The representative body for greyhound racing in Ireland has expressed its “shock and disappointment” at the news the sport is no longer being promoted by the country’s tourism bodies to either the national or international markets.

Tourism Ireland has welcomed the growth of 6% in overseas visitors to Ireland in the first quarter of the year.

Last month, the number of trips to Ireland by overseas visitors rose 3% to 784,700.

Rollerskaters in Paris carrying green glowsticks, cyclists in Amsterdam with green-illuminated wheels and start-up entrepreneurs pitching for funding in a green-lit ice hole in Finland - all part of St Patrick's Day celebrations globally.

Chief Executive, Niall Gibbons, says the American market is vital to Irish tourism:

German and Italian visitors have bolstered the burgeoning North American tourist market as almost 10 million people -- just under 7% growth -- came to Ireland since January.

Information from the Central Statistics Office has revealed that the number of tourists visiting Ireland from overseas has risen by almost 7% in the year to date.

2018 has been the best year ever for Irish tourism, according to Tourism Ireland's end-of-year figures.

The campaign, called ‘Fill your Heart with Ireland’, will launch next month in the United States, Britain, France and Germany.

Ireland has been named the top international business travel destination at an awards ceremony in China.

A no deal Brexit crisis could cost the Irish tourism industry as much as €390m - a prediction that is €130m worse than previously feared and could see thousands of people lose their jobs.

A German film crew spent last week in Ireland on a photo and film shoot with Felix Wiemers, one of Germany’s extreme sports personalities and influencers.

The Shape of You singer is fronting the campaign in a bid to bring more British people to Irish shores.

Figures released today by the Central Statistics Office show an increase in the number of tourists coming to Ireland.

Tourism Ireland’s largest ever mission to China launches today as representatives from 29 Irish enterprises take part in an effort to boost the number of Chinese visitors here.

The number of overseas visitors to Ireland in the first three months of the year increased by 7%.

It is one of Ireland's most memorable and best-loved tv ads and Tourism Ireland have released the director's cut for the first time today, writes Michelle McGlynn.

A new video celebrating the viking legacy of Dublin and Waterford has been released by Tourism Ireland.

The iconic Space Needle in Seattle, Chimo the Polar Bear statue in Ontario, and the fountains in London's Trafalgar Square will go green for the first time to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Mark Hamill has been singing Ireland’s praises once again saying that he wished they could have shot the entire of Star Wars: The Last Jedi in Ireland.

Luke Skywalker actor, Mark Hamill, says Ireland is like a “fairytale world”.

We live in a land stereotypically known by many as the land of leprechauns, shamrocks and good beer, writes Breda Graham.

You can’t say Tourism Ireland isn’t reaching out to new markets — its new publicity drive based around Star Wars: The Last Jedi has gone into space.

The number of tourists coming to Ireland has increased, despite a Brexit backlash.

Tourism Ireland is to be asked to explain why a paid half-page advertorial on the Wild Atlantic Way in a British newspapers made no mention of West Cork.

Tourism Ireland has teamed up with Shannon Airport, to promote the new Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt and to grow German tourist numbers this summer.

This is one stunning island we live on.

Around 1.6 million American and Canadian visitors will come to Ireland by the end of the year.

Ireland has scooped a major travel award in New York, for the third year in a row.

Tourism Ireland has produced a new advertising campaign, to capitalise on the success of Game of Thrones.

Tourism chiefs are co-ordinating a sales offensive to attract more visitors from China, with the operators of Ireland’s top tourism draws and travel companies, including the Guinness Storehouse and Titanic Belfast.

More than 100,000 tourists have come to Ireland for St Patrick's Day - and there are events all over the globe to mark it.

Ireland's best ever year for tourism is due in part to the currency gains from the US dollar and sterling, a great product and additional routes from the US.

The number of tourists visiting Ireland was up by almost 12% in the first half of the year.

Tourism Ireland has unveiled a new campaign targeting the gay wedding market, following the referendum result.

Tourism Ireland is looking to the Australian market to bring in more than €600m over the next three years.

A multi-agency drive is under way to attract new passengers into debt-ridden Cork Airport from Germany, France, Italy, and Scandinavia.

Tourism Minister Paschal Donohoe has warned the 9% VAT rate will not be used as a prop for the sector to return to high prices that drive tourists away from Ireland.

Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar has defended Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s decision to march in the controversial St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York.