Last year saw a remarkable comeback for Irish tourism, with overseas visitor numbers up almost 10pc. This year could be even better. So what's new? What are the hottest new openings, attractions, developments and festivals for the year ahead?
1. Fáilte Ireland’s 'Heritage proposition'
The Wild Atlantic Way was a standout success in 2014, but how can Fáilte Ireland possibly follow that this year? Well, plans are in the works for a 'heritage proposition' that will draw from 5,000 years of history in the South and East - though details are scant as of yet. The nature of the proposition will become clearer over the next two months, with heritage sites from the Boyne Valley right down to Kilkenny's Medieval Mile and Waterford's Viking Triangle expected to be included. One source has described it to me as "just as ambitious" a project as the Wild Atlantic Way – although there has been no mention of the cost just yet. Failteireland.ie.
2. Rhinos at Fota Wildlife Park
2014 was been the busiest year in the history of Fota”¨Wildlife Park. A new Tropical House opened on February 14th, with the first phase of a new 27-acre Asian”¨Sanctuary following in June. It now includes two new Sumatran tigers, Visayan spotted deer and a Warty pig habitat. This year, we can look forward to the arrival of Indian rhino in July, with Asian lions due to follow in 2016. The Asian Sanctuary will get its own dedicated gates, raised walkway and bridge over the rhino area too. €15/€9.50 or family (2+2) tickets for €45.50. Fotawildlife.ie.
3. The Irish Whiskey Museum, Dublin
Irish rugby coach Joe Schmidt will officially launch the first Irish whiskey museum in the world this week. It is already accepting visitors on College Green, with exhibitions designed to bring the stories of our whiskey heritage to life (from the days of “foul-tasting” UisceBeatha to today’s world-class brands) using interactive technology, talented tale-tellers and of course, whiskey tastings. It is independent from the drinks industry, and more extensive tastings are available with VIP packages. €15pp; Irishwhiskeymuseum.ie
4. The Blue Book gets bigger
Ireland’s Blue Book is adding four new properties to its collection of country houses, hotels and restaurants for 2015. Joining the collection are Ghan House in Carlingford, Co. Louth; Campagne restaurant in Kilkenny and Restaurant Forty One in Dublin. Sea View House, a four-bedroom hideaway set against the background of Ben Bulben in Co. Sligo, is also joining as a private rental. The additions bring to 47 the number of boutique hotels, restaurants and country houses in one of Europe’s premier collections - membership of which is notoriously difficult to achieve, and highly-prized as a result. Ghan House has dinner and B&B from €110pp midweek and €130pp at weekends. Irelands-blue-book.ie.
5. Yeats 2015
2015 is the 150th anniversary of Yeats's birth (June 13, 1865), and Yeats 2015 sees a host of events, readings, plays and celebrations to mark the occasion. President Michael D Higgins is its patron, and most events will focus on the summer (think summer schools, dramas by Blue Raincoat on the Wild Atlantic Way, exhibitions at The Model in Sligo and more) – though Hargadon's pub in Sligo is already doing 'Yeats at One', a series of readings weekdays at 1pm. Tourism Ireland will also push famous locations like the Lake Isle of Inisfree, Coole Park and Glencar waterfall. Yeats2015.com
6. Lusitania 100 Commemorations in Cork
In 2012, Belfast commemorated the sinking of Titanic. In 2015, it’s the turn of Kinsale, Cobh and Courtmacsherry, as the seaside towns shape up to remember the centenary of the sinking of the Lusitania by a German U-boat on May 7th, 2015. It famously went down in just 18 minutes. Among the planned events are ceremonies at the Old Head of Kinsale (sounding the boat’s original whistle), the issuing of a new An Post stamp, a re-enactment of the inquest at Kinsale Museum, a film festival night, 1915-style street market (by Kinsale Good Food Circle), and various exhibitions. The wreck of the Lusitania lies 18km (11.2 miles) due south of the Old Head Lighthouse. Oldheadofkinsale.com
7. Trails and tours on the Copper Coast
Not to be outdone by the Wild Atlantic Way (which stops at Kinsale) Waterford's Copper Coast is taking several actions to tempt tourists this year. The tiny stretch of coastline (from Tramore to Dungarvan) is both a hidden gem and Global Geopark, and in 2015 it will launch a series of 'Sense of Place' trails (e.g. adventure/sports, heritage, eco, artistic, historical etc.) around March. A new mining heritage and natural history museum is up and running at the Copper Coast Visitor centre in Bonmahon (the Copper Coast was home to the largest Mines in Europe at the height of the 19th century mining industry) – it will get a re-launch on March 14. Coppercoastgeopark.com
