Visitors lined up at the Carrick-a-Rede Roap Bridge during a holiday weekend.

On our podcast, we’re always encouraging listeners to get off the beaten path and “discover” places the tourists miss. Today, I’m changing my tune and telling you why you SHOULD follow the crowd.

That’s right, make a bee line for the Ring of Kerry, plant your lips firmly on the Blarney Stone, queue up for the Book of Kells, throw back some mead at a Medieval banquet, jump aboard Dublin’s Viking Splash tour, hop like Q-bert on the Giants Causeway, scavenge Galway for the perfect knit sweater! It’s okay… I promise.

1. There’s a Reason They’re So Popular – Before the Cliffs of Moher put up a visitor centre and safety barricades… before Lady’s View had a gift shop… before Fungie the Dolphin splashed in Dingle Bay, visitors were drawn to these locations. That’s the case with most of Ireland’s most popular attractions. Beyond the commercial distractions that may surround them, you will likely find something that has stood the test of time and worthy of capturing your attention.
2. They’re Easy to Get To – As much as we love a good adventure story, every leg of your itinerary can’t require a complicated or expensive transportation plan. Popular destinations tend to be near main roads, train depots, and bus stops; plus, day and package tours often include them in their all-in-one itineraries.
3. It’s Tradition – Generations of families have kissed the Blarney Stone, sipped Guinness in a pub, and toured Killarney in a horse-drawn jarvey. It’s the people you share your experiences and memories with that matter, so let these popular places serve as a place to connect with friends and family.
4. More Tourists = More Choices – While the downside to crowds can include long lines and diminished experiences, often an area’s popularity equates to more options for accommodations, food, shopping, and access to nearby sites. And while tourist areas are often criticized for high prices, in some instances, the competition can result in a wider range of price options.
5. There’s More Nearby – For every major destination, there are hundreds of lesser-known sites nearby. By simply leaving a bit of time in your itinerary to “uncover” the places that don’t make the Top Ten lists, you will be rewarded with a string of extra finds to add to your trip report.
6. There Are Deals to Be Had – As Ireland’s tourism sector bounces back from tough economic times, bargains are popping up from tour operators, hotels, and visitor attractions. It’s no surprise that the most popular tourist destinations are first in line to lure customers with lower rates and extra amenities.
7. It’s Your Holiday – Your trip is what you make of it. No matter where you go or what you do, your experiences are your own. Embrace that, and make your dream trip happen… and the more tourist hot spots you include, the more leprechaun salt and pepper shakers you’ll have to choose from

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A list of the Irish regional tourism groups represented at Milwaukee Irish Fest 2010.

I recently penned a Letter to the Editor to select Irish newspapers. Since there’s no guarantee they’ll post it, I thought I’d post it here as well. Have a read…

Dear Editor,

Last weekend I attended Irish Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was surprised and disappointed by the almost nonexistent representation of Irish regional tourism at the 30th anniversary of the largest festival of Irish culture in North America.

Aside from Tourism Ireland, only County Clare was present to promote the Republic. In contrast, Northern Ireland sent representatives from Belfast, Newry and Mourne, Down, Banbridge and the Causeway Coast and Glens.

Gone are the days when the Spirit of Galway took over an entire caravan-turned-tourist office at the festival… when Kerry and Cork lured visitors with gorgeous coastal images… when Tipperary sent their craftspeople to show the county’s homegrown talent… when Visit Dublin delivered their most energetic representatives to display the city’s youthful vibe. Instead, visitors were shown three choices – a grab bag of highlights from Discover Ireland, the vast offerings of the North and the diversity of County Clare. All worthy destinations, but certainly not the end-all in Irish travel.

Having spent the month of July in Ireland, I was even more discouraged hearing Clare criticized for their North American trip. I realize difficult economic times are upon us, but expecting regional tourism to close up shop and rely on Tourism Ireland to do the heavy lifting is not a recipe for success — they have an entire island to promote.

I also heard some folks citing recent travel abuses in the Irish government as validation for keeping tourism reps home. I’m afraid that finger is being pointed in the wrong direction. Anyone who saw the reps in Milwaukee working long hours with hot, humid afternoons and an intense Friday-night rainstorm would be hard-pressed to consider their travels excessive or a luxury of any kind… especially considering the volume of prospective tourists they met.

For those promoting regional tourism in Ireland, it is vital they look for outlets, such as Milwaukee’s large festival, where they will come in direct contact with visitors who will be making travel decisions in the next 12 months. No one can sell an area like a local, and would-be tourists love hearing the Irish talk about home.

And while I’m on my soapbox, could the Irish people please refrain from using the phrase “rip-off Ireland” as if it is commonly used outside Ireland? The term appears every time someone brings up slumping tourism. Fact is, Americans don’t use that phrase, despite what Irish radio hosts and callers are saying. Americans are more direct and say “rip-off car rental” or “rip-off airline.” Crying “Rip-off Ireland” leaves no one to hold responsible, and in this climate, we aren’t letting anyone off the hook.

Regards,
Corey Taratuta

www.IrishFireside.com — www.twitter.com/irishfireside

Traveling the perimeter of the peninsula offers deep blue views of the Irish Sea, Dundalk Bay and Carlingford Lough. Inland routes take travelers over the rocky Cooley Mountains with hillside perches looking out to sea. It’s easy to see why visitors who do discover the area stay longer than expected.

Collecting Mussels

As we rolled into Carlingford, the peninsula’s main town, the tide was out and the shoreline was dotted with men and women collecting mussels. We stopped for photos, but resisted the temptation to walk out and join them. Looking back, mussel collecting would have made a wonderful memory.

In town, we found easy, free parking at the train-depot-turned-tourist-office. That’s also where we picked up a crude walking tour of town and booked our B&B for the night. The medieval streets of Carlingford make for easy walking to the ruined castle, churches, restaurants and shops.

B&Bs are still the primary accommodations on the Cooley Peninsula. Our’s was a little out of town, up the hill, with views of the Lough Carlingford and the leisure craft and giant freighters that share the waterway.

One of Carlingford's Historic Pubs

After exploring town we took an evening drive into Northern Ireland to explore the other side of Lough Carlingford where the Mountains of Mourne “swept down to the sea.” Equally as impressive as the sites from earlier in the day coupled with an amazing network of wetstone walls lining every field and road.

Tourism in this region is interesting as it coexists with the farming, fishing and shipping industries. Locals and visitors share the roads, restaurants and pubs without the usual divide between them. Must say, it was a refreshing experience.

The Cooley Peninsula is located in County Louth about halfway between Dublin and Belfast, just east of Dundalk. You can read notes from our trip report at http://irishfireside.com/2008/05/31/carlingford-and-cooley/.

http://discoverireland.com/us/search/?q=carlingford&&t=L_Carlingford

This web page explains it: http://www.rte.ie/info/avfaq.html

It says:
How is access restricted? Where access is restricted, the mechanism for doing so is based on the computer’s IP address. An IP address is the numerical address that each computer has on the web. It is provided by the Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP is the company that provides Internet connections to private and business customers. Examples of ISPs are Eircom, BT, Smart Telecom, UTV, NTL and Irish Broadband.”

Evidently even if you are Irish but are not in the country at the moment you cannot access RTE TV programs because your IP will indicate you are in another country. It makes one wonder why a wall is being built around Ireland to block out Internet access to its TV shows. RTE cites copyright issues. Perhaps pay per view is in in the not too distant future?

Fortunately, some Irish radio shows can still be listened to by non-Irish.

Come on Ireland…share your culture with the world. Don’t just keep it to yourselves. The more people around the world that enjoy your culture, the more will want to visit. In this economy doesn’t Ireland want and need more visitors?

Michele Erdvig
www.IrelandYes.com