Ireland’s first county-orientated primary school tours publication has been launched in County Clare.The Clare ‘Live the Life’ brochure encourages teachers and students to visit locally-based attractions including the Cliffs of Moher, Holy Island on Lough Derg, Clare Museum, Bunratty Castle, Scattery Island, the West Clare Railway and the Poulnabrone Dolmen.
The brochure, which is supported by 61 attractions and tourism providers throughout the County, has been distributed to schools in Clare, Limerick, Galway, Tipperary and Kerry. The initiative has been developed by the Clare Tourism Forum, with the support of Clare County Council and Shannon Development.
Promoted day activities include an educational workshop at the Irish Seedsavers Association in Scarriff, dolphin watching in the Shannon Estuary, nature walks in the Burren, water sports along the Atlantic coast, aviation and meteorology workshops in Shannon, guided tours of the West Clare Recycling Plant and a tour of locations from the Father Ted TV series.
Speaking following the brochure launch at Kilrush National School, Forum Chairperson Rebecca Brew stated: “The school tours market is a significant market and the Forum sees potential to build on existing activity in this area. This unique, informative brochure is a testimony to the strong and extensive offerings of attractions and activities County Clare has on offer. I encourage all primary school teachers to tour in Clare and take advantage of a diverse range of fun, educational and affordable options.”
Ms. Brew noted that 2010 is forecasted to be an extremely difficult year for tourism in Ireland. “The brochure will no doubt result in an increase in economic benefits for attractions and activities in Clare”, she added.
Kilrush N.S. Principal Paddy McInerney says that the brochure will serve as a wonderful platform for Clare tourism attractions to promote their wares and encourage the younger generation to have a better understanding and appreciation of what their own County has to offer.
The Clare Tourism Forum was established in November 2005 with the objective of mobilising a collaborative strategy to sustain and develop tourism within the county. Its membership includes representatives of the principal agencies involved in tourism promotion in Clare in partnership with representatives of the hotel, vintners, tourism retail and B+B sectors, as well as the main local tourism attractions.
According to Maureen Cleary, Forum Marketing Executive: “The newly launched brochure presents primary school teachers with a wide range of school tours for all ages in County Clare. The Forum aims in 2010 to design and print a brochure suitable for secondary school students and an updated primary school brochure. This will be made available to all schools in Ireland.”
For more on the Clare Tourism Forum and the Clare ‘Live the Life’ brochure visit www.clare.ie, call 065-6846537 or email ctf@clarecoco.ie.
