Just a few weeks ago, I along with my colleague Jane Maguire in Ireland, attended the Irish annual tourism trade shows, Meitheal (translates into meeting or coming together in Irish) and Meet the Buyer.
Both trade shows, hosted by Tourism Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and Failte Ireland give overseas buyers/operators the opportunity to meet new suppliers, get updates on new product offerings on the Island of Ireland, connect with tourism Industry partners and most importantly the chance to connect with old friends! Like last year, this year’s shows were also both virtual and the comradery of the industry remains just as strong.
These trade shows allow us to connect one-on-one with many of our valued suppliers. When people anticipate planning a trip, there is first question after deciding to go is, ‘where should we stay?”. We at Katie Daly’s Ireland are so proud of our strong and valuable relationships with the vast array of accommodation providers across the Island of Ireland. The updates we received allow us to make sure that the accommodation hand-picked for your trip is the most suitable for your Irish stay and experience. There are so many options to suit the traveler’s preference – from the world-renowned century-old Irish castles, to our downtown and chic city hotels, our friends at B&B Ireland for a home-stay, five star guesthouses to the new boutique country escapes to private exclusive rentals… there is truly something for everyone!
It was also great to connect with our transport providers who we work very closely with in developing and crafting the perfect private tour experience for our clients. They too are eager to welcome you and show you the beautiful country.
We heard about the new fantastic Irish food experiences and world renowned cooking schools that we are so looking forward to incorporating into our clients’ itineraries, the new and exciting distilleries and the wonderful authentic experiences that connect our clients with the real people of Ireland! More than ever, we all recognize the importance of being able to interact, perhaps while learning something new!
It was wonderful to hear the resilience of our Industry, how they have survived the past year and a half and how they will welcome our US Clients #whenthetimeisright to travel and the new procedures in place post-pandemic.
At Katie Daly’s Ireland, we realize that for many people a trip to Ireland is one of the most important destinations on their travel bucket list. Perhaps people are tracing their ancestry, or now more than ever have longed to go to, or return to Ireland, for so long. While we all strive to get back to a new normal, there are some great new experiences that we’d like to take this opportunity to share for when the time is right – we look forward to welcoming you to the island of Ireland, hopefully very soon!
Here is just a taste of what is on offer:
The 5* Crom Castle estate in Co. Fermanagh offers total exclusivity and privacy for a group stay. Imagine an authentic Downton Abbey Experience with your own butler, housekeeper, cook and staff! Packages completely bespoke and designed around the group’s interests.
Clonalis House is a charming Irish country guest house in Roscommon with all the ingredients for a lazy weekend in the country. The Rooms are homely and stylish with impeccable views, each telling its own story. The four self-catering cottages, tucked away in the courtyard, have been fashioned from the former granary and coach houses, and are country-farmhouse inspired, decorated with a timeless good taste and all the modern comforts.
Located on scenic Slea Head in Co. Kerry, visit Dingle Sheepdogs to meet with a local Irish sheepdog farmer who will demonstrate working sheepdog trials. Visit the nearby historic Famine Cottages – dating back to the early 1800’s, the ancestral home of the Kavanagh family remains as it would have appeared during the Irish Potato Famine.
Ideally located in the historic and food-loving haven of the picturesque coastal town of Kinsale on the Wild Atlantic Way, Kinsale Mead is Ireland’s first meadery in almost 200 years! Using a blend of ancient recipes and modern techniques, from ‘Bee to Bottle’, Kate and Denis Dempsey have resurrected a love of Mead through the sustainably made, award-winning meads created at their family run meadery.
Situated in the historical Irish town of Bushmills, with bucket-list beaches, attractions and golf courses just a short drive away, lies the boutique Old Bushmills Barn. Dating back to 1745, this Georgian barn was brought back to life in the year 2020 to give the lucky few a truly unique place to stay. Whether you’re a family looking for a cozy coastal getaway or a group of friends looking to celebrate, there are a range of options available for short breaks and full week rentals.
As an island, Ireland is certainly renowned for its seafood! At DK Connemara Oysters, see first-hand the oyster farm crew working to grow the oysters. They will show you how to perfectly shuck the oyster & take punt at the weight of the oyster, all before actually tasting the fresh Wild Atlantic Way oyster.
OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, an International Dark Sky Park, where astronomy meets archaeology. Near the ancient Beaghmore Stone Circles, at the foot of the Sperrin mountains, the observatory is at the heart of a rich landscape of substantial archaeological and cultural significance and a history which spans millennia.
The unique award-winning Catch and Sea™ food experience at the Causeway Coast Foodie Tours has been exclusively created and offers you the experience of landing freshly caught local fish for your breakfast, straight from the Atlantic Ocean onto your plate! This unique experience features as part of Northern Ireland’s new tourism brand; ‘Embrace A Giant Spirit’… ‘giant experiences of culture, landscapes, our legends, our cities, our coast and our food’.
Ballyknocken House, Farm and Cookery School is scenically located just 30 miles south of Dublin City in Co. Wicklow. This charming 4* Victorian style farm guesthouse offers 7 guest bedrooms plus a 3-bedroom Milking Parlour apartment, surrounded by scented kitchen gardens, offering a farm to fork experience. The property is home to celebrity chef and award-winning food writer, Catherine Fulvio, who has been featured on NBC’s Today morning show. The much-loved Ballyknocken Cookery School is a haven for foodies and budding chefs and was voted the winner of the International Cordon D’Or Culinary Academy of the Year.
Can you imagine creating a personalized Gin to your own recipe? Get involved in a hands-on experiential class, where you’ll design, distil, taste, bottle and label your very own Gin! At the Skellig Six 18 Distillery & Visitor Experience in Co. Kerry, the visitor experience and distillery is located right on the Ring of Kerry Coastline, where the mountains meet the sea. Skellig Six18, the name of which is inspired by the number of steps to the top of Skellig Michael, produces both craft gin and pot still whiskey at the distillery, and will soon welcome a VIP lounge which will host a viewing deck out on to the Kerry Dark-Sky Reserve.
We will be updating you in the next few weeks on the procedures with International travel, as we await new announcements/direction from the Irish Government and the Irish Health officials to ensure a safe and warmest of welcomes. We will keep you posted on what you need to know before you book and go as details become available. We cannot wait to finally welcome you to Ireland soon!
