Explore Carrick-on-Suir tourism brand launched with community day of celebration in town

Pictured above: Commercial and Tourism Manager for Carrick-on-Suir Sarah Jane Cleary, Tony Musiol, Chairman of COSTEDC and Cathaoirleach of Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Cllr Mark Fitzgerald at the launch of the Explore Carrick-on-Suir tourism initiative at Ormond Castle last Saturday. Picture Anne Marie Magorrian

The new Explore Carrick-on-Suir tourism initiative was launched with great fanfare at Ormond Castle and with a packed programme of sporting, cultural and community events across the town last Saturday.

A beautiful sunny day ensured the Explore Carrick Community Day of celebration was a great success with all events attracting a large attendance.

Cathaoirleach of Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District Cllr Mark Fitzgerald officially launched Explore Carrick-on-Suir, a community initiative to showcase the rich heritage of the town and its hinterland with the goal of significantly increasing tourist visitors.

The launch event for the new Explore Carrick-on-Suir brand and its website: explorecarrickonsuir.com took place in Ormond Castle’s grounds and included a special tribute to renowned Carrick-on-Suir writer and poet Michael Coady, who passed away in March.

His prose work “Three Men Standing at the Met” was recited by playwright Jim Nolan and Carrick-on-Suir Brass Band performed musical arrangements by Mr Coady, who was a member of the band and its conductor for many years.

The launch ceremony was addressed by Cllr Fitzgerald, Tony Musiol, Chairman of Carrick-on-Suir Tourism & Economic Development Committee and Sarah-Jane Cleary, Carrick-on-Suir’s new Commercial & Tourism Manager.

Ms Cleary said this was the “beginning of an exciting journey” and declared their aim was to increase tourism numbers fivefold over the next three years.

She said she had been “captivated” by Carrick-on-Suir’s “beauty, rich heritage and the genuine warmth of its people”.
“The more I explored, the more I realised there’s a unique magic here that has to be shared with the world.”

She said the town has never been in a better position to grow its tourism industry thanks to significant investments like the OPW’s work on Ormond Castle and €17.8 million from the Rural Redevelopment Fund, which will link the Castle to the Blueway and create a modern, attractive streetscape from Sean Healy Park through to the town centre. She also cited the plans to redevelop the Goldcrop site and link the Suir Blueway with the Waterford Greenway.

“As a gateway town to Munster Vales and with close ties to the Comeraghs, Curraghmore and Mount Congreve, Carrick-on-Suir is perfectly positioned to draw visitors from all around.

“We’re also part of the Lingaun Valley on the Kilkenny side, home to 5,000 years of history and we anchor the Butler Trail offering a fascinating glimpse into our medieval past.”

She also pointed to how Carrick was known for famous figures like GAA co-founder Maurice Davin, the Clancy Brothers, cycling stars Sean Kelly and Sam Bennett and writer Michael Coady, its strong sporting tradition, vibrant music, theatre and arts scenes.

That vibrancy was certainly on display at the Explore Carrick Community Day that accompanied the launch of the tourism brand.

The celebrations kicked off with the opening of Carrick Camera Club’s Explore Carrick-on-Suir photographic exhibition at Carrick Town Hall.

The sporting highlight was the Festival of GAA at Davin Park that included an inter-county juvenile blitz, athletics and novelty races and a talk by Tipperary’s Munster GAA Council representative Sean Nugent about Maurice Davin.

The climax of the Davin Park events was the creation of a giant human chain in the shape of the Carrick-on-Suir Knot by those gathered at the park for the sports.

Earlier in the day, Ralph O’Callaghan and Brian White led the “Journeys on the River Suir Tow Path” guided walk along the river that explored the lives of the boatmen of Carrick and river trade in the Suir Valley. Treacy’s Blueway Bike Hire offered free bike hire for cycling on the Suir Blueway for four hours on Saturday afternoon.

A performance of local writer Heather Comerford’s new play, Bone Music, was staged at Brewery Lane Theatre while Carrick Musical Society hosted an exhibition of memorabilia from over 80 years of shows at the Strand Theatre.

Kevin Power of the town’s famous musical family, the Clancys, led a “Clancy Music and Town History” walking tour while Carrick-on-Suir Garda and Fire Stations hosted community engagement open days.

Check out more photos from the Explore Carrick-on-Suir Community Day in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops. 

Pictured below: Fire fighter James Flynn with Sheena, Isabelle and Pippa Flynn during their visit to Carrick Fire Station, which hosted an open day for the Explore Carrick-on-Suir Community Day

Pictured below: Martina Coady (front 6th from left) with family and friends attending the launch of the Explore Carrick-on-Suir tourism initiative at Ormond Castle last Saturday Tributes were paid to Martina’s late husband renowned Carrick-on-Suir poet and writer Michael Coady at the event.