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Contact the Editor
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Rosemary O’Neill
Fáilte Ireland
Baggot Street Bridge
Dublin 2
Tel: (01) 6024 110
Fax: (01) 6024 337
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Dear Tourism Colleagues
Welcome to our ‘new look’ September Newsletter. In this issue we feature some interesting heritage developments. Summer may be drawing to a close however, there are still a number of large festivals taking place throughout Ireland in the coming weeks. These include a whole series of events for the Patrick Kavanagh Centenary Celebrations. Aircoach have recently launched two new routes along with the world’s first integrated phone ticket system. For those of you interested in spas, Kelly’s Resort Hotel, Rosslare, have just opened a new world class sea spa.
Editor Rosemary O’Neill
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Things To Do
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Courses
Two new tourism products which finished in August but will be running for the 2005 season. Irish Senses will accommodate groups throughout the year if they get a minimum of 10 persons per booking.
Irish Senses - Visitors can immerse themselves in the richness of Irish tradition and experience the rhythm, the dance and the gentle art of Celtic design.
Cultúr for 2005 - Workshops on Irish culture covering: Irish music, Irish singing, Irish dancing, Irish language, Irish History and Mythology.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Health Tourism
Kelly’s Resort Hotel have just opened a €5 Million Spa at Rosslare, Co Wexford
Seaspa is a new concept in total wellbeing. Here, healing sea waters, heat and steam experiences, blended with therapeutic lighting and textured surrounds will help service the body, mind and soul. The Sea spa experience consists of three elements, thermal spa, holistic treatment and pure relaxation.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Tours
Sustainable Tourism Initiative Launched In Temple Bar
TASCQ – have launched the Official Walking Tour of Dublin’s Cultural Quarter as part of a sustainable tourism enterprise for the area. The tour, which lasts a little over an hour, costs €10 and all funds received will be invested back into environmental services to green and clean the area.
Walks and Trails – Fairymount Farm
This family run, organic farm has wonderful walking trails with spectacular views and natural wildlife. These walks take visitors past untouched archaeological sites on through pastures, new forestry, woodlands, an old oak wood and down to a private 25 acre lake. A walk to the top of Knockshegowna offers panoramic views overlooking seven counties of unspoilt countryside.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Festivals & Events
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The Clarenbridge Oyster Festival, 50th Anniversary
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Patrick Kavanagh Centenary Celebrations, 1904-2004
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Graiguenamanagh – Town of Books, 17-19 September 2004
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The Green Festival, 17-26 September 2004
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Youghal Through the Ages, 19-26 September 2004
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ESB Dublin Fringe Festival 2004 – 20 September to 10 October
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The Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival, 24-26 September 2004
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Dublin Theatre Festival – 27 September to 9 October
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Genealogy Festival, 30 September - 3 October, Sligo
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October Arts in Ennis, 3-12 October 2004
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Wexford Opera Festival, 14-31 October 2004
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27 Years of Jazz in Cork, 22-25 October 2004
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Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, 22-25 October, Cork City
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Samhain International Poetry Festival, 29-31 October 2004
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Adidas Dublin Marathon 2004 - 25th Anniversary
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‘Notice to Quit: Scenes of Eviction - Ireland 1886-1890’
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Magic of the Dance, 1-6 November 2004 – Gaiety Theatre
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Cork 2005 – European Capital of Culture
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17th Annual O’Carolan Harp, Cultural and Heritage Festival
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Heritage/Gardens
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Ecotourism – New Development
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council are in the process of developing a new environmental education centre at Lullymore, Rathangan, Co Kildare. It is expected to be up and running in 2005 and will cover a wide range of eco-related functions.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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No.10, 10 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
This historic house originally belonged to Lord Belvedere who commissioned the architect, Richard Cassels to build it in 1745. It was leased to in 1750 to David La Touch, founder of the Irish Banking System. He used the house for many functions and receptions.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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15 Usher’s Island
This house at 15 Usher’s Island was the setting for James Joyce’s short story ‘The Dead’. Over the past three years the house has been restored and there are tours every Saturday at 2.00 p.m. (or by arrangement) cost €5, all revenue goes towards the restoration fund. The house is a wonderful Georgian literary landmark and it is now back to its original glory of 1904.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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The Story of The Brick
Some years ago, Brendan Kilty, purchased the rubble to the James Joyce House in Milbourne Avenue, Drumcondra, Dublin, which is featured in Portrait of an Artist. Brendan contacted Mr Bertie Ahern, Taoiseach. He suggested that he could get the City to build a seat out of the rubble across the road from the lost house in Griffith Park. Thus the journey and the idea commenced.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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1848 Warhouse Now Open As Museum
This new permanent exhibition is located at Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, and it was opened on 21 July last as a museum. It is now a visitor attraction and focus for rural regeneration in South Tipperary. The narrative was written by Dr. Thomas McGrath. The house is under the care of the OPW and it is traditionally known as ‘The Warhouse’.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Waterford and Suir Valley Railway
The Waterford and Suir Valley Railway has been running successfully throughout 2004. The company has been operating for several months now and they have seen a major turnover in the number of visitors since the season started in April.
This is their second year open to the public and numerous promotional projects are constantly being carried out by the company to ensure that visitors are not missing out on the experience of the Suir Valley Railway.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Accommodation Updates
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DONEGAL: New Hostel for South Donegal - Bluestack Centre
This new centre incorporates a 26 bed self-catering hostel along with a tennis court and two basketball courts.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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DUBLIN: The Twelfth Lock, Castleknock, Dublin 15
This property which has ten bedrooms, opened in October 2003.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Jurys Inn, Parnell Street, Now Open
This new hotel opened on 27 August last. It is adjacent to the Rotunda Hospital and Henry Street, one of Dublin’s major retail districts.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Jurys Croke Park Hotel
Jurys Doyle Hotel Group plc recently announced details of an
agreement with the GAA for the development and lease of a new landmark hotel at Dublin's Croke Park. The cost of the development is estimated at Euros 30 Million, equating to an average development cost of approximately Euros 130,000 per bedroom.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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GALWAY: Day’s, Inishbofin, Co Galway
Day’s has been undergoing major rebuilding work for the past two years. The new 34 bedroom hotel and health spa is expected to open for business towards the end of 2004.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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KILDARE: Expansion at Barberstown Castle, Straffan, Co Kildare
Barbarstown Castle has recently expanded its facilities
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Countrywide
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Launch Of Fáilte Ireland Business Tourism Forum
Sector To Be Worth €470 Million By 2007
The Chairman of Fáilte Ireland, Ms Gillian Bowler recently announced the establishment of a high-level Business Tourism Forum to drive growth in the €400 million business travel sector. The nine-person forum is made up of experts in the business travel sector and is chaired by former Jurys Doyle Managing Director, Peter Malone.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Aircoach Launches New Routes to Portlaoise
and Belfast
Aircoach, Ireland’s luxury coach operator, has recently launched two new routes. The first of these services runs from Dublin Airport to Portlaoise, Co Laois, seven days a week. The fare is €15 for a single ticket or €20 return.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Reunification of Kerry
The North Kerry area will be returning to Cork/Kerry Regional Tourism Authority as and from 1 January 2005. All involved are anxious that 2005 publications and other promotional material show the new alignment. The production cycle for 2005 publications is already underway.
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Ireland of the Welcomes September/October 2004:
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Failte Ireland - Irish Welcome Awards 2004
The Failte Ireland Irish Welcome Awards 2004, were launched by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr John O’Donoghue TD, at the beginning of June.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Other Information
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Personnel in the Trade
Aoife Henderson, promoted to be Group Director of Marketing and Sales for Clarion Hotels Ireland.
Dr. John O’Brien has taken up the position as Chief Executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Ms Emily Cullen has been appointed Artistic Director of the Patrick Kavanagh Centenary Celebrations.
Mr John Concannon, was recently appointed Chief Executive Ireland West Tourism.
Ms Helen O’Halloran, recently been appointed Promotions Executive, Trade Promotions Department.
[ Click Here for More Information ]
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Useful Websites
New website for East Cork Tourism - www.eastcorktourism.com
Cork 2005 - European Capital of Culture - www.cork2005.ie
Guinness Cork Jazz Festival - www.corkjazzfestival.com
Dublin Theatre Festival - www.dublintheatrefestival.com
New Aran Islands Hotel – Óstán Árann - www.aranislandshotel.com
Heritage Week, 5-12 September 2004 - www.environ.ie
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Literature
Blackwater Valley Heritage Trail
This new brochure on the Blackwater Valley invites visitors to take a journey along the ‘Stories from the River of Time’ heritage trail. From legends, stone age monuments, castles, period houses, monasteries and the banks of the River Blackwater come many intriguing stories in wonderful settings.
For further information visit www.blackwaterholidays.com
Email: info@blackwaterholidays.com
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Published by
While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy, in the compilation of this Newsletter, Fáilte Ireland cannot however, accept responsibility for errors or omissions, but where such are brought to our attention, future publications will be amended accordingly.
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