Record number of visitors go wild at Fota

IRELAND’S wildest attraction has defied the recession to record its highest ever visitor numbers.

A total of 377,000 people visited Fota Wildlife Park in Cork last year — an 8% increase on the previous year — smashing its previous record of 361,000 set in 2007.

“I think the good weather last summer, the new M8 from Dublin to Cork, the new Fastnet line ferry service, cheaper accommodation, strong branding, regular events, good PR, effective social media and the baby boom in the park has grown our numbers,” said the park’s head of marketing Stephen Ryan.