City buzzing as thousands enjoy ‘best jazz weekend ever’
Members of the OhnO! Jazz Band from the Netherlands with a group from Cork School of Dance who took part in the jazz parade through the city centre during the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.Picture: Denis Minihane.
THE Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is set to get bigger and better in the years ahead, local publican Paul Montgomery has said.
Mr Montgomery, who owns the popular nightclub Reardens, said there were thousands of people on Washington Street alone enjoying the jazz festivities over the weekend.
“It was one of the best jazz weekends ever. It was completely trouble free and everyone seemed to have great fun.
“The quality of music was of a very high standard. I think a lot of venues are really putting in the effort to stand out this year and it has lead to a stellar line-up across the city.”
Taking part in the jazz parade through the city centre during the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival which is celebrating 40 years.
Picture: Denis Minihane.
Mr Montgomery said everywhere was buzzing and there was more of an emphasis on a family friendly experience rather than just pubs and clubs.
Looking ahead to next year, Mr Montgomery said he expected the festival to continue growing.
“I think Diageo and Guinness have made a strong commitment to the festival and to the expansion of the celebration.
“I think it is expanding beyond the bars to include wining and dining experience which is an added bonus.”
Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Tony Fitzgerald pictured at The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival Parade in Cork city centre on Saturday
Lord Mayor Tony Fitzgerald agreed the festival had potential to get even bigger and also said this year’s celebrations were some of the best he had ever seen.
“It has been an amazing weekend. One of the best ever. There have been so many visitors that I have met, over from USA, New Zealand and the UK, thanking me on behalf of the Cork people for their hospitality and warm welcome.
Mr Fitzgerald paid tribute to the organisers of the festival along with the founders of the festival that had the vision to start it all off 40 years ago.
“I think it is having a very positive impact on the reputation of Cork on an international scale and it is a model of best practice on how to organise a festival for the public. We have a lot to offer, great food, great venues, lovely people and excellent music, it is important we showcase that.”
Child’s play: Creating a bedroom for children is not all about money
October, 2017
Kya deLongchamps
Creating a bedroom for the most precious tenants before they fledge and finally fly is an evolving project. Get it right and you will allow space for the individuality of the child and it’s not all about money.
Wall murals, stencilling and stickers, blackboard walls, or pink tulle netting — the room’s primary purpose is as a relaxing haven for daily fun, plenty of daydreaming and sound, regular, sleep.
Cute child-sized furnishings from outlets like IKEA and Argos come at a high price as a few years race by. Look instead for sleep, storage, and study ranges that grow as they do. Clearing the floor is an adult obsession and a kid’s dreaded nag and 45cm is a good depth for a lower shelf, made sturdy enough to take a loaded small crate of instep-bruising toys.
Utilise cubbies and shelves with symbols or one-word descriptions for fun, lightening clean-ups when asked.
As they stretch out, reposition the shelving up the wall or reorientate it to suit other furnishings. All high chests, shelves, and drawer units should be securely fastened to the wall to prevent topples if toddlers decide to scale new heights, pulling heavy furniture down on themselves in the process.
By the time your child touches their teens, you will have a pretty good idea who they are in terms of styling. This Circu room set from Portugal with its hand-carved mirror is WAG expensive bought piece by piece. Still, their collection is dripping with up-cycling inspiration. Shop with your youngster, exploring some clever buys from sale warehouses like HomeSense. The combination of mink, pink, and flashes of gold and velvet is on trend for 2018 — and a bed vast enough for six girls to gossip on — get to work! Pick up some Beag (pink) from Colourtrend, €26 per l.
One corner, multi-tasks, no problem. System furniture can be composed into sleeping, reclining and storage to suit your floor space. Frooti Cabin bed with drawer storage, part of a range that offers desks and storage solutions all contained in the framed area of the bed. Seasonal offers from €810 in this line with offers on Little Folks Furniture Fargo multi-compositions with daybeds from €850. Jellybean, St. Patricks Mills, Douglas Cork, jellybeangroup.com.
Flexa of Denmark has championed the adapt and grow principle for their products since 1972. Invest now and save yourself a depressing drag to the landfill with those saccharine sweet toddler pieces in a few short years. These retro styled Play beds have ash legs and are available in range of colours with feet to match. They make an excellent sofa conversion if outgrown by a six-footer. €219 each, matching safety rails €73, Flexa, Fota Retail Park, Cork, flexashop.ie. Create this tree with low tack Washi-tape.
One corner, three tasks – not a problem – system furniture can be composed into sleeping, reclining and storage to suit your floor space. The room demanded of a small double bed here delivers up a roomy desk, a sleep over sofa, storage and a bunk to dream about. Don’t put children under six years old in bunks or mid-sleepers even with a rail. Shown €1350 off sale. Offers on Little Folks Furniture Fargo multi-compositions from €850, Jellybean, St. Patricks Mills, Douglas Cork, jellybeangroup.com.
Giving up? Let them at it with the Snurk Trampoline bedding set. Very naughty and just €53.90 for light leapers, amara.com.
A night light provides a comforting visual and emotional anchor as well as guiding little feet to the loo by night. Ask over time if the child wants the light left on. This little cloud would look lovely as an ornament between books floating out on lit duty or not, €5.45, dotcomgiftshop.com.
Bishopstown Credit Union will be closed on Monday, the 16th October. This is due to the severe weather alert given as hurricane Ophelia approaches Ireland. We should remain open for business as usual from the 17th October onwards.
It’s a row show in Skibbereen as moustachioed heroes return.
October 09, 2017
It’s not the Magic Kingdom, but for the heroes of West Cork’s rowing fairytale, home is where the heart is.
World rowing champions Shane O’Driscoll, Paul O’Donovan and Mark O’Donovan with Denise Walsh on stage in Skibbereen. Pictures: Dan Linehan
Skibbereen came to a standstill yesterday to welcome home its international rowing stars following their efforts at the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Florida, last Friday.
Thousands turned out to welcome Team Ireland’s Skibbereen contingent, including medal winners Paul O’Donovan, who defended his men’s lightweight single sculls crown, and Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll who won gold in the men’s lightweight pair.
Despite taking a breather between the championships and their triumphant return, the rowers admitted it was good to be home.
“We’re probably more excited to be home to say hello to everyone and to see the lads again,” Mark O’Donovan told RTÉ.
“We’ve been away for a while — Disneyland and Universal are good, but you can’t beat Skibbereen at the end of the day,” he said.
The trip home will be a short one, as Gary, Paul, and Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll head to prestigious Head of Charles Regatta in Boston next week.
Waiting for the world rowing champions at Main Street, Skibbereen yesterday.
Emily Dulohery, Skibbereen Rowing Club PRO, said the homecoming planning was a team effort that saw a number of volunteers and organisations pull in the same direction.
“The Main Street was full, the whole community got behind it. It was a lovely evening to celebrate great achievements,” she said.
“A lot of work went into it, there was a good bit of effort behind it, there were volunteers, marshals, everyone chips in for evenings like this. The gardaí supported the closure of Main Street and the county council also supported us.”
The men’s facial grooming has inspired a legion of moustachioed minions.
Emily said the whole team are an inspiration to the young people of the town. “They’re absolutely brilliant, the athletes are super encouraging of all youngsters, even those not even into rowing,” she said.
Denise Walsh, who returned home having competed in the women’s lightweight single sculls final, plays a key role in nurturing the next generation of Skibbereen rowers.
“Rowing Ireland has a programme called ‘Get Going, Get Rowing’. Denise and I bring this rowing programmes to schools. It’s all about participation, where first we get them to try rowing machines in schools, then once they’ve learned some technique they get out on the river.
“It’s about getting them to try something mightn’t have before,” she said.
A section of the huge crowd who turned out to greet the town’s world rowing champions.
The star power of the children’s teacher never fails to capture their imagination.
“We watched Denise row on TV in school, and the following week then she is there with the kids in PE class,” said Emily.
“It’s a great connectivity with the kids, and particularly a great inspiration for girls in sport to see their heroes up close like that.”
But as St Fachtna’s Silver Band led the homecoming procession down Skibbereen’s main thoroughfare, it became evident that the rowers’ love for their sport isn’t the only thing that’s coming into fashion in West Cork.
The men’s facial grooming has inspired a legion of moustachioed minions, with kids donning false whiskers to emulate their idols.
The trend hasn’t gone unnoticed, joked Emily.
“It seems to be catching on, it’s all a little bit worrying.”
Rose Martin reports on some of the highlights of London Design Week.
Pinch Coffee table with spray gun at L’Abbatoir in The Conran Shop, Marylebone High Street.
AND so to London on a Ryanair flight that left when it said it would, and returned when it said it would, for Design Festival Week. Choosing from a sprawl of venues is difficult as everyone is now getting in on the act all over the capital, including the V&A museum.
This time round, the glories of 100% Design at the Olympia, which is a bewildering array of furniture, fixtures and fittings for the design trade, was eschewed in favour of the lesser known and more punter-friendly, Focus 17 at the Design Centre in Chelsea Harbour.
Those familiar with the dripping condescension of the chi-chi shops in this country will be familiar with that particular brand of the high art offered in stores here — not all, but some — especially those with no price tags on their goods. But for the most part, people were kind, generous with their time and with their information.
In particular, the Samuel Heath store was a friendly, efficient showroom with a range of Birmingham-made glories of the bathroom world.
The design is head and shoulders above the ubiquitous Italian brands we get here and while expensive, I was assured by the store’s designer, (they’re not shop assistants here, but professionals), that taps, shower heads and more would last a lifetime and Samuel Heath will oversee design and installation for their products — just to see things through.
Yes, they are a luxury brand — a top of the range, Landmark collection fit-out for a shower in burnished brass, or gleaming chrome, (shown above), comes in just short of €3,500, but they are knockout in a subtle, Bauhaus style.
Also showing quality, restrained, but top class products was Italian brand Flexiform, whose showroom was not only welcoming, but again, informative. Prices are not cheap here, (what do you expect in Chelsea Harbour?), but the sheer size of their sofas and their monstrous beds was a wonder to behold. This is really quality, tasteful stuff, without a hint of fashion — this was style. (See above)
The number of shops selling fabric was bewildering, but in particular, the Style Library stood out, not just because of its bright, fresh and open showroom, but because of it’s range of quality fabrics.
It also does paint and paper by Sanderson,Anthology and more, but the Harlequin range of velvets caught my eye, as it was the first 80/20 matt cotton fabric that offered quality at a good price — around €60 per square metre — but in a delicious range of colours.
Also in fabrics, good old Roma couldn’t have been nicer and showcased a superb range of fabrics and upholstery from a mere €40 upwards in its showroom. Again, a word to the wise, know what you’re looking for before you go — as the range is huge and you could get lost for hours.
There were too many shops and stops to mention, shops with suede upholstery in rolls, pressed and stamped leather panels in medieval colours and lush, silks and velvets in you-don’t-want-to-know prices — a lot of oligarch fittings because this is London, after all.
Armani had to have the nicest store, however, a dark, welcoming cave with tactile, alluring furniture in room settings that draw you in and seduce. Again, the rule of the higher the price, the nicer the staff, applies and in this case, the designer at Armani couldn’t have been nicer. Helpfully showing off his wares, despite knowing there was no way on God’s earth we’d buy, it made for a very pleasant experience in this hushed, womb-like space.
A Murano lantern, in a glowing orange red was a beauty and had the magnetism of a winter’s fire — yours for just under €4,000. Oh and the lounge chairs — finished in leather — were masterpieces.
Many hours later, we emerged into the V&A to see their contribution to the festival, which we’ve covered here, and it was well worth the time. The V&A is free, and is a labyrinth, (again, use the map), but we got to see the Tapestry Room with that snake-like installation and the light show — very impressive.
Also had a quick run around the plywood exhibition, disapointingly small, but was rebuffed at the door to the Pink Floyd show, as you needed £20 tickets — so dedicated fans only at that price.
(By the way, the V&A has the best cakes, do stop off at the cafe on the ground floor, or sit outside in the plywood, skater-shelters, which are part of the ply show and are a real draw for adults and children alike.)
We also managed to cram in a visit to Skandium — the nicest store, with a huge range of affordable, Scandinavian design, on Marylebone High Street, along with the Conran shop, ditto, which is worth it alone for the people-watching. Scandium is a small shop with a huge range crammed in over two floors, so it’s worth your while having a good look around, or check out the website.
Conran, on the other hand, is a design wonderland, with everything from cute children’s toys, to boutique, artisan perfumes, (at very reasonable prices), to lights, to furniture and more. It doesn’t just stock Conran stuff, but is a carefully edited collection of design staples and design flourishes. Well worth a visit and the cafe on the ground floor is good too, and reasonable for London.
The front window was taken up with the work of Irish duo, Pinch, which not only showed the finished product, but showed the process too, including a cupboard of models, (above) partially constructed stools and the coolest, coffee table ever in the process of being sprayed.
Conran call this exhibition space, L’Abbatoir — which is shocking — but maybe that’s the idea. Either way, this was a clever show — illustrative of the designer’s work and methods, as befits Sir Terence’s modus operandi.
He’s still going strong into his nineties and supporting designers.
If you need help to finance your home improvements then don’t hesitate to get in touch and we would be happy to help you out.
Revealed: The brands Irish customers rate…and the ones they don’t!
Ryanair and Mytaxi have both fallen out of the top 100 brands in the annual Irish Customer Experience report from CX Company, the digital solutions provider.
The results, based on a survey of over 2,500 customers, come after a turbulent few weeks for the two companies.
Ryanair last week announced that it was axing 34 routes across Europe this winter in a move that will hit almost 400,000 more passengers, as it struggles to contain a roster debacle.
The number of affected passengers is on top of the 315,000 that have already been hit by flight cancellations by the airline, which slipped from 77 to 115 in the list of top brands.
Meanwhile Mytaxi (formerly Hailo), tumbled 94 places to 137th. It recently came under fire after it confirmed that customers of its booking app are set to be charged an extra €2 for each booking. The team behind the app said this previously came out of drivers’ incomes.
Elsewhere in the travel sector, the report found that intermittent industrial action on trains and buses has undermined trust in brands such as Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus.
While dissatisfaction with airport delays saw the Dublin Airport Authority fall 55 places to 109, Aer Lingus has, however, maintained its top 30 position, coming in at 26.
At the top end of the ranking, credit unions have emerged as the winners for the third year running, with Lush Cosmetics and An Post completing the top three positions.
A spokesperson for the Irish League of Credit Unions, which represents over 270 credit unions here, described the result as a “hugely positive endorsement” by the public.
“Credit unions are different from other financial institutions, not just because we are not-for-profit, but because decisions are made at a local level and tailored to the individual needs of members,” a spokesperson said.
Describing customer experience as something that cannot be switched on and off “like a special offer”, CX Company chairman Michael Killeen said that the top three brands in the survey were also Ireland’s most trusted brands.
“In that context, reports that An Post plans to close hundreds of branches will be of great concern to consumers,” Mr Killeen said.
Retail, with 52 companies in the top 100 and four in the top five, was the top-performing sector this year, with electrical goods chain Powercity recording the biggest jump in ranking, moving up over 50 places to number 50 in the table.
One of the main drivers of retail’s success and the success of brands in the entertainment sector, was the rise of digital brands such as Amazon, Netflix, and Google, according to the report.
One exception in the rise of digital and entertainment brands in the Irish Customer Experience report was Facebook, which fell 15 places to 124.
Mr Killeen said he believes the Irish consumer has recognised a positive digital impact in their lives.
“What makes the digital brands stand out is their ability to humanise the experience they give customers through the use of data, demonstrating that they understand their needs and expectations,” he said.
In the supermarket sector, all of the main players dropped positions, with the exception of SuperValu. When it comes to customer experience, Ireland continues to lag behind the UK and the US, although there have been small improvements year-on-year.
Top 10 toddler-friendly breaks: An Irish mum’s insider tips!
Travel tips & deals
Babies have basic needs, while older kids can entertain themselves. But what are the best places to take toddlers on holidays? Chrissie Russell, mother of Tom (2), shares her tips.
1. Peppa Pig World
Where: Paultons Family Theme Park, Hampshire, England
Why: What toddler wouldn’t want to fly Miss Rabbit’s helicopter and drive Daddy Pig’s car? This compact park is perfectly sized for little legs (though you can hire strollers), nearly all the gentle rides have no height restrictions (note that George’s dinosaur ride is over 0.85m, however) and there’s a ‘muddy puddle’ wet play area. Pack a change of clothes!
Best for: A weekend away with a two-year-old.
Details: Admission (adult or child over one metre) £31.75/€34.30 (or £27.25/€29.40 if you book in advance online) Kids under 1m go free (peppapigworld.co.uk). Book a break through Paultons Breaks (paultonsbreaks.com) and you’ll get the second day free.
Insider Tip: Don’t want to miss out on the fun yourself? The Tot Swap service means both parents can venture onto the ‘big’ rides in the rest of the park without queuing twice.
2. Thomas Land
Where: Drayton Manor Theme Park, Staffordshire, England
Why: A mammoth recent expansion means fans of Sodor’s steamies can now fight fires in Flynn, sail in Captain and take a spin on Toby’s Tram Express as well as enjoying the classics like chuffing on Thomas. There’s a wide range of ‘thrill’ levels — older tots will love the (surprisingly fast) Troublesome Trucks rollercoaster, while very little ones will adore seeing their favourite engines poking out of Tidmouth sheds.
Best for: A stop-off on a longer holiday, and families with a car. The Peak district is just up the road or, if you fancy a theme park extravaganza, Cbeebies Land is only 50 miles away.
Details: Book online up to midnight before you visit for adult: £25/€27 (compared to £39/€42 on the day) child (4-11): £20/€21.60, child (2-3): £7/€7.60. Under 2s: free. There’s also a Rainy Day Guarantee and a Stay & Play package. draytonmannor.co.uk.
Insider Tip: Beware! The exit from Winston’s Whistle Stop Tours takes a surprise detour through a vast toy shop.
3. CBEEBIES Land (and Hotel)
Where: Staffordshire, England
Why: The newly opened hotel takes ‘child-friendly’ to new heights with toddler steps at check-in, a tunnel to the gift shop, rooms with built-in toys and toddler height peepholes, and Bing Bunny wandering around reception. Cbeebies Land itself is nestled in a less manic corner of Alton Towers and not only has a good variety of rides (from gently sailing round the Night Garden to the more thrilling sky-acrobatics of the Go Jetters Vroomster), but also an educational slant which should appease those prone to the ‘what are they getting from this?’ guilts.
Best for: A really special birthday treat. Children with special needs will love the sensory décor and the Something Special features.
Details: Adults: Book online and it’s £32/€34.60 (or £54/€58.30 on the gate). Under 3s: Free. The hotel is pricey (from £197/€213 B&B for a room that sleeps a family of four), but guests get into the park an hour earlier than the hordes. See altontowers.com/cbeebies-land.
Insider Tip: Head for the calming waters of The Sea Life centre in nearby Mutiny Bay to chill out over-stimulated tots (and frazzled parents).
4. Legoland
Where: Windsor, England
Why: Don’t rule out LegoLand simply because your child hasn’t hit the tiny-bricks stage — about a third of the park is toddler friendly. Duplo Valley is where you’ll spend most of your time, but the Spinning Spider in Land of the Vikings is also worth a look if your child is adventurous.
Best for: Three- to seven-year-olds, but beware… rides have a range of height restrictions and varying rules on how many adults can go with how many children.
Details: Adults: £60/€65 on the gate or £45/€49 if you book online seven days in advance. Children under 3: Free. Check online for 2 for 1 vouchers and Kids Go Free deals before booking (legoland.co.uk).
Insider Tip:Queues tend to ease up after lunch so focus on the queue-free play park stuff (like the splash park — bring swim togs) earlier on before hitting the big rides, and download the app for real-time waiting times and restrictions.
5. Cruise with P&O
Where: Britannia, Europe itineraries
Why: Sailings depart from Southampton (just over an hour’s flight from Dublin and home to Peppa Pig World), food to suit every palette, The Reef — P&O’s largest dedicated supervised kids area (a lovely safe, light-filled space with activities like pirate hat making), a night nursery… I could go on. Unlike many cruise lines, P&O allows kids to use some pools wearing swim nappies, and there’s a dedicated toddler splash area. Stops include beach days in Alicante and visiting the fab aquarium at Barcelona, so no need to brave lengthy bus tours.
Best for: Parents nervy about a first toddler holiday.
Details: A 14-night cruise taking in Spain, France and Italy costs from £1,184/ €1,279 per adult and £149/€160 per infant/child (up to 16 years). pocruises.com.
Insider Tip: Ask about borrowing a junior bed from the Reef.
6. W5 Interactive Discovery Centre
Where: The Odyssey Arena, Belfast
Why: This award-winning spot has a whopping 250+ interactive exhibits. Okay, the ‘science’ might be lost on the under 5s, but there’s plenty of pipes to batter, buttons to press, coloured bubbles to gaze at, not to mention pretend shops, a giant wooden railway, flying balls and great water play.
Details: Adult: €11.82, Child: €9.04, Family (2 adults, 2 children): €35.54. Children under 2: Free (w5online.co.uk). Book online to reserve your slot.
Best for: A fun day out (especially families whose kids are a range of ages).
Insider Tip:Make a beeline for the under 8s Discovery section on the second floor and don’t get way laid by the ground-floor’s Spacebase soft play area (which is only for over 3s and costs an extra £3.50).
7. Kenmare Bay Hotel & Resort
Where: Kenmare, Co Kerry
Why: An award-winning hotel with a choice of family bedrooms or self-catering cottages, there are lots of toddler-friendly little touches — like the play area in the Bay Restaurant (meaning mum and dad can enjoy dinner in peace). There’s a kids pool, outdoor playground, playroom and access to babysitting. It’s just minutes’ walk from pretty Kenmare Town and there’s loads to do in the area (pottery and crafts, a petting farm and an activity centre).
Best for: A relaxing staycation.
Details: B&B from €99 for a family of four. See kenmarebayhotel.com.
Insider Tip:The Kids Club is only for children aged 5-12 (and costs extra). You’ve to ask for a key to the drop-in playroom and stay to supervise.
8. Martinhal Beach Resort, Villa 92
Where: The Algarve, Portugal
Why: Tots To Travel has an epic list of awards to support its claim of ‘crafting perfect family holidays’. This five-bed villa is just over an hour’s drive from Faro (a direct flight from Dublin) and perfect for two families holidaying together. Child-friendly features abound (black-out shutters, childlocks, fenced and heated pools, onsite crèche and kids clubs, kids TV channels, a nearby beach…) but without compromising on grown-up luxury. There’s yoga, a deli and even a spa on-site too. Bliss!
Best for: Parents who want a luxury holiday without compromising on child safety and entertainment.
Details: From £496/€535 per night (totstotravel.co.uk). See also martinhal.com.
Insider Tip: Don’t waste suitcase space on baby monitors, bath toys, books and DVDs. All Tots To Travel villas have over 20 guaranteed toddler items (including a high chair, cot, changing mat, potty, bed guard and nightlight).
9. Tepee Valley Campsite
Where: ArmaghBest for: A unique camping holiday.
Why: Glamping and the whole ‘camping in comfort’ idea has been around for a while, but there’s something truly magical about this cosy, family-run campsite set in rolling farmland outside the small town of Markethill. The biggest dilemma will be whether to opt for a tepee, yurt or gypsy caravan?
Details: £140- £160/€151-€173 (peak season) for a two-night break and £55/€59 per night thereafter. discovernorthernireland.com.
Insider Tip: There’s no playground on-site but if you’re experiencing swings and slides withdrawal, check out the amazing new playground at nearby Gosford Forest. Also, a warning: Wi-Fi is limited.
10. Disneyland Paris
Where: Marne-le-Vallée, FranceWhy: One of the perks of having pre-school age kids is being able to go places like Disneyland off-peak when queues won’t be as hellish. Yes, it is too big for them (hire a stroller, and check out rides on YouTube first to have a game plan). No, they might not remember it. But it is magical and most toddler-friendly rides are handily grouped together in Fantasyland.
Best for: An off-peak moment of pure fantasy.
Details: Park admission from €42 (under 3s free). A two-night/three-day stay at Sequoia Lodge (it’s one of the closest hotels to the park) with park entry for a family of four travelling midweek in September costs €917 on disneylandparis.ie. Flights extra.
Insider Tip: It’s a myth that you can’t bring food into the park. You can — but not if it looks like a picnic. Steer clear of hampers and cooler bags and keep sarnies and snacks in backpacks.
A Credit Union is a not-for-profit organisation. See below for reasons to join today!
1. Motives
The sole purpose for a credit union’s existence means that it should have your best interests at heart and not the bottom line of the institution. Big banks, on the other hand, are there to turn a profit and will seemingly do whatever it takes to meet their numbers.
2. Structure
Because they follow a cooperative structure, credit unions are owned and operated by their members. Upon making the initial deposit, you will be granted voting rights along with surplus income returned in the form of dividends because cooperatives are owned and operated by members.
As a member, you may also be able to conduct transactions at other affiliate locations outside of your institution. And some credit unions reimburse their members for ATM fees incurred outside of their machines. This was a major lifesaver when I arrived at college and discovered that one of the local credit unions near campus was partnered with the credit union I used in my hometown.
3. Fees
Credit unions have lower expenses, so they are able to pass on the savings to their members. For instance, many credit unions offer free checking accounts with no minimum balance constraints, but you will often have to pay a fee at the big banks if your funds fall below a certain number or you fail to meet other criteria. You likely will also be assessed a fee for each transaction that is processed using overdraft protection.
4. Loan rates
Credit Union usually have better rates because they are nonprofit and aren’t looking to make their wallets fatter. According to the National Credit Union Association, as of June 27, 2014, the average interest rate on a 48-month new-car loan was 2.64 percent at the credit union, compared with 4.78 percent at major banks.
5. Credit card offers
The NCUA also indicated that the average interest rate for credit cards was 11.55 percent for credit unions and 12.89 for banks. So there isn’t much of a difference in terms of APR, but the plastic from credit unions are usually less costly in terms of fees.
6. Borrowing
Been turned down by all the major banks? Try your local credit union. Its borrowing standards are likely to be more flexible, and they may be willing to work with you, especially if you are a member in good standing. And if you’re self-employed, you already understand how tough it can be to be approved for anything with major banks.
Have you carried out the appropriate checks on the car and are you satisfied that the car has no major faults?
Has the car ever been crashed?
Is the mileage for this vehicle accurate?
Is there any outstanding finance on the vehicle?
Has any bodywork been done to the vehicle (by you or by others)? This may have been done to cover up serious issues such as rust or damage from a previous crash.
Has any major mechanical work been done on the vehicle (by you or by others)? For example has the engine been replaced? Ask if this is this unusual given the age and mileage of the car.
Does the car belong to the person selling it or are they selling it for someone else? If it is someone else’s then you need the name, address and contact details of that person to contact them to ensure everything is in order
Was the car first registered in Ireland or has it been imported? If it has been imported ask for the vehicles UK registration number and do an online check. You can check the MOT history through the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s site using the registration number.
Our car buyers checklist will give you more information on the important questions to ask.
2. Check the condition of the car
For complete peace of mind, get the vehicle independently checked by a mechanic to avoid any nasty surprises in the future.
Use our car buyers checklist to help you know exactly what you should be looking for. It will also help you keep track and compare different cars easily.
If you are buying from a garage, you should get a warranty for the car. However, this is dependent on the age and price of the car. If the car is reasonable new and the garage is not willing to give you a warranty, this should immediately raise concerns regarding the condition of the car.
Checks you can do yourself: outside the car
Look for visible signs of damage – dents, scrapes and panels or doors not matching up evenly Broken or cracked lights and marks on bumpers. If light clusters are not the same make, they may have been damaged and replaced after a crash.
Other signs of damage, wear and tear such as rust under the sills or wheel arches.
Ask about any signs of leaks on the ground around the car. There could be a simple explanation for this but you should always ask.
Check the spare wheel and full wheel replacement kit. If the car has alloy wheels, make sure you get a “key” to release and secure them.
Always examine a car during daylight hours and try to view it when it’s dry as rain can hide scrapes or scratches.
Check the oil
There’s an oil dip stick and an oil filler cap. Pull out the oil dip stick, wipe it and put it back in again. And now pull it back out and see where the oil comes to. At the end of the stick about an inch up you should see two markings, one for min. and one for max. The oil should be up near the max, not very low and not over filled (both are as equally damaging).
If there’s no oil, don’t buy the car.
The oil filler cap may have this creamy residue on it but that’s normally due to condensation in the engine and is fine.
If the oil is:
black it will indicate the car hasn’t been serviced in a while.
golden it normally indicates clear oil and it’s just after being serviced (Most diesel oils will be darker, and the colour may not indicate recent servicing).
creamy or coffee colour, this normally indicates that the oil is mixing with the water and the head gasket is gone. If this happens, don’t buy the car.
Check inside the car
Check the reading displayed on the odometer. It will be displayed in miles or kilometres. If you think this has been tampered with or ‘clocked’, don’t buy the car. The average annual mileage of petrol cars is about 17,000 kilometres (10,500 miles). Diesel cars, if they have been used for business purposes, could have an average of about 24,000 kilometres (15,000 miles). Ask the seller to confirm in writing the correct mileage reading before you buy the car.
Turn the ignition onto the first click and all the warning lights should flicker on. Make sure all these lights come on (airbag etc.) and they go back off again. If they don’t come on it could mean the bulb has been removed to try and hide an existing, problem.
Check the wear and tear inside the car on the seat covers, pedal rubbers, gear knob or steering wheel to see if it is consistent with the displayed odometer reading.
Test drive the car
Take the car for a test drive before you buy it. This may not be possible if you buy the car at an auction. During the test drive, turn off the radio and air-conditioning and make sure:
There are no strange noises or rattling
There is no strong smell of oil, petrol or diesel
It accelerates comfortably and the brakes don’t squeak or squeal
The gears shift comfortably and smoothly
You drive over a reasonable distance on different road surfaces to fully test it
Remember that it can be easy to hide damage to a car so either get an independent mechanic to check it for you or get a guarantee or warranty from the garage before you hand over your money.
3. Check the history of the car
There are a number of companies who can check the history of a car for you for a fee, you can search online to find the right service provider.
This check may uncover details which the seller is trying to hide such as whether or not the vehicle was ever written-off, the true mileage of the vehicle or if there is outstanding finance on the vehicle.
You should be looking to at least get the previous recorded odometer readings, details of any insurance claims or if the car has been used as a taxi and details of any crashes
Check the registration
You can check if someone else has just bought this car, realised it has a fault and tried to sell it before it costs them any more money. Motortax.ie offer a service by which you can see if the car has changed hands within the last three months.
4. Check if there is outstanding finance on the car
Check that the car is not under any existing finance agreement. If it is, the person trying to sell the car does not actually own it and does not have the right to sell it to you. There are companies that keep records of cars subject to hire purchase and PCP agreements, so check if they have details of the car you are looking at. You will be charged a small fee for this service.
All SIMI (Society of Irish Motor Industry) dealers have access to a car history check service and they cannot sell a car which has outstanding finance on it.
Legal ownership of a car cannot be transferred until the final repayment has been made. If you buy a car with outstanding finance on it, the car could be repossessed by the lender even if you have already paid the previous owner for it.
5. Check the paperwork of the car
How to check the Vehicle Registration Certificate
Ask the seller to show you the Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) if the car is Irish. If the car is an import from the UK ask to see the V5C. These documents are the ownership documents for the car. The person selling the car must correspond to the name on the V5C or VRC, and you should ask for proof of identity if buying privately.
The VRC has a 10 digit number on the top right hand corner of the first page. It should look like C061234567. For 2009 this would be C091234567 and so on. Take down these numbers and match them when getting your car history check. If the number does not match the document could be forged and the car may be stolen.
The engine size, fuel type, date of registration and colour will be detailed on the VRC. You should check this against the car. Sometimes the seller will try to gain more value by pretending the car is of a higher power etc. The correct specification will be detailed on your car history check.
Other paperwork checks
Make sure that all other documentation, including NCT, VRT, motor tax disc and car handbook relate to that car.
The NCT Certificate now shows the vehicle’s mileage history. Where available the mileage history comprises of the reading associated with the most recent and three prior NCTs. As this is a new system, it will only show mileage recorded during tests conducted from July 2014 onwards. Also, since July 2014, the most recent reading is recorded on the NCT disc which should be displayed on the windscreen.
Make sure all documents are originals- not photocopies.
We have had a number of car recalls recently, for more information see our product recalls page.
Checks to do if you are importing a car
If you are planning on buying a car from the UK there are a number of checks you should do before you buy:
Do a complete history check before you go to view any car. This can all be done online. The history check will show if a car is under a PCP arrangement and if there is outstanding finance on it. It will also indicate if the car has ever been involved in an accident and was an insurance write-off, if it has had one or more change of plates and the mileage of the car. You can check the MOT history through the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s site using the registration number.
For complete peace of mind, get the vehicle independently checked by a mechanic to avoid any nasty surprises in the future.
Estimate how much Vehicle Registration tax (VRT) you will owe once you bring the car into Ireland. Revenue has a VRT calculator to help you work this out. Remember this figure is only an estimate. Your VRT payment will depend on the Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) determined by the Revenue Commissioners. The OMSP is the price the Revenue Commissioners understand the vehicle would be worth if sold in Ireland and the vehicle’s VRT liability is calculated as a percentage of the OMSP. This percentage varies, depending on the car’s CO2 emissions. VAT, if applicable, is also paid at this stage. Revenue has appointed the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) to carry out a range of vehicle registration functions on its behalf. In order to register a vehicle you must bring it to an NCTS Centre. You must book your appointment with the NCTS within 7 days of the vehicle entering the State and have completed the registration within 30 days of the vehicle entering the State. You can find further info on the registration process from Revenue.
Buying a new home can often be stressful and time consuming. Try to think of it differently; it is a very exciting time in your life and you will always remember buying a home, just try and ensure you have fond memories of it by hiring a Buyer’s Agent who can make the whole transaction a much happier and smoother affair. If not, read below and take our advise to help you with this important stage of your life.
1. First and foremost, the most important tip of all is about FINANCE. Don’t even start looking before you obtain a letter of offer from a financial institution. A letter of offer will typically last 6 months so there is no problem in feeling rushed into buying straight away. Even if the 6 months lapse, it is usually quite straightforward to have it renewed. The main reason for finance being so important is because an Estate Agent will not take you seriously if you haven’t got it. If you put a bid on a home that you have fallen for, one of the first questions you will be asked is what about your financial situation. Don’t get us wrong, they will take any offer you put forward but only as a means to obtaining a higher offer from another bidder who has finance in place. They will never go sale agreed with a buyer without finance.
2. LOCATION is crucial, whether you plan to upgrade in a few years or plan to live their all your life, location is key. Regardless of what the house is like, you have to live there and if you don’t like the area you’ll never settle in the house. If certain locations are narrowed down, your search will also be much easier. Do not make the mistake of looking all over for the perfect property, you will exhaust and confuse yourself. Location, location, location first and the property will follow.
3. While searching, do not be afraid to ASK QUESTIONS. An Estate Agent is supposed to be truthful in answering any or all of your questions. If they don’t know the answers to your questions, ask them to find out and always follow up if you don’t hear from them again. You need to be as informed as you possibly can. The obvious questions to ask are about the house; “Does the extension have an architectural cert?” “Has the heating or wiring been upgraded in recent years?” “What direction is the garden facing?” However, the questions that you also need to be asking are less obvious but puts you in a better position if you are planning on bidding on the property. “What is the vendors situation?” “Are they trading up or down?” If they are trading up chances are they require a certain figure for the property in order to purchase their new home, if they are “What is their minimum sale figure?” This may not always be answered but there’s no harm in trying, our motto is ask and you shall receive. “Are the vendors sale agreed on their new property?” If they are, they may be looking for quick sale agreed status in order not to lose what they have found. “Do they need the proceeds from this sale to purchase their new one?” They may not, which means they are in no rush. “When do they want to close?” If you are a first time buyer you are in a better position than many buyers and as long as your finance is in place you are a most attractive option to any vendor. Always let the Estate Agent know that you are finance approved and can close at the vendor’s discretion.
4. When you are ready to start bidding on a property, do not be afraid to BID QUICK AND BID LOW. For some reason a lot of buyers like to sit on the fence and wait for bidding to ease up and the sale to be closer to closing before putting in their offer. This doesn’t make sense for one main reason; if you are interested in a property that has no offers on it and you hold back you are running the risk of another buyer offering the guide price or higher. The only way to counter offer is by going higher so you could be saving money by offering early and low. Never offer the guide price as your first offer, keep the bids as low as possible, without insulting the vendor. Even if the Estate Agent laughs at your offer and informs you it will not buy the house, they still have an obligation to put your bid forward to the vendor and you have started the ball rolling. Don’t be disheartened if it is refused and never bid against yourself, unless you are given a guarantee from the Estate Agent that a specific higher bid will secure you the property.
5. Find out what is the POSITION OF OTHER BIDDERS. You may not be told but it’s worth asking about the people you may be bidding against. “Are they a first time buyer?” “Have they finance in place?” “Are they subject to sale?” If someone who is a less attractive buyer has just outbid you, you do not necessarily have to counter offer. Stick to your original offer informing the Estate Agent that your offer still stands, as you are a more secure bet for the vendor.
6. Do not get confused, as a buyer, THE ESTATE AGENT IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. He/She is working for the vendor and has the vendor’s interests at heart. Their job is to get the highest price possible for their client. Do not forget that.
7. Know WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR SALE prior to bidding. Do not go blindly offering on a property without knowing what you are actually buying. If there are items in the house you want, ask if they can be included and if not, the vendor may sell them separately. On the other hand if you want the house completely cleared and nothing in it when you get your keys, tell your Solicitor and he/she can arrange for it to be a condition of sale in your contracts. It is a good idea also to ask the agent if you can inspect the house just prior to closing to ensure it is what you have asked for.
8. Have your LEGAL affairs in order when you start bidding. When you go sale agreed on a property you want the vendor to know how serious you are and not have them thinking they have an unstable buyer. Your deposit and Solicitor’s details should be ready to hand over to the Estate Agent as soon as you have been told you are sale agreed. This will also reduce the risk of gazumping. A good and reputable Solicitor is extremely important when you are purchasing, it could mean the difference of a sale going through with ease or you losing the sale completely.
9. Don’t forget your STAMP DUTY liability and other legal fees. Know the rates applicable to you when you are offering on a property and ensure you are still in budget. A lot of sales fall through as buyers get caught up with the excitement of buying a house and forget they will also have additional fees on top of the price of the property.
10. Always have a good SURVEYOR check out the property as soon as you are sale agreed. They are there to give you a more informed professional opinion on the property you are about to purchase. There may be many things wrong with a property that you can’t see. Some may be crucial to your budget, there may be work that has to be carried out on the property and even if it’s not immediate, it may affect your resale value.
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