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Tiger still burning bright for the Marbella holida; mentions westlife
Topic Started: Jul 15 2008, 03:15 PM (70 Views)
JoanneVIP
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THE BOSS
Tiger still burning bright for the Marbella holiday ladies

The young Irish believe now is the best time ever to party, away from the 'doom and gloom' at home

Sunday July 06 2008

IF holidays abroad are the barometer of a country's economic strength then Ireland will surely ride out the financial storm.

But, as travel agents report increased bookings, there still remains only one place for the well heeled Irish to party abroad.

Puerto Banus, at Marbella, southern Spain, is the only show in town for Ireland's optimists, sick of the negativity at home.

Last week Irish ex-pats and holidaymakers in Marbella would countenance no talk of economic gloom or recession.

Paul Reilly, who has worked for Vidal Sassoon in LA, is the owner of the Halo Hair Design near the chic marina and says some 70 per cent of his customers are Irish.

"The Irish are still coming. Business is booming now for us -- in fact I would go so far as to say it's never been better."

Paul Hayden, who runs the Zumo Juice bar, contrasts the optimism around the Med with the gloom and doom at home.

"In Ireland we have been talking ourselves into a recession and it has become a self fulfilling prophecy," he told the Sunday Independent. "My business is up about 25 per cent on last year."

He is now the master franchisee for Zumo in Spain and is opening new branches in Barcelona and two more in Seville, where, one presumes, there will be a steady supply of at least one of his raw materials.

However, it is down in Puerto Banus that the youngsters who grew up in the Celtic Tiger era like to chill out.

Along the Port we spot a collection of school leavers from Holy Child School in Killiney relaxing on the boat of business people, Louise and Charlie O'Louglin.

Asked how the recession has begun to impact on them, they look at each other a bit quizzically -- probably not an unreasonable reaction as you relax on one of the most glorious boats in the marina. Their day starts at about 10 and then it's down to the pool ("we'd never go to the beach") and the real fun starts in the evening when they might end up in Club 28, the hangout for the hip young Irish.

What happens when they leave Puerto Banus? They have trips planned for Connemara, Crete and even Australia. The girls are keen to point out, however, that they are not simply rich kids spending their parents' money.

Zara O'Reilly is busily "saving for a deposit for her first house" -- a not inconsiderable boast for a school leaver -- while another is going to spend time working in an orphanage abroad over the summer.

Just down the port, outside the famous watering hole of Sinatra's, we meet four young Irish women who are friends from school.

While they know how to have a good time, all appear to have their feet firmly on the ground. Kate McMorrow works in marketing and admits to have been described on occasion as "a cocky Celtic Tiger cub".

"We don't want to talk ourselves into a recession," she suggests, as she sips on her vodka and cranberry juice.

"None of us are walking around with our eyes closed, though. It's just we intend to enjoy ourselves."

Are these girls the idle rich? Absolutely not. Nicola Sothern has studied journalism and is now a trainee barrister. Liz Cope is continuing post-graduate studies at Edinburgh University, while Julie Orr works as a management consultant.

Despite the economic climate in Ireland, Marbella continues to boast uber successful Irish business people, all of whom appear to have better economic news than the next.

Irish woman Lynn Quinlan and her husband Marc are proprietors of the famous Beckitts restaurant and she estimates that her business is up at least 15 per cent on last year.

"The Irish built up and continue to support our business," she told the Sunday Independent. "We are very lucky that Irish and international celebrities come to us and this has certainly helped our profile.''

"You name them, they've been here," she says. "Bertie, Westlife, Alan Sugar of The Apprentice, and chef Anthony Worrall Thompson, are regulars.
"To be honest business is now so good we have been asked to open a Beckitts in Dubai". Lynn doesn't understand talk of recession back home. "Things can't be that tight when plane loads of Irish are coming over every week," she says.

- JOHN O'KEEFFE
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Gloria
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Westlife DIVA star
Thanks Jo for posting.I wish I could go there. It is a lovely place Marbella,my friend has a villa there.Swimming pool as well.xx
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MrsMaryByrne
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Mary
Thanks for posting :) your friend lucky gloria :D
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Nicky's Angel
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Sara
Thanks for posting Jo :)
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Gloria
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Westlife DIVA star
I know Mary,I've never been there,they have a lovely house not too far from me & also a house in Devon.She has been lucky,but she has had breast cancer & now has got in her bones but is coping very well.xx
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uptowngirl
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thanks for posting hun
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