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Tourism Ireland seeks 'Inspirational' images

At a time when international visitors cannot travel here, Tourism Ireland is rolling out its #FillYourHeartWithIreland (#FYHWI) initiative – sharing inspirational content about Ireland dolphins with its millions of fans and followers on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. The campaign aims to ‘keep the lights on’ and maintain a strong presence overseas, to help ensure that Ireland stays front-of-mind with them for future holidays.

Tourism Ireland is asking people who have captured great photos and videos, while out and about around the island of Ireland this summer, to share that content – so that Tourism Ireland can, in turn, share it with its international fanbase on social media.

Tourism Ireland is also calling on tourism industry operators to get involved, providing content which will reassure future international visitors about health and safety and that shows the island of Ireland will still be a fun and welcoming holiday destination – when the time is right to welcome international visitors once again.

Kilkenny Promotes 'Living History'

A new campaign aims to capitalise on Kilkenny city's medieval past. butlergallery

Kilkenny Tourism is hoping that visitors will avail of the Living History, Loving Kilkenny promotion to explore the area's 900-year-old history by visiting the many range of attractions associated with its past.

New events and attractions have lined up exhibitions for visitors to explore at places like the Medieval Mile, outdoor adventure and cultural centres, food destinations, historic houses and castles.

Many of Kilkenny's streets, gardens and buildings have been transformed with a series of outdoor exhibitions as part of the Connected Sculpture Trail.

Over 30 works have been done by 20 artists, designers and craftspeople, using multiple sites along Kilkenny's Medieval Mile and these will be open until October, with free entry.

Meanwhile, Butler Gallery in the city has reopened its doors in an ancient - but new for the gallery - venue of the historic Evans' home.

This house was built on the site of a 12th century Augustinian priory and was later the Anglican Church of St John Evans.

Fáilte Ireland unaware of O'Donoghue holiday

Breege O'Donoghue did not disclose any foreign holidays to Fáilte Ireland in the wake of the chairman's resignation, despite being asked directly, the Irish Examiner reports to-dayl. breegeodonoghue

The report says that 'Staff in Fáilte Ireland are "in shock" after the resignation of the second board member on Tuesday night after an Irish Examiner investigation revealed that the former Penneys chief executive had spent time at her holiday home in Marbella, Spain, for week-long periods in July and August. Spain is not on Ireland's green list for travel.'

Following the resignation of chairman Michael Cawley after it emerged he travelled to Italy on holiday, all Fáilte Ireland board members had been asked to disclose any foreign holidays to the organisation.

Tourism Minister Catherine Martin is set to convene the board for an official meeting in the near future, which will likely be held via teleconference due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The minister will now have to appoint two more board members through the Public Appointment Service. Paul Carty has been appointed as Interim Chairman.

Chambers seek Shannion aid

Chambers representing businesses that directly support over 100,000 jobs t have called for government supports to help Shannon Airport during the on-going coronavirus crisis.

Galway, Ennis, Limerick and Shannon chambers, which collectively represents 1,358 businesses across the Shannon Airport catchment, have proposed seven measures to deal with the current crisis and establish a new national aviation model.

The proposals have been forwarded to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan tahead of a meeting sought by the group with him last week.

Specifically relating to operations at Shannon Airport, the chamber is asking the government to; urgently appoint a Chair to lead Shannon Group and in addition to direct government funding, allow cross-subsidisation to use profits from other divisions within the group in support of strategic route and cargo operations development to ensure the long term-viability of Shannon Airport.

Airport's €150m Covid loss

The chief executive of Dublin airport operator daa has warned the company has lost nearly €150m so far this year as a result of the collapse in the aviation sector due to Covid- dublinairport0620 19.

Dalton Philips also said there is a very strong case for the introduction of pre-departure Covid testing and serial spot checking on passengers arriving here.

Speaking to an Irish Tourism Industry Confederation webcast, he said the impact of the pandemic on operations had been "devastating".

In August of last year Dublin airport had 3.5 million passengers pass through it, but this year it had just 500,000 during the same month, he said.

Every day last year around 100,000 passengers on average used the airport, but this year the average has been around 16,500.

He added that the load factors of the 31 airlines operating at Dublin are at 39%, but this time last year it would have been around 90%.