Waterford Tourism is gearing up well for the coming season and has some strong initiatives about to be launched, with a ‘Comeragh Walking Experience’ set to be brought to the market in two weeks’ time.
Speaking at the Holiday World Expo in Dublin, City & County Council Tourism Officer Mary Houlihan said the new plan will see walkers marketed with the option to stay in local guesthouses, farm house accommodation and hotels in the city and around Dungarvan.
Following the positive reaction to the ‘Nationwide’ show on Monday last, there was considerable interest in Curraghmore Estate, the seat of Lord Waterford, with many attending the Expo enquiring about the music programme for the coming year and visiting the grounds and house. This ought to compliment the nearby Mount Congreve gardens given that both are part of the Waterford Garden Trail.
Lynn Cahill of Waterford Tourism echoed the Curraghmore-related sentiment while Maria Kyte of the Waterford & Suir Valley Railway said that the flyers for Curraghmore at the Waterford stand were in big demand.
Pictured at last weekend's Holiday World Expo were Andrea Kenneally (Secretary, Dunmore Tourism), Maria Kyte (CEO, Suir Valley Railway) and Lynn Cahill (Tourism Officer Waterford City & County Council).
A new brand titled ‘Waterford: Where Ireland Begins’ will also be launched shortly, with Ancient East-related signage due to be in place by the end of March, said Mary Houlihan.
Key elements among the promotion will be the Coast Road from Waterford to Dungarvan along with the Copper Coast running from outside Tramore to Stradbally
The ‘Comeragh Scenic Drive’ running from Lemybrien to Kilbrien to Ballymacarbry and back to Kilrossanty will be promoted from April while the long awaited Deise Greenway, linking Bilberry to Abbeyside, is due to be open by June.
The Nire Valley was also represented at the Expo with Hanora’s Cottage having their stand as usual and they got great feedback from the ‘Ballymac’ community with Mary Wall, being assisted by Olive O’Gorman of the Glasha Farmhouse and Danny O’Rourke from the community group.
Other areas represented at the stand included representatives from Dunmore and Tramore with Andrea Kenneally, Secretary of Dunmore Tourism, speaking about a walking event that they’ll also be hosting.
Carmel Hogan represented Tramore Tourism and Chamber of Commerce at the Holiday World Show while the Tower Hotel’s Avril Bowe was also present, as was Waterford Librarian Jane Cantwell, who was promoting Waterford’s 1916 Centenary Programme.