Irish make more than 730,000 trips abroad in September

Irish people went on almost three quarters of a million overseas trips in September, official figures released today show.

The massive number translates into more than 24,000 individuals taking air and sea journeys abroad every day, even after the normal holiday high season.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) said the 731,400 overseas trips for September was up 92,900 on the same time last year.

In the other direction, there were 774,300 international travellers who touched down or came ashore in the Republic.

That figure was up too, by 35,900, on the same month the year before, according to the CSO report.

Half of all people coming into the State were on a visit from Britain, while 13% were from the United States.

While trips from our nearest neighbours were down slightly, by 300, there was a significant fall off in the numbers coming from North America.

There were 8,900 less journeys into the Republic from the US and Canada in September compared to the same month in 2006.

However, there were 45,000 more air and sea trips into the State from visitors living in European countries outside Britain.

The survey was carried out by CSO officials at Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock and Kerry airports as well as Rosslare, Ringaskiddy, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin ports.