Search is on for the Best Cultural Destination in Ireland

Fáilte Ireland launches the 8^th EDEN Competition with Cultural Tourism as this year’s theme 

The search has begun to find the destination in Ireland which has best used its local cultural assets as potential to grow visitor numbers. Fáilte Ireland, is inviting entries for the 2017 European Destinations of Excellence Network (EDEN) competition, which focuses on a different aspect of tourism each time. 

The theme for 2017 is “Tangible Cultural Tourism”.  The tourism authority is looking for applications from emerging destinations in Ireland who have developed a specific tourism offering based on their cultural assets - that balances sustaining the local environment with the promotion of viable tourism (full detail on criteria below).   

Speaking about the competition Paddy Mathews, Fáilte Ireland’s Head of Investment & Innovation, said:

“Through the EDEN Competition, Fáilte Ireland wants to showcase the best examples of how cultural assets have been sustainably used to benefit both tourists and local communities.

“Ireland has long been recognised for the richness of its cultural heritage which is of critical importance to our attractiveness to visitors. We have over 5,000 years of material culture which tells an exciting and engaging story for our visitors. Communities across Ireland are fiercely proud of their heritage and culture and many have harnessed these assets through tourism to deliver real social and economic benefits for their local areas.”

EDEN is an EU project promoting sustainable tourism development across the European Union and is currently held every two years in 29 member states.  Previous Irish winners include the Burren Food Trail (Tourism & Local Gastronomy), the Great Western Greenway (Tourism & the Regeneration of Physical Sites) and Loop Head (Aquatic Tourism). 

The 2017 winning destination will receive a photo shoot of the destination, a certificate of achievement and an awards ceremony. In addition all applications will receive a written report on their application with expert feedback from the adjudicators. Also the EU will offer the winner in each Member State international promotion of the destination through the EDEN web-portal (www.edenineurope.eu), a short promotional visual presentation, and participation in the EU EDEN network.

Eligible destinations will be those:

• that are “small” or “emerging” or “off the beaten track” or “non-traditional” (with visitor numbers from low to very low in comparison with the national average);
• which offer authentic Tourism experiences;
• that have a well-developed cultural offerings, characteristic of their region.

Full competition details are available at www.failteireland.ie/eden/ or by emailingeden.helpdesk@failteireland.ie. The closing date for entries is 4pm on Monday 31^stJuly, 2017. 

Harvey’s Point Hotel 'The Coolest Place in Ireland' is mixing Business with Pleasure

For over 28 years, Deidre McGlone and her team have been welcoming people from all corners of the globe to their stunning luxurious lakeside hotel, located outside Donegal Town in the North West of Ireland. With a firm focus on exceptional customer service, this former farmhouse cottage has gained an enviable reputation as one of the leading hotels in Ireland. Winner of Trip Advisor's Number 1 Hotel in Ireland for five consecutive years, Harvey’s Point is a brand that is synonymous with world class hotel keeping, blended with genuine Irish hospitality.

Deirdre and her team have now opened their doors to the corporate world. Having overseen extensive renovations in recent months they are all set to place Harvey’s Point on the global map, not only as a place to come & stay for a relaxing break but as a destination to be “The Coolest Place in Ireland” to do business.

After months of construction work, from interior design to the finished product, Harvey’s Point are delighted to announce to the world that they are open for corporate business. With huge investment, they have made it the perfect location for corporate conferences, corporate meetings, corporate team building, corporate launches, corporate exhibitions, just about everything that the corporate world needs to make their brand or event stand out.

Deirdre McGlone, Harvey’s Point Hotel. Photo courtesy: John McConnell

"Adding "The Garden Suite" Conference Centre is an exciting new addition to the Harvey’s Point portfolio.” says Deirdre McGlone.

“We have put a lot of thought into the entire process & know what the corporate world needs from a Hotel that places emphasis on their team, brand & event to ensure that the venue will not only be their home for a day, weekend or a week, but a place that they can put their own mark on to ensure their corporate, launch or event is a memorable one. We have designed & constructed our corporate venue, so that our clients can have their own private entrance and car park. With natural daylight shining through this part of the hotel "The Garden Suite" blends in with our stunning natural surroundings from outside to inside.”

"We have had increased demand for meetings and conferences from our guests & the corporate world for years & we realise that now was the time to reinvest and deliver to customer demand. We identified a gap in the market in Ireland for an exclusive corporate venue like this and acknowledging the hard work that organisations like Fáilte Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Donegal Tourism, The Wild Atlantic Way initiative & Donegal County Council to name but a few are doing to promote Ireland and Donegal globally, Donegal is now recognised as an attractive destination for both leisure travellers and for business corporate events. We at Harvey’s Point are delighted to add value to their hard work.” say’s Deirdre McGlone.

“We were once a seasonal business, but we are now open all year round and know that in addition to our existing leisure and wedding business, there is huge potential for growth in the corporate market, particularly midweek and off season."

Harvey’s Point have an enviable reputation globally for excellence in customer service. The owners and the team at Harvey’s Point are passionate about ensuring that each guest is made to feel welcome and that each experience is exceptional in terms of hospitality, food and attention to detail and this will be exactly the case for their corporate offerings.

Harvey’s Point is located in a truly inspirational setting and the perfect place to plan & meet, so when they say they provide "Blue Sky Thinking” it is most definitely the ideal hideaway location for think tanks and brainstorming without any distraction. In addition, the high-speed Wi-Fi network is exceptional and each client will have with their own personal conference facilitator who will be on hand at every stage of the corporate event, to ensure that it runs smoothly & successfully.

Commenting further, Deirdre says, “Our promise is that of a first class service & attention to detail, blended with our expertise of a friendly & professional team. We will present any corporate team with a unique experience for organisers & delegates alike. We already have had return business from global corporate brands, who have already booked to return every year."

"Setting a new benchmark in corporate event excellence for Harvey’s Point, Donegal and Ireland, our promise is to give every corporate event the personal experience that our team have perfected in the hospitality industry for over 28 years. We intend Harvey’s Point to become Ireland’s leading & most exclusive place to do business for many years to come.” concludes Deirdre.

Visit Harvey's Point Hotel website: harveyspoint.com

Let’s ‘rally’ together for an incredible weekend

Donegal International Rally, 16th - 18th June 2017 https://donegalrally.ie/

With Rally fever well and truly underway in the county, Donegal Joint Policing Committee has teamed up with the Donegal International Rally and Donegal County Council to launch a new initiative urging visitors and locals to ‘rally together’ for an incredible weekend. 

Last year’s Joule Donegal International Rally winners Manus Kelly and Donal Barrett lending their support to the “Let’s Rally Together” for an incredible weekend at this morning’s launch in Letterkenny. Picture also includes Cllr. Gerry McMonagle and Superintendent David Kelly along with members of the Donegal International Rally committee, Donegal Joint Policing Committee and Donegal County Councils Litter Management Team.

“This initiative is all about welcoming rally enthusiasts to Donegal and making sure that the rally can be enjoyed by spectators and locals in a safe and respectful way” says Cllr Gerry McMonagle Chair of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee.

“This rally is unique to Donegal and is the only 3 day tarmac rally in Ireland and the UK.  The rally organisers do a great job year in year out organising this top class event and we in the Joint Policing Committee and Donegal County Council want to lend our support to them by helping to share a few simple messages so that the rally can be thoroughly enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.”

This initiative is about asking spectators to be responsible about their driving, their drinking and their rubbish.

Let's 'rally' together

Drive responsibly

Donegal Road Safety Working Group has been to the fore in promoting the Keep the Race in it’s Place road safety message and will be out in full force over the rally weekend.  Drivers are being asked to slow down and to drive with extra care and attention and never ever drive under the influence of drink or drugs.

Large numbers of visitors are expected and traffic will be heavy so motorists are being asked to leave more time for their journeys and to drive with extra care.  Gardaí have confirmed that there will be an increased number of Gardaí on duty over the weekend and that bad driving behaviour will not be tolerated in any way.

Pictured at this morning’s launch of the “Let’s Rally Together” for an incredible weekend and hoping that these are the only donuts they see this weekend was Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, Chair of Donegal Joint Policing Committee, Martin Roarty, Donegal County Council Litter Warden, Superintendent David Kelly and Eamon McGee Clerk of Course for the Joule Donegal International Rally.

Drink responsibly

This initiative is also about highlighting the importance of drinking responsibly.  While the vast majority of rally spectators will be responsible when they are drinking, a small number will not.  All rally spectators who are planning to drink are being asked to know their limits and to plan ahead. 

Past experience shows that the majority of incidences of anti-social behaviour during the rally weekend are alcohol related.  Those who plan to have a drink, are being asked to drink responsibly and to be respectful of those around them especially those living in the area.  This is to ensure a safe and respectful environment for visitors and locals alike.

Cllr. Gerry McMonagle and Superintendent David Kelly with Eamon McGee, Clerk of the Course for the Joule Donegal International Rally along with Donegal International Rally organisers, members of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee and Donegal County Councils Litter Management Team promoting the message ‘Let’s Rally Together’ for an incredible weekend.

Take your rubbish home

This year’s rally will be taking place in some of the most outstanding scenic areas in the county and those following the rally are being asked to be mindful of leaving litter behind.  It won’t be possible to have bins available in all areas so spectators are being asked to simply take their rubbish home. 

Donegal County Councils Litter Management Team will be out and about over the weekend of the rally and if you are caught dropping litter or leaving rubbish behind you could face a substantial on the spot fine of €150. 

Cllr. McMonagle added “this initiative is about making sure that the Donegal International Rally is an event to be enjoyed by everyone.  We want our visitors to have a positive and memorable experience of their trip to Donegal while at the same time ensuring a safe environment for both visitors and locals alike”.