Royal Visit Takes in Wild Atlantic Way
Fáilte Ireland CEO briefs the Duchess of Cornwall as she journeys along the Wild Atlantic Way
Fáilte Ireland was among the organisations presenting to his Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, at NUI Galway this morning as he began his four day visit to Ireland with the Duchess of Cornwall.
Fáilte Ireland CEO Shaun Quinn later briefed the Duchess of Cornwall as she sampled typical examples of local produce from along the Wild Atlantic Way at a special event at The House Hotel, Galway designed to highlight the close ties between Ireland and the UK’s tourism and food & drink sectors.
Shaun Quinn, Chief Executive, Fáilte Ireland said ; “We were delighted to introduce the Duchess of Cornwall to some of the delights of the Wild Atlantic Way today. The coverage from this royal visit will provide a fantastic boost to the appeal of the Wild Atlantic Way in Britain – our largest overseas market. This event was a unique opportunity for HRH to not only experience Ireland’s breath-taking coastline but to literally get a taste for some of the sights, sounds and flavours the Wild Atlantic Way has to offer.
“British visitor numbers have grown by 14% this year already and we are confident that the exposure garnered by this visit will see these tourism figures continue to climb throughout the year.”
The food producers showcasing their local produce today were:
Kelly’s Oysters, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway
Connemara Smokehouse, Ballyconneely, Co. Galway
Caor Acla Lamb, Achill Island
Sheridan’s Cheesemongers, Galway
McCambridge’s of Galway
Wild Irish Sea Veg, Spanish Point, Co. Clare
Brady’s Butchers, Athenry, Co. Galway
Head Cocktail Bartender at The House Hotel, Aileen Cunningham also prepared ‘The Duchess’ cocktail which was created especially for the Duchess’s visit. The cocktail consists of Irish Dingle Gin, Elderflower Liquer, Mumm Champagne, with a light dusting of powered lemon, freshly frozen cubes of Rosemary, Orange, Lemon & Lime zest.
Last year Fáilte Ireland invested €10 million in the Wild Atlantic Way which stretches from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork. This year will see significant development along the route as specially crafted photo points and branding are created to illustrate the unique and unforgettable stories of Ireland’s western seaboard, really bringing the Wild Atlantic Way to life for visitors travelling in the region.
