Fáilte Ireland New Wild Atlantic Way Story Panel at Foynes Discovery Point

Pictured: Siobhan King, Failte Ireland, Fiona Monaghan, Failte Ireland, Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, Margaret O’Shaughnessy, Director Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum and Barry O’Kelly, Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum at the launch of the New Wild Atlantic Way Story Panel. Picture Sean Curtin True Media.

Fáilte Ireland New Wild Atlantic Way Story Panel at Foynes Discovery Point

Pictured: Margaret O’Shaughnessy, Director Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Patrick O’Donovan and Fiona Monaghan, Failte Ireland at the launch of the New Wild Atlantic Way Story Panel in Foynes. Picture: Sean Curtin True Media.

Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Patrick O’Donovan launched Fáilte Ireland’s new engaging interpretation panel at Foynes Discovery Point along the Wild Atlantic Way in Limerick.  The installation of the panel is part of a wider initiative to bring local stories to life all across the Wild Atlantic Way route – from Donegal to Kerry.
 
Launching the panel, Minister O’Donovan said:
“I’m delighted that the Foynes Discovery Point now features this panel to tell visitors more about the area. It features stories of the area chosen as a direct result of consultation and engagement with historians, heritage officers and other local experts. I hope that it prompts all who arrive here to stay longer to explore all there is to see and do in the vicinity.”  

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Speaking today, Fáilte Ireland’s Head of the Wild Atlantic Way, Fiona Monaghan explained:
 “The rationale for the panels is to provide visitors with local stories which will add layers to the Wild Atlantic Way experience and bring each location to life for tourists. A key part of this phase of our development of the Wild Atlantic Way project has been a close and productive partnership with local experts and historians as well as with the individual local authorities along the route.”

Last year, Fáilte Ireland had developed Photo Points at each of the Discovery Points and Embarkation Points along the route. The Photo Points were designed to literally ‘frame’ photographs taken by visitors at the beauty spots and scenic views along the route. The new interpretation panels are being installed next to each Photo Points and are intended to tell visitors a little of the history and heritage of the area. Each panel also includes historic or scenic images, a small motivational map and identifies some other local points of interest – with a call to ‘Discover more’.  Fáilte Ireland was greatly assisted by the National Library of Ireland in securing images for inclusion on the panels.

Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.

The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 220,000 people and generates an estimated €5.7 billion in revenue a year. 
  
Margaret O’Shaughnessy, of the Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, commented on how the Wild Atlantic Way has impacted on her business, said:
“Foynes is a very historic place to visit and we are delighted to be included as a Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way.   The Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum have found the Wild Atlantic Way to have been hugely beneficial to our business in 2016, seeing an increase in our visitors of 20% and this was partly due to our inclusion on the Wild Atlantic Way.  We look forward to growing our visitor numbers again in 2017.”

For more on the New Wild Atlantic Way Story Panel click here

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