'Join us for the Marty party' - dozens pay out €1,300 for Spanish holiday with Marty Morrissey

Fancy a sunny Spanish holiday? Then join Marty Morrissey for a week of Costa del Sol sunshine in October, Irish travel company Killester travel says. 

The Irish Daily Mail has revealed that 186 people have paid out over €1,300 to holiday with Marty Morrissey in the Costa del Sol later this year.

In an exclusive statement, Marty Morrissey said: "We've had a very positive response to bringing the Marty Party to Costa del Sol in October and we have room for a few more, with one caveat, you're up for a Marty Party!"

"I'm even more excited for Marty Party Spain now that I know people have booked in with Killester Travel from all around the country. You simply cannot bring that many counties together and not have unbelievable craic," Morrissey continued.

The 65 year-old RTÉ star is taking his ‘Marty Party’ to Benalmádena along the Spanish coast for the first week of October later this year, but made sure to get the go-ahead from his bosses at Montrose first in line with strict new rules following the payments scandal.

In the latest nod to a new era of rules around branding and advertising for RTÉ personalities, he left no room for ambiguity – labelling the announcement an “ad” on social media. The sports commentator shared a booking link to the event on social media along with the hashtag “ad”.

In another promotion video, the RTÉ sports presenter said "the music and dancing will be fabulous, and the craic mighty".

Did today’s beautiful weather put you in the mood for a holiday ? Why not join us in Benalmádena in Spain from October 1 to 8 for The Marty Party? The music & dancing will be fabulous & the craic mighty . Book now email deirdre@killestertravel.com or call Deirdre 087-6893519 pic.twitter.com/7c4OOEYVoI

— Marty Morrissey (@MartyMofficial) May 20, 2024

The week-long holiday costs €1,340 through travel agents Killester Travel and includes entertainment from well-known Irish faces each night.

It includes return flights to Malaga, airport transfers, seven nights’ accommodation, breakfast and dinner each day, entertainment each afternoon, the services of a Killester Travel representative and on six of the seven evenings, Morrissey MC-ing throughout.

The package trip also promises entertainment for each night from a host of familiar faces. In an exclusive statement, Morrissey said the high interest in the package holiday was "reflective of the brilliant line-up of entertainers from around Ireland joining us".

"From Donegal's Onóir to Kerry's Liam O'Connor and Family to The Galway Tenors all joining the incredible Sharon Shannon, Tommy Fleming and Mary Coughlan. We have a really great mix and that's not even the full line-up" Morrissey said.

RTÉ has previously said presenters are required to get a line manager’s permission before entering into external brand deals. Morrissey said he received permission from the national broadcaster.

A register of interests and a register of external activities were launched for RTÉ staff in January, and the broadcasting company has also imposed strict new governance rules concerning gifts given to contractors.

According to the Daily Mail, Killester Travel confirmed here are people coming from nearly every county in the country, and even more people and even more are interested in joining. The 250-person trip is expected to be sold out shortly.

Some of RTÉ’s most high-profile presenters have carved out parallel earning opportunities as social media influencers.

Online personalities in Ireland must correctly label commercial content to comply with the Consumer Protection Act 2007 and the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland’s (ASAI) code.

The ASAI states: “If you provide a link on your social media channels to external websites, blogs or apps that contain advertising and you receive a benefit from this, your post should be clearly labelled as ‘#Ad’.

Morrissey was previously at the centre of RTÉ payments controversy last summer, when he admitted keeping a car he was given by Renault for five years.

He issued a statement saying: "In 2017, I was asked to MC a series of functions in Renault garages across the country. This involved me interviewing several high-profile GAA personalities. As required of me, I sought RTÉ permission at the time to do this. This permission was granted.

"As I hadn’t sought a fee, Renault offered me the use of a car. I accepted this offer. The situation carried over informally for a number of years."

The GAA reporter said this was "an error in judgement" and he had since returned the car.