Developing Lingaun Valley's tourism potential is explored at Fáilte Ireland workshop

Caption for photo above: Attending Lingaun Valley Tourism’s Fáilte Ireland workshop in conjunction with Kilkenny Leader Partnership in the Carraig Holel were: Maureen O’Sullivan of Kilkenny Leader Partnership; Sarah Jane Cleary, Commercial & Tourism Manager for Carrick-on-Suir; Tony Musiol of Lingaun Valley Tourism, Olesia Yutkina, Administration Support to Carrick Commercial & Tourism Manager and Ade Walsh of Linguan Valley Tourism. Pictures Anne Marie Magorrian

There was an impressive turnout of more than 55 Lingaun Valley Tourism Group members from the valley’s Tipperary and Kilkenny communities at a Fáilte Ireland tourism workshop in the Carraig Hotel in Carrick-on-Suir last Thursday, December 7.

The Lingaun Valley covers several south east Tipperary communities in Carrick-on-Suir’s hinterland including Ahenny, Faugheen, Grangemockler and Nine-Mile-House as well as a number of communities just over the county border in south west Kilkenny.

The valley in the shadow of Slievenamon is steeped in historical sites that Lingaun Valley Tourism is striving to promote to tourists.

They include the Knockroe Passage Tomb near Ahenny, where the Winter Solstice will be observed by hundreds of people next week; the Ahenny and Kilkieran High Crosses, Carrigmoclear Hill, Carrigadoon Hill Fort and the Slate Quarries.

The workshop called, “Leveraging the Opportunities of the Lingaun Valley”, was opened by Justine Carey of Fáilte Ireland, who manages the Ireland’s Ancient East brand. She highlighted, the Lingaun Valley region’s potential for a tourism transformation based on its prestige heritage sites. She suggested sustainable development could be facilitated by community-driven accommodations and attractions, working with private businesses.

Tourism consultants, Bane Mullarkey, the workshop’s facilitators, emphasised the significance of fostering sustainable tourism success through collaborative efforts from a mix of tourism providers. This collaboration results in a better experience for visitors.

Bane Mullarkey underlined the role of communities in Irish tourism, from driving annual festivals to the relentless dedication of Tidy Towns committees.

The workshop delved into research shared by Fáilte Ireland regarding visitor expectations and preferences. The pivotal role of overnight stays was highlighted, as a necessity to grow visitor experience while maximising spending within the community.

"Community networks are founded on a simple principle: tourism providers collaborating to endorse each other’s offerings to visitors. There’s unmatched power in personalrecommendations.

Visitors value suggestions for other attractions from their hosts, be it a guided walking tour or recommendations for dining and accommodation.

This enriches the area’s narrative, enhances visitor experiences, and bolsters sustainable community tourism networks," according to the Fáilte Ireland research.

The workshop included insights and case studies and examples showcasing successful collaborations around Ireland, such as the Burren Ecotourism and Geopark initiative in County Clare.

The ‘speed networking’ part of the workshop provided a platform for participants to engage and exchange thoughts on challenges and opportunities for increasing future visitor awareness and attraction for the Lingaun Valley

Lingaun Valley Tourism Group PRO Jimmy Walsh welcomed the ideas aimed at attracting visitors while safeguarding the special natural environment.

He reminded the group of the upcoming Solstice Festival at Knockroe on December 21 and encouraged attendance at what has become a wonderful and moving greeting of the sunrise on that day sacred to the ancients.

Kilkenny Leader Partnership CEO Declan Rice, CEO of Kilkenny Leader Partnership, on behalf of KLP and South Tipperary Development Company, thanked Fáilte Ireland for hosting the workshop and Bane Mullarkey for facilitating the event. .

He also emphasised the crucial importance of cooperation among all the stakeholders, both nationally and in the Kilkenny and Tipperary region, towards a shared goal as being key to the progress of the Lingaun Valley Tourism concept.

Check out more photos from the Lingaun Valley Tourism and Fáilte Ireland workshop in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops.