Hello from IECT in Cork, Ireland, after what has been a very strange year so far.
Normally at this time in IECT, we are looking back at a busy spring and probably still dealing with groups on the ground, but 2020 has been a year like no other. We are all in the same situation, having not been able to send or welcome groups since early March and in many cases still not sure of what the next weeks will bring.
In Ireland, we are very cautiously emerging from the lock-down restrictions which were imposed to deal with the pandemic, and, on the current timetable hope to achieve the final part of this unwinding in August 2020. This still envisages some restrictions with regard to social distancing, but we hope to be back to some sort of normality by the start of the new academic year in September 2020.
Already we have had some enquiries for groups for Autumn 2020 and for 2021. We would like to advise you that there will be no increase in our rates for next year. Under the current circumstances, we need to do everything we can to encourage groups to travel, and in all countries the economic effects of the shutdown will undoubtedly be with us for some time to come.
We look forward to welcoming your groups to Ireland later this year. In the meantime, why don’t you sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with out news.