Pictured at the launch were (l. to r.): Cllr. Peter Savage; Michael Curran, Louth Co. Council; Mary Hanafin, TD. Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport; with Kevin Kidney, Fáilte Ireland East & Midland
Carlingford becomes the latest area to benefit from walks development
Three new looped walking routes for Carlingford, Co. Louth were launched today (Friday 19th November) by Mary Hanafin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport in Carlingford. These new walks were developed with support from Fáilte Ireland and Louth County Council and were launched in conjunction with a new Walkers Welcome initiative. These new initiatives, together, aim to make Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula a destination of choice for walkers from both at home and abroad.
The new looped walking routes, Common’s Loop, Slieve Foye Loop and Barnavave Loop, are located in Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula and offer walkers the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular surroundings and natural beauty of Carlingford. The routes are designed to suit average levels of fitness and are well serviced, catering for the occasional and leisure walker. The routes will give walkers a taste of Irish folklore as they pass the resting place of Fionn McCool - Slieve Foye and the battle ground in Cooley where Cuchulain defended Ulster against the armies of Queen Meabh of Connaught.
Walking represents one of Ireland’s top activities and was enjoyed by almost 1.9m visitors in 2009. Indeed, research by Fáilte Ireland shows that walking is extremely popular with both domestic holidaymakers (over 860,000 people) and overseas visitors (up to 830,000) enjoying the wide range of walking facilities around the country during the same period.
Launching the new looped walks, Minister Hanafin emphasised the importance of developing our tourism offering even at this challenging economic time –
“It has always been clear that walking in Ireland is a particular draw for both domestic and overseas visitors and it is wonderful to see the development of our walking trails in an area as picturesque as Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula.
The development of walking opportunities is extremely important in helping to increase the numbers of tourists to the regions, with over 93% of walkers visiting areas outside Dublin.
The opportunity for walkers to interact with the community is key in helping to differentiate Ireland from our closest neighbours. Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula is an excellent example of a district that can take full advantage of the potential offered by walking programmes as it is a haven for the hiker, hill walker and view finder.”
Also announced today was the expansion of Fáilte Ireland’s Walkers Welcome initiative to the Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula. The Walkers Welcome initiative aims to raise the standard of service walkers can expect from their walking holiday in Ireland. Responding to the needs of walkers, a series of Walkers Welcome charters have been developed as a commitment from local communities and tourism providers to offer the best walking experience possible in the area by providing:
- Guaranteed regular maintenance and upkeep of local walks;
- Walks information, including mapboards and signage,
- Local Walkers Welcome approved accommodation;
- Local amenities committed to providing walker friendly service in shops, pubs and cafes (for example; the provision of packed lunches, spaces for mucky walking boots etc).
20 local businesses including accommodation providers, restaurants, walking operators and guides have already signed up to the Walkers Welcome initiative in Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula and it is expected this number will continue to grow further in 2011.
Speaking about the success of the Walkers Welcome initiative Kevin Kidney, Head of Operations for Fáilte Ireland in the East and Midlands continued -
“The addition of Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula to the Walkers Welcome initiative brings the number of businesses involved nationally to approx 150.
We are delighted to see so many tourism and non tourism related businesses actively involved in improving the walkers experience and I would encourage visitors to look out for the Walkers Welcome Logo so that they can be assured of a warm welcome with ample information and services to help them enjoy their walking experience in the area.”
Following on from this Peter Savage,Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council emphasised -
“Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula, already Ireland’s European Destination of Excellence, has an opportunity to be a walkers destination of excellence, an ideal place to escape to and explore. The historic Cooley Peninsula is a natural paradise for walkers with the legendary Cooleys providing the scenic backdrop.
The Walkers Welcome Initiative will with support of local communities and tourism operators prioritise the delivery of an outstanding walking holiday experience on the Cooley Peninsula and ensure the warmest of welcomes.”
Furthermore the walks scheme, which is designed to support the development, enhancement and maintenance of our way marked ways, has been recently rolled out along the Táin Way, the 40km long distance route in the Cooley Peninsula which starts and finishes in Carlingford, by the Department of Community. This means that the route will now have guaranteed maintenance which will further enhance the visitor experience along this route.
ENDS
Note for Editor
Fáilte Ireland
Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 200,000 people and generates more than €6 billion in revenue a year.
Looped Walks in Ireland
Over the past four years, 200 National Looped walks have been developed throughout the country - with support from Fáilte Ireland, the (then) Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Coillte as well as local groups and landowners.
Many of these looped walks are developed and maintained to a very high standard by local communities. The walks have been developed under a number of themes including Nature, Island, Mountain and Coastal and the local communities, who have taken great pride in developing them, are reaping the benefits with people coming to the areas, doing the walks and spending money locally.
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