Ireland 2014 F I 2 2 9 4 5 -1 4 a Dear Tourism Partner, We are delighted to welcome you to Ireland this week for our largest travel trade show – Meitheal – and we look forward to meeting with you over the coming days to showcase the compelling and competitive experiences Ireland has to offer your customers. Meitheal is an extremely important event for Irish tourism businesses as it is the one time each year that so many of our top international buyers and tour operators are in Ireland, all seeking to learn more about what Ireland can offer their customers and to experience authentic Ireland for themselves. As usual we have a multitude of experiences organised for you before, during and after the Meitheal trade show. We believe these will give you a true taste of our unique culture, heritage, food and scenery and we hope you will enjoy them. This year we plan to present with a variety of exciting and attractive options tailored to appeal to travellers of all types. Whether it is the ‘culture-vulture’, the young hip urban city-breaker, or the adventurous out-doors explorer, Ireland has a lot to offer. Although it’s a small country, we have been working on some big ideas which we believe will stand out and prove a magnet for visitors. We look forward to presenting these to you at this year’s Meitheal as you prepare your own plans for 2015. We hope you will find that Ireland has more to offer than ever. We are packaging our greatest assets in the best possible way so that our visitors can experience and enjoy them to the full. This year, we have teams on hand over the next few days to help you uncover the hidden experiences that make visiting Ireland unique and unforgettable. You can find more detail on Ireland and what it has to offer in the following pages of this manual. Finally, on behalf of Fáilte Ireland and our colleagues in Tourism Ireland, I would like to say that we very much look forward to sharing more of our stories with you, and to showcasing much more of what Ireland has to offer your business. As you prepare for a busy few days, I would like to thank you personally for accepting our invitation to Meitheal, and I look forward to welcoming you and meeting you during your stay with us. Yours faithfully, Shaun Quinn Chief Executive, Fáilte Ireland i Workshop Manual Meitheal - Global Travel Trade Fair Ireland 2014 Wild, Rugged, Liberating... Visiting this Summer? Be sure to download the FREE Wild Atlantic Way App – your perfect travel companion. Details on top spots to visit, what’s happening nearby and unmissable Hidden Gems waiting to be discovered along this spectacular route - make your journey the trip of a lifetime! Available for iPhone and Android from Summer 2014. Imagine driving along the absolute edge of Western Europe. Imagine exploring a 2,500km (1,553 miles) long coastline dotted with beaches, harbours, headlands and stunning viewing points. Imagine stopping your car, feeling the salt spray in your face and the exhilaration of Atlantic surf. You can do it all and more on the Wild Atlantic Way... a journey of inspiration. ii FI/22799-14 WAW Consumer Flyer (TI) ENGLISH.indd 1 20/03/2014 13:13 Workshop Manual The longest coastal touring route in the world..... Meitheal - Global Travel Trade Fair Ireland 2014 The route begins (or ends, depending on your For further information visit: direction) in West Cork, following roads that hug W: ireland.com/wildatlanticway the shoreline then suddenly switch back high above the Atlantic Ocean. You will stop often at the many towns and villages along the route to stay a night or two. Imagine whale and dolphin watching along the coastal waters of Clonakilty and Baltimore or experiencing the sub-tropical paradise of Garinish Island. Take a boat trip to the home of Ireland’s born-storytellers, the Blasket Islands or visit the Skelligs, a UNESCO world heritage site. Continue to the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula, home to Tom Crean the Antarctic explorer. Cross the Shannon to west Clare and Loop Head with its craggy coastline, the Cliffs of Moher and the limestone formations of the Burren’s Atlantic Coast. Continue to Galway Bay and the ‘buzzing’ festival city of Galway. Go island hopping and sit by turf fi res in traditional pubs, listening to songs and stories in the remote Gaeltacht regions. Cycle the Great Western Greenway, a 42km (26 miles) traffic free cycling and walking trail from Westport to Achill. On to Donegal, the final (or first) county on the Wild Atlantic Way. Donegal’s pristine landscape includes ‘edge of the world’ highlights such as Slieve League, the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe. You could drive the route in one go, but if you’re looking for something that little bit special, take it at a gentler pace and savour the numerous breath-taking viewing points (159 in number) along the way. Wherever you start, whenever you finish, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is a thrilling trip along the utmost edge of Western Europe. You will want to return FI/22799-14 again and again. iii FI/22799-14 WAW Consumer Flyer (TI) ENGLISH.indd 2 20/03/2014 13:14 Workshop Manual Meitheal - Global Travel Trade Fair Ireland 2014 Dublin It is well known that Dublin is steeped in history and can boast of literary giants and grand architecture. But Dublin is also a city brimming with a contemporary air of newness. Dublin is experiencing what you might call ‘a moment’. Bubbling with energy and excitement this cool, cosmopolitan capital has a vibe that will leave you gasping for more. Lap up the lively nightlife, immerse yourself in stand-out culture and clear away the cobwebs with adrenaline pumping action. From street performers to live music, kite surfing to kitch cocktail bars, from gentle strolls along the coast to ginger prawns straight from the sea. Once you get a taste of Dublin you’ll realise it’s got a personality you won’t find anywhere else. Come meet with the Destination Dublin Team to hear about the lesser-known experiences that only Dubliners know of; the exciting new food scene, pop-up shops, emerging neighbourhoods, coolest markets, art, fashion and music experiences. Right now, this vibrant and creative city is bridging the past to the future. It’s time to experience it. iv Workshop Manual Meitheal - Global Travel Trade Fair Ireland 2014 Cork City & Harbour v Workshop Manual Meitheal - Global Travel Trade Fair Ireland 2014 Contents General Information Programme 5 Floor plan 6 Irish Trade Partners Summary - Irish Trade Partners 9 Irish Manual 14 GB & International Summary - GB & International 121 GB & International Manual 122 North America Summary - North America 145 North America Manual 146 Europe Summary - Europe 159 Europe Manual 161 1 Workshop Manual Meitheal - Global Travel Trade Fair Ireland 2014 2