been dubbed the ‘must see act’ of the year and this summer marks the beginning of a busy festival schedule for the group which will include a performance at one of the biggest international festivals, Coachella in California - making their intimate appearance at Bushmills Live unlike any other that fans will experience this year.

Only 500 tickets are available globally for Bushmills Live, and these ‘money can’t buy tickets’ will not go on general release. Instead, music and whiskey fans can win the chance to attend the festival by entering a draw on the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Facebook page. Entries to the draw will open this Sunday, on St Patrick’s Day at 16:08 GMT.

Of Monsters and Men, said: “Playing a show in such a unique location, around the centuries-old warehouses and whiskey barrels, to such an intimate audience, is an experience we are very excited about. It’s going to make our first gig in Northern Ireland a memorable one, and not just for us, for the fans too, we hope!"

Of Monsters and Men are in good company. They join a list of fellow indie rockers such as the iconic Snow Patrol, singer-songwriters Foy Vance and Iain Archer, Elijah Wood, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Marcus Foster, The Staves, General Fiasco and David C Clements who all played electrifying performances at Bushmills Live last year.

Speaking at the launch of Bushmills Live 2013 event Master Blender at The Old Bushmills Distillery, Helen Mulholland, promised fans that they can expect to enjoy “more great music between great friends at this year’s event.”

“Whiskey and music have always gone well together”, added Helen Mulholland. “And at Bushmills Live we like to make both by hand, bringing this fusion of handcrafted whiskey and handcrafted music together against the backdrop of our beautiful distillery with performances from artists who are friends - which makes for a cracking atmosphere!”

“It goes without saying that we’re looking forward to extending a warm Bushmills welcome to our new friends, Of Monsters and Men, and to emerging artists who we’re proud to support by creating a music platform that allows fans to discover new and upcoming talent.

“I can’t wait to reveal the rest of the line up in the coming weeks. We’re of course just as excited to open our doors to whiskey and music fans the world over who want to attend Bushmills Live, so get your entry in and good luck!”

Hermitage Green To Play St. Patrick's Day at Guinness Storehouse

Festival line-up to rival no other with Silent Disco, Electric Céilí and Four Men & a Dog

The Guinness Storehouse have announced that they will host their annual St. Patrick’s Festival from the 15th-17th March for the eighth year running with an, as always, awesome line-up of music, craic and food.

During the course of the festival weekend, there will be a host of eclectic entertainment to suit every taste including a headline style gig from Irish folk rock group Hermitage Green, a silent disco for any dance music loving fans, a lively set by last year’s festival success story Four Men and a Dog, complimentary Guinness & food tastings, and ‘So you think you can Irish dance’ Céilí.

Widely renowned to be Ireland’s answer to Mumford and Sons, Hermitage Green’s star is on the rise having sold out their last gig in September 2012, at which they launched their first official EP, The Gathering, which held its position at No.2 in the Irish download chart for many weeks.

Throughout the festival weekend, visitors can savour a pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar overlooking the panoramic views of the city, learn how to pour their own pint of the black stuff in the Guinness Academy and enjoy all Six Nations rugby matches on the big screen over the weekend. The Guinness Storehouse will also be running the VIP Paddy promotion once again this year, welcoming everybody by the first name of Patrick, and variants of the name for free into the attraction on St. Patrick’s Day.

Paul Carty, Managing Director at the Guinness Storehouse commented: "We’re delighted to once again be providing a superb choice of entertainment during our St. Patrick’s Festival. We hope to entertain the masses with our diverse and colourful line-up while also offering excellent value for money. All entertainment during the festival weekend is included in the usual admission price."

Paul added, "Celebrating St Patrick’s at the Home of Guinness has, over the years, started to become a bit of a tradition for Irish people. Each year we see familiar faces who return again and again to savour the unique atmosphere that is the Guinness Storehouse on St. Patrick’s Day. Last year we saw an influx of Irish visits on March 17th, up 60% on the previous year, and we’re looking forward to offering a warm welcome to local visitors again this year."

Bud Light is Back and Lighter Than Ever

New light beer now has 82 calories

Bud Light has announces its comeback to Ireland with a re-launch across the nation. The No. 1 selling light beer has been reformulated for the Irish market and now contains only 82 calories per 330ml bottle. Designed to appeal to men and women who are searching for an alternative beer that offers fewer calories, Bud Light now has an even smoother and refresher taste.

The new Bud Light is brewed to 3.8% ABV and is golden in colour with delicate aromas of malt and hops. Subtle fruity and citrus taste notes, all giving the smooth and refreshing taste. It is brewed using only the finest ingredients of barley malt, rice, hops, yeast and water.

Bud Light will be available in selected bars, off licenses and supermarkets nationwide in both 330ml bottles and 500ml can format.

Hailo To Be The Taxi Driver To The Silver Screen

Hailo to distribute €100,000 worth of taxi vouchers in partnership with Jameson Dublin International Film Festival

Hailo has teamed up with The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF) to giveaway 20,000 vouchers during this year’s festival. That's over €100,000 worth of taxi vouchers to be distributed throughout the festival’s venues; Cineworld, the Savoy, Screen, Irish Film Institute and Light House Cinema in Smithfield. Hailo will issue the vouchers for €5 off your first Hailo taxi throughout the eleven day festival.

Rob Cumiskey, Marketing Communications Manager, Hailo Ireland commented, “We’re delighted to partner with The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival as it will transport cinema goers from the television screen to the cinema screen. The line-up this year is stellar and showcases the talent and scope of Irish and international cinema. We feel the vouchers will encourage the Irish audience to try something new—the most essential app on the market and the best entertainment in film.”

You can pick the vouchers up in any of the participating JDIFF cinemas (Cineworld, the Savoy, Screen, Irish Film Institute and Light House Cinema in Smithfield.) To get €5 off your first taxi, just download the Hailo app from The App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android), register an account with a credit or debit card, enter the promo code on your card and choose ‘Pay With Card’ for your next taxi.

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is Ireland’s premier feature film festival taking place each year in February. This year it boasts acting legends Tim Roth, Gabriel Byrne, Frank Langella and Danny DeVito, directing heavyweights Costa-Gavras and Joss Whedon, and screenwriting big hitters Robert Towne and Tobias Lindholm all coming to town. And that’s on top of 130 feature films, shorts, master classes and special events happening over 11 days from February 14th to February 24th.

Founded by three taxi drivers and three internet entrepreneurs, Hailo has raised over $50M from the best investors anywhere, including Union Square Ventures, Accel Partners, Wellington Partners, Atomico Ventures and Sir Richard Branson. Hailo is available as a free download from the iTunes App Store and Google Play. Simply search on "Hailo".

Guinness Storehouse: Ireland's No.1 International Visitor Attraction

Guinness Storehouse celebrates a record breaking year as Ireland's No.1 international visitor attraction receiving 1,087,209 visitors in 2012.

This week, the Guinness Storehouse announced that 2012 was a record breaking year for the number of visitors that it catered to. In 2012, 1,087,209 guests passed through their doors, smashing the previously held record of 1,038,910 in 2008. This represents a 6% increase on 2011 visitor numbers and sees the popular visitor attraction retaining its position as Ireland’s number 1 international visitor attraction.

The Guinness Storehouse is also celebrating its status as one of the largest brand visitor attractions in the world having welcomed visitors from over 25 different countries. However, it wasn't just your ordinary Joe, Franc or Mario who visited the Storehouse in 2012. The attraction was also enjoyed by high profile guests such as the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Conan O’Brien, both of whom recorded segments for their respective US TV shows as well as actor Kellan Lutz (Twilight), musician Example and Fun Loving Criminals.

Paul Carty, Managing Director of Guinness Storehouse commented, “2012 was a very exciting and busy year for us at the ‘Home of Guinness’. Not only did we welcome record-breaking visitors through our doors, including some high profile guests and media, we also unveiled a number of innovative and engaging new experiences as part of our three year €10m investment plan. Over the past number of years, Irish tourism has been hit by the global economic recession. However, it’s heartening to see the numbers increase and with the spotlight on Ireland this year for The Gathering, I believe we can look forward to another successful year in 2013.”

Alex Connolly, Head of Communications with Fáilte Ireland commended the Guinness Storehouse on their performance, adding “along with festivals and events, attractions like the Guinness Storehouse are an integral part of the exciting mixture of things for visitors to see and do in Ireland. Fáilte Ireland is putting its full weight behind its Gathering initiative in 2013 and that should ensure even more visitors this year to places like the Storehouse and to attractions all around the country”.

93% of all visitors to the Guinness Storehouse are from overseas. Visitors from the USA, GB, Rest of Europe, Italy and Germany were the top 5 ranking nationalities in 2012 with USA +12%, Italy +15% and Germany +14% compared to 2011. The busiest month of the year was August with 121,182 visitors, making it the busiest month on record at the Storehouse.

Earlier this year, the first phase of the €10million investment in the popular attraction was unveiled with the opening of the new ‘Global’ 4th Floor, which houses a range of interactive exhibits that tell the story of how Guinness is enjoyed and celebrated around the world. This investment continues through the next two years. In 2013, the Guinness Storehouse will develop a new Guinness Taste Experience, an interactive room telling the Arthur Guinness Story and also invest in a new look Flagship Retail Store.

Captain Morgan Kicks Off The Party Season

Captain Morgan Switches On Christmas lights On Board Jeanie Johnston

Last Night, Captain Morgan commandeered and lighted up an Irish ship, the Jeanie Johnston on Dublin’s north quays, to officially kicks off party season in Ireland. The party lights decorating the ship will remain switched on into the weekend to inspire Irish people to go forth and party.

Helping to switch on the Christmas party lights was newly recruited ‘Morganette’ Georgia Salpa, who was wearing a specially commissioned dress made from Christmas party lights for the ceremony.

Captain Morgan said, “I’ve been to all the party capitals of the world but the parties in Ireland are by far the best. Forget Christmas shopping season, I am officially declaring the kick off to Christmas party season in Ireland today and what better place to get off to a legendary start than on the quays of Dublin. Oh, and If you are going to party make sure you do it responsibly, Captain’s orders!”

Georgia Salpa commented, “What an honour to help switch on the Christmas party lights with Captain. I’ve been to other Christmas lights ceremonies but this is definitely the most unique. Lighting up a ship was inspired; always expect the unexpected with Captain!”

After switching on the Christmas lights, Captain Morgan hosted a special Christmas party with some of his loyal shipmates and fans.

Keep up to date with Captain Morgan’s adventures on: www.facebook.com/captainmorganireland.

Smirnoff: Yours For The Making

Sarah-Jane Wai O’Flynn, lead singer of the Dirty Epics is pictured under the world’s largest free-hanging mirror ball to announce the Smirnoff “Yours for the Making” campaign.

Smirnoff's latest campaign, Yours for the Making, is a challenge to all their customers and fans, throughout Ireland, to make more of our free time by trying something new on nights out. To drive this, Smirnoff have brought together a collective of the most creative and innovative nightlife experts, including Dirty Epics front woman Sarah-Jane Wai O’Flynn, to uncover extraordinary nights.

To amplify the campaign and create real engagement and feedback, club promoters, night owls and partygoers are being called upon to fuel the search by tweeting their suggestions for new nights to @SmirnoffGB_IRE using #yoursforthemaking. Whether it's a silent disco or rubiks cube party, Smirnoff will reward the best submissions by turning suggestions into reality.

To celebrate the launch and to get people to make the most of the extra hour this weekend, Smirnoff has created a giant mirror ball suspended over London.  Sarah Jane Wai O’Flynn who attended the impromptu set by DJ Maya Jane Coles under the mirror ball, commented, “With an extra hour this weekend, it’s a great opportunity for people to get out and make the most of their night.  I am really excited to be involved in the Smirnoff Yours for the Making campaign in Ireland to find the next big thing in nightlife, I can’t wait to start seeing the ideas coming through and hopefully getting to see some of these ideas become a reality.”

The Smirnoff mirror ball is currently the World’s largest free-hanging mirror ball.

Situated in the centre of London, the giant Smirnoff mirror ball marks the clocks going back this weekend and calls on the 80% of Irish who plan to sleep for longer, to make the most of their extra hour. With over half the population likely to forget the clocks going back all together, the world’s largest mirror ball spinning is not just a bold reminder to set our clocks but also to feel inspired to try something new.

Electric Ireland’s Dublin Web Summit Treat

Meet The Speakers at Electric Ireland’s Tweet Café

Electric Ireland will, again, be bringing a unique coffee experience to the Dublin Web Summit. Powered by Twitter, Dublin Web Summit delegates will be able to enjoy a nice break from the talks and schmoozing by ordering simply by tweeting.

Following on from last year's extremely popular (and award winning!) addition to the summit, Electric Ireland’s Tweet Café will have lots of little doors with numbers corresponding to various coffee orders so you simply tweet the hashtag (#TweetCafe) with your order number. An electronic queuing system will then let you know when your order is ready and you simply head to the door and pick it up.

Beyond just the delicious coffee experience, the Tweet Café also provides delegates with an excellent opportunity to network with key speakers who will be available at the Tweet Café. Some of the speakers lined up include film director Barry Sonnenfeld, blogger Robert Scoble, Moshi Monsters’ Michael Acton-Smith and internet activist Wael Ghonim among others.

Speaking in advance of the two-day conference Margaret Colton, Head of Marketing, Electric Ireland said, “We’re really looking forward to this year’s Dublin Web Summit and are delighted to be powering innovation through the Electric Ireland Tweet Café. The response from delegates at last year’s summit was overwhelming and to make the experience even better this year we’ll be creating an incredible networking opportunity for delegates with some of the conference’s key speakers. The Dublin Web Summit is a wonderful gathering of creative and innovative minds and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”

"The Tweet cafe is a real highlight of the summit, not only does it reward tweeters with a coffee but it is a great opportunity to meet our speakers. We're delighted to have Electric Ireland as a partner of Dublin Web Summit", said Paddy Cosgrave, founder of Dublin Web Summit

Another highlight of the Dublin Web Summit is the Electric Ireland Spark of Genius Award, the winner of which will be announced at the Dublin Web Summit on October 18th 2012 with a prize fund worth €100,000. The competition, now in its third year, focuses on the most promising high potential startups. Nearly 1,000 entries have been shortlisted to 100, who will be offered an opportunity to pitch to leading international investors (Google Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins, Atomico, Accel and many others), industry leaders, startup experts at the Dublin Web Summit taking place at the RDS on the 17th and 18th of October.

For information on the year’s Dublin Web Summit taking place on 17th and 18th October and to book a place visit www.websummit.net.

Smirnoff Limited Edition Bottles

Smirnoff have just launched a new series of limited edition bottles. The bottles are part of Smirnoff's bid to awaken the senses through touch before taste. The innovative design concepts bring to life the look and feel of each delicious flavour inside with each design emulating the natural fruit or flavour in startling clarity. Created to capture the imagination, the bottles are crafted using pioneering design techniques.

Pick up a Lime Smirnoff Limited Edition to discover its unique lime skin texture or feel the peel of Green Apple Smirnoff Limited Edition. Blueberry Smirnoff completes the full limited edition range.

Smirnoff Limited Edition Flavours will be available exclusively at Dunnes from 15th October for six weeks.