ALMOST 3,200 CARS SOLD IN WICKLOW SO FAR THIS YEAR

MORE than 145,400 cars have been sold so far this year – up 18 per cent on the same period last year. However, the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) said it was not clear whether this was because of the Brexit vote or a slowing economy.

New car registrations for October of 2,243 decreased by 316 units, or -12 per cent, compared to October 2015.

The 3,197 cars sold in Wicklow so far this year represent 2.2 per cent of national sales, while in neighbouring Wexford, the 3,466 cars sold, represented 2.38 per cent of national sales.

Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations nationally (27,347) are up 4,373 units or 19 per cent on the year to date, while registrations in the month of October (1,181) have seen a decrease of 23 units or -2 per cent in comparison to the same month last year (1,204).

Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations during October (128), recorded a decrease of -16 per cent (25 units) for the month when compared to October last year, while year to date registrations (2,774) are currently up 711 units or +34 per cent compared to the same period in 2015 (2,063).

SIMI Director General Alan Nolan said a slow-down in new vehicle registrations has been expected in the third quarter, with much smaller numbers each month compared to the peak selling months.

‘Indeed the industry is already moving its focus to the 2017 sales period, as can be seen and heard in current advertising campaigns.

‘However it is fairly apparent that the 162 period at seven per cent up on last year has seen a slowing-down in registrations relative to the 161 period which finished 23 per cent up on the first six months of 2015. Whether this has been influenced by the Brexit situation or just a slowing of retail activity in the Irish economy, after a sustained period of growth, is not yet clear but this is something that the Industry will be continuing to watch closely,’ said Mr Nolan.

• Top Selling Makes for 2016: 1. Hyundai; 2.Volkswagen; 3.Toyota; 4.Ford; 5.Nissan.

• Top Selling Models for 2016:1. Hyundai; Tucson 2.Volkswagen Golf; 3.Ford Focus; 4.Skoda Octavia; 5.Nissan Qashqai.

• The top selling cars for the month of October were the Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Passat Saloon and for the year to date is the Hyundai Tucson.

Petrol cars account for 40,167 units, or 27.62 per cent of sales, diesel for 102,098, 70.2 per cent of sales and electrically-powered cars 382 units, 0.26 per cent of sales. There were 2,489 petrol electric cars sold, four diesel electrics, 12 diesel plug in electric hybrids and 281 petrol plug in hybrids.

The best selling colour was grey, followed by black, silver, white, red, blue, bronze, brown, beige and green. RATHSALLAGH House has been awarded Best Historic Hotel Wedding Experience at the 2017 Historic Hotel of Europe Awards, which took place last week in Greece.

The popular west Wicklow venue was one of the 10 winners on the day in a wide range of categories, encompassing romance, fine dining, spa facilities and of course wedding venues.

‘ Thank you to all the team at Rathsallagh and to all our wonderful guests who supported us,’ said proprietor Joe O’Flynn.

‘We are absolutely thrilled to receive the award and to be honoured by our European peers’.

Industry leaders, hoteliers and media representatives gathered from all over Europe for an exquisite dinner and presentation ceremony where winners were recognised of their contribution to the highest standards of cultural and historical hotel keeping and hospitality in Europe.

These annual awards honour excellence among almost 500 historic hotels in 18 European countries.

The awards were presented by Chairperson of the Historic Hotels of Europe, Barbara Advis, who said: ‘ The exceptional number of votes received from the guests of over 500 historic hotels throughout Europe demonstrated the outstanding success and loyalty to the Historic Hotels of Europe brand.’