Tourists spent €4.2bn last year

RECORD numbers of people visited here last year. Fáilte Ireland estimates the figure at 6.4 million in 2004, generating €4.2 billion in foreign exchange earnings.

With domestic trips up 10%, total revenues from tourism came in at €5.2 billion.

The year 2004 exceeded the previous record of 6.18m overseas visitors in 2000 by 2.6%.