Lighting the way for a major tourism boost

Lighthouse tourism expert on Valentia Island include Yvonne Shields O’Connor, Irish Lights, CEO, Mayor of Kerry Cllr., Breandán Fitzgerald, Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO of Údarás na Gaeltachta, Josephine O’Driscoll, Manager, Wild Atlantic Way Fáilte Ireland and Helen Barry-O’Connor, Kerry County Council.
Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan

Lighthouse tourism experts have met on Valentia Island this week for the Great Lighthouses of Ireland annual gathering.

A new five-year strategy to turn Ireland into a world-class maritime tourism destination has been launched and a memorandum of understanding was signed by the various stakeholders in attendance.

“It’s an ambitious aim but we are in a unique position here in Ireland to achieve it,” said the committee.

The Great Lighthouses of Ireland has an all-island partnership model for lighthouse tourism and it has doubled in size over the last nine years.

Signing a memorandum of understanding, stakeholders were Yvonne Shields O’Connor, CEO, Irish Lights, Centre, Tomás Ó Síocháin, CEO, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and Josephine O’Driscoll, Manager. Wild Atlantic Way Fáilte Ireland

Those involved want to harness the universal appeal of lighthouses to grow maritime tourism sustainably and boost regional development for coastal communities.

Over 60 lighthouse, marine and tourism leaders and providers are in attendance at the three-day gathering on Valentia.

Delegates were in attendance at the launch of Ireland’s new suite of lighthouse videos, developed in partnership with the Great Lighthouses of Ireland, themed around the wonders of lighthouse experiences.

These will be shared by Tourism Ireland with its six million followers on social media and will also be used in Tourism Ireland’s international PR and publicity activity.

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