News
Killarney tourism bodies “building for the future”
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EXCLUSIVE
By Sean Moriarty
The long-term future of Killarney’s reputation as an international tourism destination looks secure thanks to the promotion efforts of local industry leaders this week.
The Bord Failte’s annual Meitheal showcase – now its 46th year – took place online, and was a chance to sell Ireland to 216 tourism buyers in the UK, Europe, the USA and Australia.
Over 50 Kerry-based tourism businesses took part with Killarney represented by Kerry Tourism Industry Federation, the Gleneagle Hotel Group, The Brehon Hotel, The Lake Hotel, the O’Donoghue-Ring Group and the Great Southern Killarney.
Meitheal is aimed at securing business for the 2022 and 2023 seasons but local representatives say there is strong interest from the UK and Central Europe.
“From our group perspective it is an important platform to connect with existing clients and meet new ones. FáilteIreland has done well to facilitate Meitheal this year and allow the trade to focus this time on reaching out to our trade partners and exploring new opportunities. Our hotels and other businesses are well received and clients intend to continue working with us in the future,” Brian Miley, the Gleneagle Group’s Business Development Manager told the Killarney Advertiser.
He added that interest in America was not that strong but that there was no cause for concern either.
“[This is] possibly due to the time difference and not being in the country in person,” he added.
Patrick O'Donoghue of the Gleneagle Hotel Group attended online meetings too as part of his role as the Marketing Chairman of Kerry Tourism Industry Federation.
“Meitheal is always a key networking event for the Kerry tourism industry where the hotels, attractions and activity providers have an opportunity to meet with existing and target new tour operators who are looking to place business for 2022 and 2023,” he added. “It is very much about building for the future, I'm delighted that over 50 of the Kerry tourism industry are virtually attending Meitheal this week and flying the flag for Kerry. Tourism across the world as it is is certainly keeping Kerry as a destination in the minds of these tour operators and travel agents."
Two young local girls showed great business initiative on Saturday ahead of the Kerry v Donegal match at Fitzgerald Stadium.
Erin McSweeney and Jessie Doolin set up a sweet stall outside a house on Lewis Road, catching the thousands of football fans walking towards the grounds.
The enterprising pair did a busy trade selling soft drinks, sweets, and chocolates to the passing crowds before throw-in.
Their match-day venture also caught the attention of the national sports media, with a photograph of the girls at their stall captured by Sportsfile photographer Stephen McCarthy ahead of the game.
Noel O’Neill has claimed first place in the Unrestricted category of the latest Killarney Camera Club competition, which focused on the theme of the ‘Kerry Landscape’.
His winning photograph, titled ‘Conor Pass Lake and the Three Sisters’, features a detailed study of Mullaghveal located beneath the Conor Pass.
The image captures the wide sweep of the valley, utilizing an elevated viewpoint that allows the glacial landscape to unfold toward the Atlantic horizon. The composition highlights the quiet lakes in the foreground against the dark, rocky slopes of the valley, with the distant outline of the Three Sisters adding further depth and scale to the scene.
The judges praised the photograph as an outstanding example of landscape work, noting its effective balance of composition, light, and perspective to capture the vastness of the West Kerry terrain.
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