Travel guide ditches the blarney for the boozer

WHETHER it’s discovering a traditional music seisiún in “an old traditional boozer” or touring West Belfast’s divided neighbourhoods with a “wise-cracking” driver of a black taxi, the new Discover Ireland guide by Lonely Planet still finds much to favour in an Irish tourist industry in the doldrums.

It’s a message which chimes well with those promoting Irish tourism.

Chief executive of Tourism Ireland Niall Gibbons said “the various experiences mentioned in the new Lonely Planet Discover Ireland guidebook reflect Tourism Ireland’s promotion of the island of Ireland around the globe.”

He added the new guidebook also includes “insider recommendations from local experts – which very much complements Tourism Ireland’s new series of ‘travelogues’ or short online films which feature real local characters from around the island of Ireland presenting their ‘hidden gems’.”

Among those experts contributing to the guide are radio presenter and former Kerry footballer, Aloysius ‘Weeshie’ Fogarty, who provides tips on things to see around Killarney and Miceal Murray, manager of the L’Gueuleton restaurant, who gives his suggestions on the best places to eat in Dublin.

Some long-established Irish tourist destinations, such as the lakes of Killarney and the Blarney Stone, do not make it into the new guide’s Top 25 tourist experiences.

Commissioning editor Clifton Wilkinson said; “just because something has always been popular, if we don’t actually think it is a top experience we won’t rate it.”

He added that new attractions have come to the forefront with the Northern Irish peace process – “the whole regeneration of the North as a tourist destination is so big that is why we cover it.

“But the traditional attractions of the country are just as strong as ever. While Ireland is going through quite a lot of problems, those intrinsic qualities are still there, the welcome of the people and landscapes don’t change, and Ireland is still a top destination.”

Lonely Planet’s Irish guide books are the company’s second highest selling, behind Italy. The new guide will be available in English, French, Spanish and German.