10/03/99
ireland.com – Ireland through a Portal

The Irish Times, Ireland's leading news and information site today launches its new portal site ireland.com. Found under one URL, www.ireland.com, this family of Web sites will combine to form the premier platform worldwide for news, information and services for anybody interested in Ireland and things Irish.

ireland.com incorporates the existing Web Sites that have made ireland.com Ireland's number one Internet presence since 1994, these will include the online edition of the daily newspaper with the addition of an enhanced breaking news service. An exciting new service available from the site is free Web-based email accounts using the ireland.com domain name. Powered by the Israeli company CommTouch, whose clients include ZDNet and Business Week, it allows users to access their ireland.com email account from anywhere in the world. The site is set to be the ultimate destination for Internet users based in Ireland, the huge global expatriate population, those of Irish descent and potential visitors to the country.

"Since the creation of our Web Site in 1994, The Irish Times has evolved into the logical starting point for all things Irish on the Internet," said Seamus Conaty, Managing Director of ireland.com. " We are very excited about the launch of the ireland.com portal site which will maintain the highest standards of information and offer quality services in keeping with the brand value of The Irish Times.’

The Dublin Live city guide is a central feature of ireland.com, with information on travel, eating and drinking in Dublin, accommodation, and tourist attractions. The site also boasts many audio and photographic features together with interactive maps and tours to turn the virtual visit into a real one. Arts and entertainment listings for Dublin Live will be provided exclusively by eventguide.ie the Web offshoot of The Event Guide entertainment newspaper. A comprehensive food and drink section features the Travellers & Diners Guide by food critic Georgina Campbell in a searchable database format with extensive restaurant listings.

Other features include a business site and a technology site. Live and updated throughout the day, these sites will keep the browser abreast of the news as it happens on the Irish economy. The Computer Publications Group (CPG) will partner with ireland.com in providing information for the Technology site and CPG will also publish micro sites containing the online editions of their titles Irish Computer and Communications Today.

A weather news section will be the most comprehensive Irish weather resource on the web. Satellite images and forecast maps will provide a five day forecast for 11 cities and towns across the country.

The Irish Racing Services site on Sports Extra carries real time results of all race meetings in Ireland and Britain. Comprehensive information on the past performances of trainers, jockeys and horses will allow the browser to study the form live and in detail.

Further plans include an Agriculture section in partnership with The Irish Farmers Journal and ireland.com is exploring potential relationships with other information partners to broaden its range of content and services.

Ireland.com is delighted to thank all of its advertisers for continuing to support the Web site : Aer Lingus; Allied Irish Banks; Argus Rent A Car; Atlas Travel; Bank of Ireland; Capel Developments; Castle Leslie; Celtic.com; Celtic Links; Easons; Eircell; Enterprise Ireland; FitzPatricks Hotels; Gateway; House of Ireland; Inchydoney Spa; MCI Worldcom; National Institute of Training and Technology; Oideas Gael; Rea Mortgage Store; Shell; Smurfit Business College; Údarás na Gaeltachta, and Virtual Premiership.

Ireland.com is published by ireland.com , Ireland’s most popular Web site with 6.5 million page impressions a month. With news and services ranging from breaking news to free email, the site aims to serve both the Irish Internet user and users interested in Ireland in general.

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