Tourism Ireland predicts further growth in 2014

Increasing air access to Ireland in 2014 should help build on the 8m overseas visitors to the island this year, Tourism Ireland has said.

CEO Niall Gibbons predicted the opening of many new routes, especially from North America, as well as new ferry routes to France and Spain, would facilitate further growth next year.

However, he said sustained growth was highly dependent on the global economy and the competitiveness of Ireland as a tourist destination.