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Donegal's 1,000 free bed nights
10.05.10
AS volcanic ash clouds
closed Irish airspace for a second time in a
fortnight, tourism providers in Inishowen are hoping
a major promotional drive in Dublin will encourage
Irish holidaymakers to come to Donegal instead.
The Donegal tourism and leisure industry has united
to host a unique showcase of Donegal’s leisure and
cultural offering targeting the domestic market for
2010. A one day extravaganza of entertainment and
culture, Donegal Live, will take place on Sunday,
May 16, in Meeting House Square and Curved Street,
Temple Bar. Donegal Live will create a carnival type
atmosphere of music, song, and dance from 12-6pm.
Lifford’s Mickey Joe Harte and Kate Ferguson (Mary
from Dungloe 2009) were on hand for the launch of
the event joined by honorary Buncrana man Phil
Coulter.
Among the locally-based acts performing on May 16
will be up-and-coming Ballyliffin band The Plea and
The Henry Girls.
Mari McLaughlin, of Ture-based Inishowen Self
Catering, will be travelling down to Dublin to
promote Donegal as a destination.
“This is a great opportunity to sell Donegal and let
people in the capital know that Donegal is not so
far away,” she said. “Accessibility is the key
message we’re trying to get across – Donegal is a
lot closer that you think.” |
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To promote the county,
local hotels and self-catering providers, including
Inishowen Self Catering, are offering 1,000 free
nights accommodation. John McGinley Coaches is
offering 1,000 free return trips to Donegal and Aer
Arann and Donegal Airport are giving away a number
of flights.
Inishowen Tourism chairman and Doagh Island Famine
Village proprieter Pat Doherty said the event
provided a great opportunity to sell Donegal,
something that will be increasingly important this
year as the tourism market struggles to come to
terms with uncertainty over air travel.
“We’ve noticed that visitors are a bit more cautious
with their money,” he said. “They’re worried that
their flights home will be delayed and are budgeting
very carefully.
“We might lose out a bit in terms of foreign
visitors travelling here by air, but with the
weakening euro we’re expecting lots of visitors from
our main market in North. The fact that the euro is
weakening against the dollar and sterling may
present problems in some quarters, but it should
help boost the tourism industry here and across the
country.”
Events on May 16 open with a real ‘Dancing at
Lughnasa’ theme, a ceilí mór, and step dancing in
Temple Bar. Special guests performing on the day
include Altan, Máire Brennan, The Plea, The Henry
Girls, Donegal Tenors, Maria MacCumhaill, Aoife Ni
Fhearraigh, The Roots Orchestra, Fidil, and Aine O
Doherty & Friends.
The initiative is the brainchild of John Carr,
Donegal Association of Dublin and Donegal Person of
the Year (2007) who urged all Donegal people to
champion the virtues of Donegal as a tourist
destination particularly among Dublin people.
This major tourism initiative is created and funded
by the Donegal Association in Dublin, Donegal
Tourism Ltd, Fáilte Ireland North West, Irish Hotels
Federation (Donegal Branch) and Donegal County
Council, Bundoran Town Council, Letterkenny Town
Council and Buncrana Town Council.
(Inishowen Independent) |
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