Preliminary figures released by the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation suggest a minor increase in visitors to Ireland through 2002. The Confederation reports a two percent increase in volume through what has been a very difficult year for the travel industry all over the world.
An increase in visitors from the UK (up six percent) was offset by a 10 percent fall-off in … [Read more...] about Slow Recovery
for Irish Tourism
Tourism
Slow Recovery
The Greens of Ireland
The American love of golf has created a new form of business in Ireland – golf tourism. ℘℘℘ A mean Atlantic southwesterly howls up the sand dunes, blasting a wintry chill across the grassy headland. Out on the exposed hills a slow procession catches my eye. Leaning into the gale is a hardy knot of Arctic adventurers, pressing on and pausing, driving forward for all their worth. … [Read more...] about The Greens of Ireland
Tourism Slump
Predicted To Hit Economy
Ireland is facing its worst tourism slump in more than ten years as a result of the attacks on the U.S. and the foot and mouth crisis which hit earlier in the year.
Tourism Minister Jim McDaid promised to do whatever possible to minimize the adverse impact on the industry, as he released the statistics for the second quarter of the year. Between now and the end of December, it … [Read more...] about Tourism Slump
Predicted To Hit Economy
Sweet Avondale
California redwoods in Ireland? Yes, you can find a fine grove at Avondale Forest Park in County Wicklow about an hour's drive from Dublin. Avondale, now a national historic site and home of the Irish Forest Service, was the family estate of Charles Stewart Parnell, whose brilliant career as national leader in Ireland's fight for Home Rule was wrecked by the revelation of his … [Read more...] about Sweet Avondale
Hibernia: South Armagh
A tourist haven? Tommy Makem thinks so and he held a festival there to prove it. ℘℘℘ June, 2000. A bus packed with American tourists pulls out of Newry and takes the road to South Armagh. On one side it passes a British army observation post, currently being dismantled. On the other, a large poster advertises the first Tommy Makem International Festival of Song, which is … [Read more...] about Hibernia: South Armagh