CUSTOM IRELAND ADOPTS A 4-DAY WORK WEEK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TURAS CUSTOM IRELAND LTD, A DUBLIN-BASED DMC, ADOPTS A 4-DAY WORK WEEK

DUBLIN, January 12, 2023 - Turas Custom Ireland, Ltd, a Dublin based DMC (destination management company) comprised of Custom Ireland, its Meetings and Incentives division and Crafted Ireland, its ultraluxe leisure division, has adopted a 4-day work week to benefit its employees, the environment, and business productivity. This new schedule is effective immediately and will be trialed for the first quarter of the year with hopes of becoming a permanent benefit.

The pandemic created a “work from home” scenario that showed improvement in two key areas: reduced environmental impact negatively caused by workers, and increased flexibility in work schedules. Not everyone benefited from the forced structure, however. Some employees also experienced blurred lines between home and work, longer bouts of sitting and less motivation to shut down at the end the day.

With the return to the office and following a very busy year, it was clear to owner/managing director, Crothúr Murphy, that a 4-day work week could return added flexibility to the team to encourage a healthier work/life balance, reduce the company’s negative environmental impact and increase business productivity. 

The key benefits of the 4-day work week are:

Boost overall well-being for employees

  • Team members have more time for their family and friends, encouraging improved relationships and mental health

  • Team members have more time for themselves, encouraging better overall health choices: mentally and physically

  • Team members gain more control over their own lives

Reduce negative environmental impact

  • Research shows that by working less, employees become more time rich and make better consumer choices

  • Reduced energy consumption

  • Reduce paper consumption (office paper, takeaway lunches, and coffees, etc.)

Boost overall company productivity

  • Studies show employees work more efficiently (prioritizing and improved time management)

  • Reduction in absenteeism

  • Recruit and retain top talent in a competitive labour market

“I’m delighted for this shift. We work in a high-energy and fast-paced industry, and we give so much to our work. It’s often difficult to make time for ourselves which can impact our mental and physical health. This new structure helps bring us to a place where we can all make self-care a top priority,” said Rebecca Dixon, Director of Operations.

Murphy added, “Sharing our destination on this lovely planet is the core of our business, and every step we take toward reducing our contribution to negative environmental impacts is a step worth taking. Coupled with the benefits to our team’s well-being, I’m very happy with moving to a 4-day work week.”


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Celebrating Biodiversity - World Environment Day 2020

June 5th, World Environment Day, encourages awareness and action for the protection of our environment. First celebrated in 1974, it has since developed into a global platform for promoting and supporting critical environmental issues. And though recognized worldwide, it has only been in recent years that there seems to be a very positive, global shift in mindset when it comes to understanding the urgency of our corporate and personal responsibilities for the overall health and well-being of our planet.

From major corporations to small and local businesses, companies are taking action and making their statements. Sustainability policies are front-and-center on many websites and even awards are granted when efforts are met and exceeded. Custom Ireland is no different. We understand that our business takes a toll on our planet, so we are serious about taking action from a corporate standpoint through our tree-planting program and in office daily as a part of our environmental responsibilities. But our efforts don’t stop there .

Custom Ireland’s Managing Director, Crothúr Murphy, is a fierce lover of “all things in nature”, and he’s passionate about encouraging the team to get excited about protecting our planet. This year’s World Environment Day theme is “biodiversity – taking time for nature”, which aptly captures the efforts we are making in our own homes, beyond the corporate walls.

We’d like to share our stories and photos with you, and we hope they inspire you and others to take action as well. Please feel free to share your comments on this post about efforts that you are making as well so we can grow the share of ideas.

Crothúr Murphy, Owner/Managing Director

I have implemented a planting programme to sustain the indigenous wildlife in my garden that focuses on many species of bee, butterfly other pollinators and wildlife. In my front garden I have a little forest patch with native trees have been part of the Irish landscape for thousands of years. They benefit a huge range of wildlife, birds, insects, small mammals as well as being hosts to many mosses, lichens and fungi and are obviously well suited to our environment. My native species include Rowan, Sessile and Common Oak, Sycamore, Horse Chestnut, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Birch, Alder, Elder, Holly, Wild Cherry, Willow, and Ash.

My main garden is made up of two large rockeries and two beds where I grow pollinator friendly flowers and scrubs such as wild Foxglove (as opposed to a hybrid farmed version), Fern, Daffodil, Allium, Daisy, Lupin, Berberis, California Lilac, Iris, several species of Buddleja, Sea Holly and Flowering Currant amongst many others that attract numerous butterfly and bee species from mid-February right through to the end of Summer.

However, it is my rewilding project that I am most happy with. [photos below]. I have left the majority of my back garden grow wild, cutting some narrow pathways through it to allow me to walk and service my plants. There is a stream running down the boundary that I have left unattended, where nettles and other native plants grow wild, this helps with food and shelter for butterfly and moth caterpillars. I have planted a wall of Buddleja to allow for copious amounts of nectar for pollinators and installed some beds where I planted a range of flowering plants. The remainder is left grow wild which supports numerous species of birds and is covered in wild buttercups.

I have seen and have evidence of the following animals feeding in my garden: hedgehog, fox, badger, hare, rabbit, pygmy shrew, and of course rat.

I have an orchard with apples, cherries, pears, blueberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants, the vast majority being left for the birds to eat in the Autumn. I chip all of my cuttings and created a compost heap which now houses a badger set and this pathway leads to an acre of ground that I have just purchased from a local farmer that I am rewilding this year, with next year’s plan being to add more species of native flowering plants, native hedgerows and a few beehives.

No toxins or poison are used in the garden where I feed a range of birds and, dare I say it, yes, I have a family of rats (they feed off of the bird feeder and have been there for many years. At one stage I poisoned them but have never regretted anything more and now I just leave them be. They are food for predators that feed in my garden, owls, foxes, badgers and buzzards. They don’t bother me and stay by the stream, and some even being extremely tolerant of me as I approach. Anyway, in a country setting, it is virtually impossible to have a rat-less garden, so I live and let live.

That’s it… just to close, these are the birds that I have recorded nesting and feeding in my garden, both in the wild area and in the more managed area:

Magpie, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Starling, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Green Finch, Gold Finch, Bull Finch, Siskin, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and the smallest bird in the British Isles… a nesting pair of Gold Crest.

In my acre of ground I have Mallard, Snipe, Pheasant, Buzzard.

Arthur McGauran, General Manager

I’m building a Bug Hotel!!! A while ago I read about the benefits to the world’s ecosystem of building a bug hotel, but one of the unexpected benefits was the educational piece around this with my kids. Not so long ago I witnessed my children running away from bugs, thinking they are, ‘scary’ and ‘yucky’, and they began to develop a bit of a phobia. So rather than steer them away from bugs, I decided to embrace the idea with my kids. ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could build a hotel for all the bugs to live’ and all of a sudden they could imagine the creativity that comes with this, whilst also learning about the key role that bugs have in protecting our ecosystem. This is a work in progress, and we have started to gather the materials….keep watching for the finished project!

Build your own bug hotel!
https://greensideup.ie/3-reasons-why-we-nee-to-build-more-bug-hotels/

 
 

Amy Beirne, Account Manager

Below are photos from my home:

1. WILD FLOWERS - This is an old herb garden that we have replanted with wild flower seeds.

2. UP-CYCLING - This is an old cable spool that we have repurposed into a garden furniture.

3. REWILDING - This is a general area that has been let go wild. It wasn't intentional, but it is teeming with wildlife, so now we are leaving it as a 'rewilding' area.

4. THE BUMBLEBEE - Enjoy this slow-motion video of bumblebee flying between two dandelions. This was taken at the wild flower box at the start of May

Rebecca Dixon, Director of Sales & Marketing

I am based in the United States, in a suburb just north of Dallas, Texas. I live smack in the heart of urban sprawl, where concrete and steel dominate the landscape. While my own yard isn’t quite big enough to allow for a true area of rewilding, I have carved out a little spot around an old tree stump where I allow nature to take its course. This little area is home to many insects, amphibians and mollusks; and everything growing here has been planted by the squirrels and birds, with the exception of my small patch of Shasta Daisies that I brought from my previous home. Shasta Daisies are one of bees favourite flowers. They are attracted to the bright yellow circle in the middle and cover themselves with pollen to redistribute. While living in the suburbs is quite safe and comfortable for humans, it is sad to think about the wildlife that we have pushed out to serve our own needs. I’m proud to live in a city that promotes the conservation and preservation of wildlife and native plants. In Plano, Texas, we have multiple nature preserves on the outer limits of town and even conservation buffer zones and native wild flower fields and patches inside the city limits.

Julie White, MICE Operations

Since moving to Ireland from Colorado, one of the things I miss the most are my gardens; vegetable and flower! The fresh soil, the smell of the earth, the thrill of watching things develop and grow as time moved on throughout the spring and summer months. As I now live in an apartment in north Dublin, I decided to create a fragrant window box garden in hopes of attracting bees, and I have had great success as I hear their gentle buzz while they feed on the nectar throughout the day! The flowers are also really pretty to look at :)

Isabel Hagel, Operations Executive

The lockdown has been a great opportunity for me to educate myself in biodiversity and how to protect it. The local park is just a short walk from my home, this is how I get my daily dose of biodiversity. As I don’t have a garden at my house in Dublin, I try to do my part in a different way. I’ve been using natural soaps and shampoo for a while now – not only are they plastic free and sustainable, they’re also biodegradable and therefore not harmful to biodiversity. I’ve recently discovered the Irish company “Kind Co”, a Zero Waste Lifestyle store who are selling sustainable, ethical and eco-friendly products. My first delivery with natural dish brushes, deodorant cream and sunscreen that is not harmful to us or sea life is on its way. Using cosmetic products that are not only kind to me but also kind to the environment is a big step in the right direction to a more sustainable lifestyle.


To learn more about our corporate tree planting program, view here:

Ask us about our tailor-made, luxury travel services for FIT!
Learn more at www.craftedireland.com

 
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Deconstructing St. Patrick's Day

For many, a trip to the Emerald Isle to celebrate St Patrick’s Day is a bucket list travel experience. This beloved holiday is celebrated globally as the world unites and becomes Irish for a day, and a front row seat on the streets of Dublin city for the annual holiday parade, is a next level experience! Some may choose a more epic journey and following the footsteps of St Patrick himself by visiting some of Ireland’s most iconic sites: St Patrick’s Cathedral in County Down, Croagh Patrick in County Mayo, Hill of Slane in County Meath, or The Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary… Whatever the intentions for your desires to travel to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day, the trip is sure to be unforgettable. But as the threat of this year’s Covid-19 pandemic forces celebratory parades and gatherings to cancel worldwide, let’s take a moment to reflect on our beloved holiday and how it got its start.

Who is St. Patrick anyway? When and where did the Paddy’s Day traditions begin? The answers may surprise you.

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Deconstructing St. Patrick’s Day

When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, visions of 4-leaf-clovers may dance in your head, and you wouldn’t dream of stepping outside of the house without wearing a touch of green for fear of getting pinched. March 17th is a global celebration of Irish culture and a universal claiming of Irish heritage. From its humble beginnings as a commemorative feast for Ireland’s Patron Saint, to a festival of leprechaun hats and green beer, St. Patrick’s Day has morphed into one of the most beloved and widely celebrated holidays on the planet.

Who is Saint Patrick?

Would you be shocked to learn that Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, is not actually Irish?

Saint Patrick was born by the name Maewyn Succat around 387 AD. It is believed that he and his family were wealthy Romans living in Britain, but at age 16, Maewyn was abducted by a band of Irish pagans. He was taken to Ireland where he was enslaved and sent to work as a sheep herder on Slemish Mountain in what is now Northern Ireland.

Maewyn spent 6 years in captivity where he became fluent in the Irish language, and began to appreciate the culture and admire the spirit of the Irish people. During his time as a slave, it is said that God came to him in a dream and told him to escape to the coast where he would find a ship waiting to take him back home. Upon his escape, it was then that he began studying monasticism in France and continued to study Christianity in Britain where he adopted the name Patrick (or Patricius) upon becoming a priest. He then returned to Ireland to bring Christianity to the people, who were predominantly pagan and druidic at the time. For the next 40 years, he would continue to spread the gospel, establish churches, and convert thousands to Christianity before dying of natural causes on March 17th in his late 70s or early 80s in County Down, Northern Ireland.

When did St. Patrick’s Day Traditions and Celebrations Begin?

The March 17 celebration started in Ireland in 1631 when the Church established a Feast Day honoring St. Patrick. Irish immigrants eventually brought this tradition over to the American colonies, and it was there that Saint Patrick started to become the symbol of Irish heritage and culture that he is today. As more Irish ventured across the Atlantic, the Feast Day celebration slowly grew in popularity.

In fact, the first St. Patrick's Day celebration parade was not in Ireland at all. In 1737, the Charitable Irish Society of Boston held the world’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade, followed by New York in 1762. Today, festive parades are held all over the world.

The Shamrock, The Four-leaf Clover & The Luck Of The Irish

According to religious lore, Saint Patrick deemed the three leaves of the shamrock to represent the holy trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. As such, in Irish culture, the shamrock connotes association to both Saint Patrick and the Holy Trinity. Shamrock is a Gaelic word meaning “little clover.” A clover must have three leaves to be considered a shamrock. If the clover has more or less, then it is not a shamrock. Hence, all shamrocks are clovers, but not all clovers are shamrocks. Traditionally, shamrocks are used as a symbol of Ireland.

So why do we confuse this with the four-leaf clover? We can blame the leprechauns! The leprechaun has become one of the most iconic Irish symbols of St. Patrick’s Day. This popular fairy-like figure has been in Irish folklore for centuries. Leprechauns are believed to carry both sacks of gold and a four-leaf clover, both of which are symbolic of luck and prosperity. They are also said to be guardians of the treasures rumored to be left by the Vikings toward the end of the 9th century. At the end of the rainbow, there is said to be a four-leaf clover garden where the leprechauns hide their gold; therefore, the rainbow is also an important symbol associated with the four-leaf clover.

Nonetheless, both plants have come to be associated with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, albeit in different capacities. It’s no wonder they are often confused, but it is important to remember that the shamrock and four-leaf clover actually have very different meanings.

Wear Your Green (Or Get Pinched!)

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When you pick out your touch of green for Paddy’s Day, no doubt you are choosing your protection to keep you from getting pinched! According to folklore, wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day makes you invisible to leprechauns, who apparently like to pinch humans, so green is essential for your safety.

Aside from the superstition, there is a much deeper significance to wearing green. This tradition dates back to the 18th century and the Irish Rebellion, when Irish soldiers wore green as they fought off the British who wore their trademark red. Until then, the colour that had been associated with St. Patrick and Feast Day was actually blue. The soldiers, however, sang a song during the war in 1798 titled, “The Wearing of the Green,” that was highly influential in converting the patriotic colour of Ireland from blue to green. As green is also the colour of shamrocks, it became Ireland’s mainstay colour. From then on, people wore green on St. Patrick’s Day in solidarity. And when Chicago dyed their river green for the first time in 1962, the practice of wearing and decorating in green became a part of pop culture and making it commonplace to don your greens for the day.

All That Drinking Though!

The (sometimes excessive) use of alcohol on Paddy’s Day can be attributed to historical subtext, successful product advertising, and part stereotyping. March 17th, or St. Patrick’s Day/Feast Day falls during the Lent season. In order for patrons to participate, Lent restrictions were lifted for the day, giving Christians an exception to their commitments. Originally, Feast Day was a day to eat and drink in celebration to the heart’s content; however, imbibing on whiskey and beer was not part of those original festivities. In fact, pubs in Ireland were actually forced by law to shut down for the holiday, and drinking alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day was actually frowned upon until the late 1970s.

In the 80s, enter one of the great beer companies in America. There was a massive marketing push that targeted St. Patrick’s Day as the ideal holiday to enjoy a beer. Or a few. The advertising campaign paid off and took hold across the rest of the world, and many people now use the holiday as an acceptable excuse to drink superfluous amounts of alcohol. Unfortunately, this also plays into and fosters negative stereotypes by incorrectly associating the act of excessive drinking with Irish culture.

As for the green beer, that’s an even earlier addition. But this colourful beer is not an Irish tradition: it's an American-born innovation using blue food colouring. By the 1950s, green beer was a mainstream symbol of the holiday. The tradition spread across America as bartenders caught on that it was easy to make green beer and even easier to sell it. Eventually, the beverage became so popular that it went international.

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Whatever your traditions and however you celebrate, keep it lighthearted, have fun, be safe and enjoy! Take pride in your Irish heritage, or relish in the warm and friendly culture and simply enjoy being Irish for the day! In the spirit of the Irish, we leave you with these well-known Irish blessings/quotes:

“May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.”
— Irish Blessing
“For the whole world is Irish on the Seventeenth o’March!”
— Thomas Augustine Daly

FUN FACT

Tradition has it that Ireland’s Patron Saint is responsible for ridding Ireland of snakes by driving them all out to sea. It’s a great story to tell, but scientists believe that snakes never existed in Ireland in the first place!

FUN FACT

The World Goes Green! – take a look at how the world unites and celebrates Irish hertiage by lighting up iconic landmarks in green.