County Clare has again received plaudits in a new Lonely Planet Travel Guide publication just out called “Ireland’s Top 25 Experiences.” In this latest publication the county is commended for its traditional Irish music and its villages.
“These positive recommendations in this influential guide will be a tremendous boost for tourism in County Clare and help promote the County to an international audience. They mirror messages that Shannon Development as the Shannon Region regional tourism agency is promoting in our various tourism marketing campaigns, and at national and international tourism trade shows,” says Pat Daly Tourism Division Manager, Shannon Development.
The Guide lists, in no particular order the publisher’s emphasis, the country’s top 25 recommended tourist experiences. Referring to traditional Irish music the Guide says, “Let your inevitable love affair with Europe’s most vibrant folk music begin by sitting in on a traditional seisiún (music session); you won’t be asked to play, but you won’t be able to stop your feet from tapping or your hands from clapping. They occur all over the country, but are best enjoyed in the traditional heartland of County Clare.”
The Willie Clancy Irish Music Festival was singled out for praise in the Guide’s best festivals listing saying, “You’ll hear some of the best traditional music in the world at this annual festival on the Clare coast.”
The Clare coast line also gets praise, “The coast of County Clare alternates long beaches with soaring cliffs but the real appeal lies inland, in the myriad tiny villages where traditional Irish culture persists, oblivious to the demands of tourism. Everyone might have heard of Doolin, but they really need to hear about places like Kilfenora, Ennistymon, Corofin…”
This is the second Lonely Planet publication to praise County Clare tourism. Earlier this year cycling routes in the County were voted in the world top ten of the Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2010’ guide. The Lonely Planet's guide put Clare cycling centre stage ranking them with nine other top cycle routes around the world including the US, Canada, France New Zealand and the UK.
“This is a testament to the amount of work that has gone into the development of the tourism cycling product in County Clare in recent times Under the Shannon Development led €2 million Shannon Region Trails Programme a number of new tourism cycling routes and tracks were developed in recent times. These works were undertaken in partnership with Clare County Council and with financial support from the Fáilte Ireland, the Irish Tourist Board. Among these include the new Doolin cycling hub which incorporates four new looped walks in the North Clare area. These will also form part of a new Shannon Region cycling network being established by Shannon Development and linked to the national cycling network. These routes are available for download from www.shannonregiontrails.ie” says Siobhan King, Shannon Development Co. Clare Tourism Officer.
Nandi O’Sullivan
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