Tourism Towns Ireland

Tourism Towns Ireland

The top ten “Highly Commended Tourism Towns” will be announced at the National TidyTowns Awards in the Helix on September 10th with the overall winner to be announced by Fáilte Ireland in November.  The top ten towns will each receive €1,000 with the winner receiving a further €10,000.

The Award has been designed to help Irish towns and villages enhance their appeal to tourists visiting their local area. Building on the TidyTowns seal of approval, we invited the 100 top scoring towns from the 2011 TidyTown Competition to apply for the very first Tourism Towns Award.

Welcoming the new scheme, Leo Varadkar Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said –
A strong tourism sector can contribute greatly to the economic viability of a local community, and this new award is another step towards supporting Irish towns and villages to provide visitors with a welcoming and enjoyable experience while at the same time boosting local business.

I am very much looking forward to the announcement of the top ten and the overall winner later in the year – best of luck and sincere thanks to all those towns and communities involved.

This new award is being piloted as part of the 2012 National TidyTowns Competition. It is offering towns, which finished among the top 100 towns in last year’s competition, the chance to build on their achievement in 2011 and develop their local area into one that welcomes, involves and satisfies the visitor.

The award will focus on how participating towns have developed their local area in the following key tourism areas:

• Sense of Place – How the town tells its own unique story to visitors, what’s special about it, and what distinguishes it from other towns.
• Local Involvement – How the local community works together to provide an authentic visitor experience.
• Tourism Products Available – What the town has to offer visitors.
• Development and promotion of the town – How the town takes a unified approach to marketing and developing the town into a “tourism town”.

Gordon Gaffney, Manager of our Destination Development Division, highlighted the characteristics of a tourism town and the mechanics of the award scheme –
A good tourism town is not alone a tidy town, after all first impressions are very important but the role that communities play in welcoming visitors and telling the story of the local area all add significantly to the enjoyment that visitors have.

We have taken great care in drawing up the assessment criteria, ensuring that towns receiving an award have enhanced the experience of their visitors, improved their local ‘tourism offering’ and encouraged community wide participation in the development of local tourism.

The Gathering 2013 – Update

The Gathering 2013 – Update

Key Programmes Festival & Events

A number of themed programmes are being developed around key areas for which Ireland is renowned (Music, Dance, Theatre, Literature, Film, Sport, Food etc). Most of these programmes will be developed around one (or more) key event(s), but will also incorporate a number of other smaller existing events supporting this theme.

An example of this is the Festival of Sport which is likely to centre around a number of key events developed by key sporting bodies (FAI, IRFU and GAA etc). However, these are also likely to be supported by smaller, more regionally based events (eg: International TAG rugby competition).

A renowned figurehead is being identified and asked to assist in the creative aspect of each programme, with the effect of adding more credibility and appeal to it (eg: Seamus Heaney, Kevin Dundon etc).

The programmes will have as wide a regional spread as possible, taking into consideration any capacity or infrastructural constraints.

Some of these programmes will take place within a particular month, while others may be at a few different times throughout the year – allowing programmes to be take place at the most appropriate time for the specific target audience(s).

These will then be used as a hook for tour operators to sell Ireland in 2013 (either to enhance their existing Ireland programmes or around which they will build a New Ireland programme). They will also provide a focus around which individual Gatherings can be organised.

Among the established festivals that will offer enhanced programmes are, New Year’s Eve Festival, St. Patrick’s Festival, Galway Arts Festival, Cork Choral Festival, Dublin Horse Show, Bloom, Wexford Opera Festival, Temple Bar Trad Fest, love:live music International Music Day & the Comhaltas Regional fleadhs

The Gathering will kick off in spectacular style with a major large scale New Year’s Eve Festival in Dublin 2012. The Festival will involve open-air concerts, markets, multiplicity of family and musical events, with a special showcase event on New Year’s Eve in College Green featuring an array of some of Ireland’s finest musical talent.The event will be broadcast live by RTE, and available online to a global audience. Cork, Galway, Limerick & Dublin will be part of the NYE events.

St Patrick’s Festival 2013 will, as always, be marked by a national week-long festival around the cornerstone of St Patricks Day. Dubbed as “An Feile Mor”, the celebration in 2013 will provide an opportunity to showcase Ireland’s impact on the world and to celebrate everything that’s great about Ireland and its people. Ireland is unique in terms of having a national festival which is so widely and prominently celebrated around the globe and in 2013 the message will be communicated worldwide that this is the year to celebrate it in Ireland.

Partner Organisations

The Gathering has secured support from a large number of National Organisations . They have committed to supporting the Gathering by agreeing to organise national events, informing their membership at home & overseas about the Gathering, mobilising their members nationally to play their part at local and county level & targeting their international networks to travel to Ireland in 2013.

Partners include; The DAA, Aer Lingus, Irish Rail, Dublin Bus, Scouting Ireland, Chambers Ireland, Irish Country Women’s Association, ICMSA, Irish Farmers’ Association, Ireland Reaching Out, Certificate of Irish Heritage, Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Eireann, Conradh Na Gaeilge,Irish Sports Council, IRFU, FAI, GAA, Horse Racing Ireland, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, KPMG, & PwC. Discussions are also taking put in place with a number of commercial partners including Diageo, Super Valu, Britvic etc.

County Steering Groups & Gathering Community Meetings

The Gathering 2013 – Update : Each local Authority has now appointed a Gathering co-ordinator who will work with community leaders and activists drawn from a range of organisations aswell as being supported by Fáilte Ireland in each region. A Gathering Steering group is being formed in each county to help drive Gathering initiatives and ensure coordination of activities within and across counties. The Gathering will be the largest ever citizen engagement programme undertaken in Ireland, with over 100 Gathering public meetings being organised in 2012 to build commitment all over the country towards the project. Similarly overseas a number of meetings are being organized by Tourism Ireland targeting Irish people that can support & organise

Gatherings in 2013

RTE Partnership RTE is a key partner of the Gathering (in addition to all of the main media owners in the country). They are producing a 6 part series in late July which will show the journey of a celebrity returning home to their local town/village, going through the church records to trace their roots, attending a Gathering Town Hall and organising a ‘Gathering’ for their friends. This will air in October and will be supported by radio & digital platforms in RTE. A number of other Gathering related TV programmes are also in development which will be aired in 2013.

The Gathering 2013 – Update – Marketing Communications & PR

The campaign will include both traditional platforms and social media to support individuals, communities, businesses etc to invite family, friends & networks to Ireland to create and renew connections that will benefit Ireland throughout 2013 and beyond. The updated Gathering website will be live in September. A significant international marketing campaign will be launched at the Navy Notre Dame football game in Dublin in September. The domestic consumer launch will take place at the GAA Hurling Championship All Ireland Final.

Visitor Experience Plans will be developed in September to ensure visitors travelling to Ireland in 2013 have the best possible experience during the Gathering year. This will include from arrival to the airport to, travelling around Ireland , where they stay, eat, & what they experience to ensure every stage of the customer journey is delivering an authentic special experience. A customer charter during the Gathering year will also be developed Schools Programme A nationwide campaign is being developed which will be rolled out to primary schools in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills. It is targeted at 5th and 6th classes with a total audience of circa 120,000 pupils in 3,200 schools.

John Murray Show Video Highlights

John Murray Show Video Highlights

Here are some highlights from The John Murray Show’s trip to Dunfanaghy in Co. Donegal. As part of the show, a walk was recorded in Carrigart the evening before.

… and here are the photos from the trip

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Wild Atlantic Way Update

Wild Atlantic Way Update

The Wild Atlantic Way is an exciting new project which involves the development of a driving route along the Atlantic coast of Ireland from Donegal to Cork. Theroute itself will comprise of a central spine, togetherwith a series of loops and spurs off it to encouragepeople to explore all that the west coast has to offer.

It will showcase the best scenery and attractions for visitors with improved on-road infrastructure such as viewing points and lay-bys. It will also provide better opportunities for enhanced trade collaboration aroundthe Wild Atlantic Way brand.

The route will also link with walking and cycling routes, and will offer lots of opportunities to visitors to get active in the great out-doors. As such, it is a driving route with a difference, offering visitors more reasons to get out of the car that to stay in it!

The overall objective of the project to develop a driving route that is of sufficient scale and singularity to achieve greater visibility in both overseas and domestic markets. The planned outcomes are greater visitor numbers to the west of Ireland, longer dwell time and increased spend per visitor. We want the Wild Atlantic Way to become synonymous with the west coast and for it to achieve the same international recognition as the Great Ocean Road in Australia or the Garden Route in South Africa.

Click here to view full details in pdf format.

John Murray Show Carrigart

John Murray Show Carrigart

A large crowd from across Ireland are expected in Carrigart on Wednesday for a walk organised on behalf of the John Murray radio show on RTE I.

Two buses have been sponsored by McGinley Coaches to ferry walkers from Dublin, while many more are expected to make their own way.

The event is a boost for the local tourist accommodation providers and will also highlight the beauty of an area that holds many attractions for recreational walkers.

The John Murray Show will be broadcast live on Thursday morning (9am) from Arnold’s Hotel in Dunfanaghy.

John Murray Show Carrigart – Walk Details

John Murray Show Walk, Carrigart, Co Donegal.

The next public walk of the John Murray Show will be in Carrigart, Co. Donegal on Wednesday evening, July 25th.

We’ll be gathering for the start of the walk at 5.30pm in Carrigart Parochial Hall – half a mile out the Creeslough Road.

The walk will take about two-hours and we’ll be returning for tea and refreshments afterwards. You should bring good boots and raingear.

On Thursday morning, the John Murray Show will be broadcast live from Arnolds Hotel, Dunfanaghy from 9 to 10 am. All are welcome.

Further information about the walk can be obtained from Myles Gallagher 086-834-7708

Video Highlights of John Murray’s Carlingford Walk

Cruit Island Golf Club

Cruit Island Golf Club

The 9 holes of Cruit Island Golf course were created as recently as 1986 by Michael Doherty, the professional at City of Derry Golf Club. And yet it has the feel of an old style classic links that has been around for generations. The sound of the sea is ever present and the panoramic views from the cliff tops are truly breathtaking.

The golf course is 2,809 yards long and has 7 par fours and 2 par threes. One of the par three’s is the spectacular signature hole played along the cliff edge.

Cruit Island hosts 2 golf competitions in honour of two of the area’s most famous people –  Packie Bonner, the ex international soccer goalkeeper and Daniel O Donnel, the hugely popular Irish singer.

There are a number of holiday homes located on the island available for rental.

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Cruit Island Golf Club

Buncrana Music Arts and Culture Festival

Buncrana Music Arts and Culture Festival
Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th July 2012

The organising committee for this year’s Buncrana Music, Arts and Culture Festival have this week launched the full programme of events. The festival, which had been in jeopardy, was only saved in March when a new committee was formed.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, July 26 with a big country music night with live music on the Main Street with music by Gerry Guthrie from 8.30pm followed by Patrick Feeney and his band, who this week received a standing ovation from his audience at the Highland Radio concert.

There is also a car treasure hunt starting from the Lake of Shadows Hotel at 6pm.

The North Pole Cycling Club are also holding a 30km road race leaving from the fire station at 7pm.

Friday sees the activities continue with a Dog Show on the shore greens commencing at 3pm. There will be live music each day from 2.30pm from Friday to Sunday outside The Coffee Cup; everyone is welcome to bring their own instruments.

On Friday night at 8.30 the Main Street comes alive with the ever popular Kopykat Killers followed at 10pm by Shadowplay who played at last year’s festival. At 11pm the Plaza plays host to local favourite Martin Cuffe and up and coming star Johnny Brady, while there is a festival disco in club Libertys.

Saturday 28th July has a jammed packed programme of events starting with a carnival parade on the Main Street from 12.30pm. This event is being organised by Donegal Youth Service and continues from 1pm to 6pm at the shore greens with a host of activities including a Teddy Bears picnic and a range of fun events for the kids. From 1pm there will also be a mini-music festival and craft fair at Swan Park. The festival also coincides with The Feel Good Fortnight organised by Buncrana Community Combatting Suicide.

Defending Aileach-eireanns edge visit Buncrana with their fabulous display of Ireland’s only replica of an ancient Irish chariot, as well as an Irish medieval combat display and sword making. These range of events promises to be a great day for everyone.

Saturday evening sees live music on Buncrana’s Main Street at 8.30pm with highly popular local band Overplay. At 10pm the Main Street will see Rattle n Hum play to the crowds, described as the finest U2 tribute band on the planet by Hotpress magazine. The Knights of Leon, another extremely popular act play in the plaza from midnight, with a festival disco in club Libertys.

In a slight change to previous years the Sunday will see a host of events on the main street from 5.30pm. There will be free face painting, bouncy castles and disney characters for the children square. The highlight of the festival will see the 8-piece Garth Brooks experience perform on stage at 10pm.

Buncrana Camera Club will host a photographic exhibition from 12 midday in the former Ruanna Shop.

All bars and clubs will have extended opening throughout the festival. Cullens Amusements will have their Funfair on the Shore greens throughout the festival. This is recognised as the premier fairground in Ireland.

The organising would also like anyone willing to help steward the festival to please contact Nicholas on 086 8435031 or Pat on 086 8179209 urgently.

Finally, the committee are extremely grateful to all our main sponsors who made this year’s festival viable.

King of Tory at Ulster Fleadh

King of Tory at Ulster Fleadh

The King of Tory will be performing at the Ulster Fleadh 2012 in Dungiven at an open air concert on Saturday 28th July at 2pm in the middle of the town.

Patsy Dan Mac Ruaidhri (Rodgers) is the ‘King of Tory’ by general consensus of his fellow islanders.

A Fleadh spokesperson said; “Tory Island, nine miles off the coast of Donegal in the North Atlantic, is rich in musical talent and Patsy Dan will be playing a range of traditional tunes on his button accordion.

“He said that many of his favourite reels from Tory Island have no names but that he likes to play ones like the Concertina Reel or slow reels such as Rathlin Island. Other favourites include Out of the Ocean, Dark Island and An Cailin (Beautiful Girl).”

The free open air concert will also feature the up -and-coming band ‘The Looking Drawer’ as well as harp music from the recently formed Harp School Scoil Ruaidhri Dall and singing in Irish from the Glor Dhun Giemhin.

Competition winners from the Fleadh will also be part of the line-up.

Dungiven Comhaltas will be hosting Fleadh Uladh 2012 from July 22nd to 29th, a celebration of Irish traditional arts – music, song and dance – cumulating in the highly competitive Fleadh competitions with the aim of raising the standard of Ulster talent competing for the title of Ulster Champion and a place in the All Ireland Fleadh.

“The Ulster Fleadh 2012 will cater for the needs of 2,600 competitors and up to 25,000 spectators over the eight-day festival,” said a spokesperson.

“The Ulster Fleadh 2012 will be promoting Irish culture and arts to a wider audience by celebrating the historic local connection between Irish and Scottish traditional arts and culture.

“ The theme of this years’ Fleadh is based on the 15th century marriage of Finvola and her 24 brothers from the O’Cathains of the Roe Valley to the McDonalds, Lord of the Isles from Islay, Scotland.”

The spokesperson added: “The Ulster Fleadh 2012 will be promoting Irish traditional arts to the general public and international visitors by hosting a wide variety of artists on an open air stage in the middle of the town at free concerts and by organising informal street music competitions.”

Further information on the Ulster Fleadh 2012 and its schedule of events can be found on line at www.ulsterfleadh.com

This article appeared in the Derry Journal

Ballymastocker Beach Donegal

Ballymastocker Beach Donegal

This one has been adjudged by overseas press as not just one of the best in Ireland, but in the world. How it was ever pipped by some old Seychelles beach is beyond us. Ballymastocker is divided in three, like a golden-sanded triptych that catches your breath as you round the bend on the Knockcalla coast road overlooking it. It is also just up the road from Rathmullan House which is offering three-night midweek specials for July.

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The Irish Times did a round up of the best Irish Beaches …read more