Tourism down as Angela’s Ashes tours dry up
Over the past six years he has shown tens of thousands of visitors along the streets where Frank McCourt spent his childhood of misery. Over the weekend, however, Mr O’Donnell endured his quietest day. Netta Levy, a 35-year-old marketing manager from Wisconsin in the US, got a personalised tour because she was his only customer. Mr O’Donnell attributes the decline to the war in Iraq.
“The numbers have been falling since 9/11. I started the tours in November 1998 and I have been out almost every day except Christmas day with visitors from all over the world,” the 65-year-old from Ballynanty said.
Huge numbers of US visitors went on his daily walks in the early years.
He often had to do two and three walks a day to cater for the number of interested people.
“The world situation, particularly after 9/11 and the Iraqi war, has stopped many Americans from flying and numbers have dropped. But while the numbers are lower the tour will still keep going every day as there are always people interested in seeing and visiting the locations that Frank McCourt mentioned in the book,” Mr O’Donnell said.
His Angela’s Ashes Trail starts near the Franciscan Church and then goes up Henry Street before arriving at Roden Lane and Barrington Lane where the McCourts lived.
The two-hour trail then moves on to St Joseph’s Church and Souths pub in Quinlan Street where Frank McCourt had his first pint. He is still a regular caller to Souths, which is owned by David Hickey.
While Mr O’Donnell was concerned about the dwindling numbers, Ms Levy relished the personal attention she received.
“I read the book and wouldn’t have come to Limerick otherwise. Mike O’Donnell is an amazing storyteller and I was very lucky to get a personalised tour. It is my first time in Limerick and it’s larger and more modern than what I had expected,” she said.
As in McCourt’s Limerick, there was plenty of rain when she took the tour.
“I guarantee them at least one shower on the tour,” Mr O’Donnell said.
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