Clonakilty bags tourism award

A WEST Cork town was among Europe’s top 10 tourism destinations, it was announced yesterday.

Clonakilty has been named as one of the best emerging rural holiday destinations by the European Commission.

Judges found it boasted an abundance of activities on land and sea, music sessions and fresh local produce along with a full range of heritage sites, galleries, pubs, walking routes and fishing points.

The award was presented to Roy Maguire of the Clonakilty Chamber for Tourism at the European Annual Tourism Forum in Portugal.

Commissioner Verheugen said the project promotes destinations where commercial success goes hand in hand with social, cultural and environmental sustainability.

Among the 10 winning destinations were Pielachtal in Austria, Durbury in Belgium, Sveti Martin na Muri in Croatia, Florina in Greece, Specchia in Italy, Kuldiga in Lativa, and Nadur in Malta.