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# The briefcase
Here's everything you need to know about business this week
Everyone was talking about Irish whiskey, the rental squeeze and a really big ship.
EVERY WEEKEND, TheJournal.ie gives its readers the chance to put their feet up and take a look back at all the goings-on from the world of business.
Once again it’s time to delve deep inside The Briefcase for the important – and sometimes less-important – financial news that has come out this working week:
Irish whiskey is making a major comeback. About a century after the spirit hit its previous peak, whiskey should reach a new high in exports. And the Irish Whiskey Association, which represents distillers, wants to follow the success of the scotch industry as it aims to nearly quadruple shipments again over the next 15 years
The rental squeeze is the worst in a decade. Last month there were the fewest properties listed as available since at least the start of 2006 as the lack of housing supply pushed rents higher. It’s now cheaper to meet the mortgage repayments on small- and medium-sized homes than to rent equivalent properties in virtually every part of the country
Monster cruise liner Splendida sailed into Dublin. It was the longest-ever vessel to arrive at Dublin Port, disgorging over 4,000 passengers into the capital. And it wasn’t short on bling – including crystal- and jewel-encrusted stairs and pianos. But it left a few unsuspecting bystanders in its wake – literally – as the wash from that giant hull caught some southsiders off-guard
One of the world’s hottest startups arrived in Ireland. Workplace messaging service Slack unveiled its new Dublin office, the first it has opened outside North America since launching early last year, along with plans to hire 100 staff. The company has already been valued at a cool $2.8 billion, despite its very short life
UTV Ireland has been a slow starter. The new TV station, which launched at the start of the year, has cut its revenue forecasts after admitting things weren’t quite going to plan. It also announced it was revamping its news services in a bid to tap into larger audiences
The owner of a small B&B may have bought an oil company by mistake. Judith Williams, who runs the business in Worcestershire, England, could be forced to buy out small oil exploration firm New World Oil and Gas after her son snapped up £1.5 million of its shares on her behalf. He apparently thought he was only buying 10%, but the stake proved to be much larger – triggering UK takeover rules
Some 161,000 credit card customers are in line for a refund. A tidy one too – for most customers, between €100 and €200. The reason came down to card-protection insurance sold through a number of providers which included features already covered under standard card policies
Charlie Haughey’s old estate is on its way to becoming a resort. The new owners of Abbeville at Kinsealy, where the former taoiseach lived for over 35 years before his death, have applied to start “phase one” of the planned hotel, golf course and conference centre development. First off the blocks will be the restoration of several outlying buildings, which have fallen into major disrepair
And one for the road…
File this one under “don’t try this at home, kids”.
Two so-called free runners scaled to the top of the world’s tallest construction site in Shenzhen, China – all without any climbing or safety equipment.
And naturally they recorded the whole thing. It’s enough to make you dizzy… even from the comfort of your chair.
First published 16 May
