Tourism is one of the industries that contribute significantly to our economy, so we should be aware of trends in the wider world of tourism, especially those that might represent a threat to the goose that lays the golden egg.

WHEN he was 12, Kevin Moran decked an opponent a foot taller than him on a football field in Athlone because he felt a teammate had been fouled. He has been known as “Boxer” ever since.

Tourism advocate John G Dwyer says modest investment is needed to counter the imbalance in tourism spending in the wilderness between high-flying Dublin and the western seaboard

Martha Hunt, a woman from the US on holiday in Ireland, came into more than a spot of bother whilst in Dublin.

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Visitor numbers to national heritage sites rose 11% last year to more than 4.9m.

A trip to Athlone, the geographical heart of Ireland, left Eoin Edwards able to indulge his passion for all things historical.

Clare County Council yesterday announced a comprehensive plan relating to the tourism development and visitor management of the “Jewel of The Lough Derg” in Co Clare, Holy Island.

Fáilte Ireland have released the promo video for their new venture, Ireland’s Ancient East and it promises magic, myth and history for future visitors.

THE tourism initiative launched yesterday seems impressive but it might be even more so if it had a budget. Despite that minor detail, a programme based on 5,000 years of history has, according to Fáilte Ireland, the potential to increase visitor numbers to the East of Ireland by 20% and tourism revenues by nearly €1bn by 2020.

A new tourism campaign promoting Ireland’s diverse 5,000-year-old historical heritage could bring 600,000 more visitors to the south and east by 2020 — helping to grow the local economy by almost €1bn.

The cash-strapped Office of Public Works is to open concessions, such as restaurants and playgrounds, at 17 of the country’s most popular heritage sites in order to generate funds to pay for all the heritage locations it operates across the country.

THE fascination of American visitors with Irish castles is well known, and the fact that they don’t have attractions stateside which are as old might be part of the reason for this.

Twenty men have begun studying for the Catholic priesthood with a variety of qualifications already behind them.

BECAUSE we live on an island, and because every travel brochure ever printed plonks a bikini-clad siren on its cover, we tend to associate holidays with the coast.

A writer who has walked the country’s ancient pilgrim paths said a West Cork route would deserve the title of the ‘Camino of Ireland’.

DESIGNED as territories of spiritual and temporal control, Ireland’s diocesan structures date from the Synod of Kells in 1152. The bishop was a spiritual ‘capo’ and a lord who ruled.

WE hear a lot of talk about Ireland’s priceless environment and heritage.

Communities will be involved in any plans to radically reorganise the amount of dioceses in this country, according to the summary report presented by the Vatican team who visited the country last year.

BOOKS make excellent Christmas gifts and last Monday’s Examiner carried recommendations from the crime-thriller, vampire and general fiction genres.

SIX separate reports on child protection measures in Catholic dioceses in Ireland will be published today.

THE Vatican is believed to be meeting resistance from Irish archbishops to its plans to cut the number of dioceses by up to a half — meaning the country would need fewer bishops.

Splashes of fun, screams of excitement, peals of laughter, and gasps of pure wonder and amazement – that's the riotous sound of an action-packed and fun-filled family break on Ireland's Lakelands, Inland Waterways and Canals.

ONLY a handful of people ever get to see it in its full splendour but Newgrange still remains the country’s best-loved heritage site.

THE finances of most dioceses around the country are flagging as collections and Mass attendance figures plummet, it has been claimed.

HERE ARE SOME GREAT FAMILY FUN IDEAS TO KEEP YOU BUSY FOR THE SUMMER!

SLOWLY, but ever so surely, moves are being put together to develop the 368km River Shannon as one of the country’s greatest natural amenities.

EVEN driving down this country’s rural roads, much of Ireland is hidden, more of it is simply overlooked, abandoned, or ignored. And, some of it is making its way back – as can be seen in a day in the wandering company of someone like the multi-faceted George Gossip.

PERFECT for horses, ponies and people is the family home Rachra, near Monkstown and Carrigaline in Cork’s harbour area.

CONSERVATIONISTS have hit out at Green Party leader John Gormley after his department included the Hill of Tara on a shortlist of seven sites put forward for world heritage status.

The Burren, the Céide Fields and Clonmacnoise are among the sites that Environment Minister John Gormley believes should be on the World Heritage List.

SCHOOLS are being encouraged to avoid the hassle of overseas trips and bring students instead on educational and activity breaks at home as part of a Government effort to boost domestic tourism.

A PRIEST who called for the immediate resignation of any archbishop or bishop who knew of clerical abuse was applauded by his congregation at Mass in Co Galway yesterday.

YOU’VE just arrived at Shannon Airport from Boston on your inaugural trip to the land of your forebears. You pick up your hired car and, within a minute, are facing your first challenge – a roundabout.

FUTURE generations of Irish people may not have to go abroad for the sun, if predictions about climate changes in the 21st century are correct.

THE Government is to submit an ambitious proposal that could lead to world heritage status for Cork city and its huge natural harbour.

GARDAÍ are expected to make arrests in connection with the savage murder of a man earlier this month.

ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley’s announcement that he intends to seek Unesco world heritage site status for the Burren and Clonmacnoise, while no doubt laudable, contrasts starkly with his Pontius Pilate act regarding that other unique environment — the Hill of Tara — ever since he entered government.