Northwest Express January, 2014
8
news
HEADSTONES
Giant leap for tourism as astronaut Chris Hadfield lends a hand
Colonel Hadfield’s was in Buncrana, where he learned ‘cúpla focal’ Gaeilge from some of the local schoolchildren. He will also attend a traditional music session and see the spectacular Inishowen Peninsula, the starting point of the Wild Atlantic Way, during his time in Donegal Pictured above Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield gives an insight into the life of an astronaut to pupils at Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha. Tourism Ireland has enlisted the help of Colonel Hadfield to showcase Donegal and Ireland as a top holiday destination. Pic – John McConnell/jmac.ie (no repro fee)
T
he famous Canadian astronaut who put Ireland on the map with the first-ever tweet from space ‘as Gaeilge’ last year, arrived in Ireland recently. Tourism Ireland is hoping that he will help put Ireland ‘on the map’ again – this time as a top destination for holidays in 2014 and beyond. The
organisation has enlisted his help to showcase some of our top visitor attractions and experiences over the coming five days. Former International Space Station commander Colonel Chris Hadfield was at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. He and his wife Helene spent
several days as ‘tourists’ – visiting places like Croke Park and the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. His itinerary also included Donegal (where he learned ‘cúpla focal’ from some local schoolchildren) and the spectacular Inishowen Peninsula, the starting point of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Tourism Ireland will create three short films of Hadfield’s five-day visit – featuring different themes like Gaelic games, our spectacular scenery and major visitor attractions. These films will then be shared by Tourism Ireland with its Facebook fans (almost 2 million) and Twitter followers (109,000+) around the world, shining a spotlight on some of the many great things to see and do on a holiday in Ireland; the films will also be shared with influential international travel and lifestyle media, through an extensive publicity and PR campaign. Niall Gibbons, Tourism Ireland’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to welcome Chris Hadfield to Ireland. I would like to personally thank him for his tremendous generosity in agreeing to help us promote the island of Ireland around the world. Of course, he already began promoting Ireland last year, with the dramatic photos he tweeted from the International Space Station to his huge Twitter fanbase. Chris is an enormously popular, global figure and I am confident that our films of his visit to Ireland will be seen and shared by millions of potential holidaymakers around the world – inspiring them to come and sample the destination for themselves.”
Sligo Riding Stables - goes Dutch in Amsterdam
Ursula Schweiger, Island View Riding Stables, Grange, Co Sligo – speaking about the Wild Atlantic Way at Tourism Ireland’s press awards 2013 in Amsterdam. Ursula is pictured with Aileen Hickey, Tourism Ireland. Pic – Tourism Ireland
OVER fifty of the top travel and lifestyle journalists in the Netherlands attended this year’s ‘Ierland Press Awards’ – organised by Tourism Ireland in Amsterdam. Ursula Schweiger of Island View
Riding Stables (Grange, Co Sligo) flew to Amsterdam, to address the journalists in attendance and tell them all about Sligo and the Wild Atlantic Way. This was the seventh year of
the awards – which recognise and commend the Dutch journalists in attendance, all of whom have written or broadcast about holidays on the island of Ireland during 2013. Prizes were awarded on the night in five different categories, including ‘Special Interest’, ‘Photography’, ‘Papers’, ‘Lifestyle’ and ‘Blogger of the Year’. Tourism Ireland thanked the members of the media for their efforts through the year in helping to highlight Ireland as a fantastic destination for Dutch holidaymakers. The event was also an excellent opportunity for Tourism Ireland to launch the Wild Atlantic Way – Ireland’s first long-distance driving route, stretching from the Inishowen Peninsula in Co Donegal to Kinsale in Co Cork – to the influential journalists. Aileen Hickey, Tourism Ireland’s manager for the Netherlands, said: “Tourism Ireland was delighted to
recognise these influential journalists for their work during 2013, helping us in our efforts to raise awareness of the island of Ireland among potential Dutch holidaymakers. Our extensive publicity programme is a key element of our promotions each year, to highlight Ireland as a ‘must see’ destination and grow Dutch visitor numbers. 2013 has been a good year for tourism from the Netherlands – with the latest CSO figures, from August to October, showing visitor numbers from the Benelux countries up over +17% on the same threemonth period last year. “We have a busy programme of promotions planned for 2014; a major focus of our activity will be the Wild Atlantic Way. We will also continue to highlight compelling reasons to visit the island of Ireland, the great value available and the ease of access from the Netherlands.”
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Signs of a Diva ON Saturday 22nd February, 8pm Ballina Arts Centre present Signs of Diva, by the internationally-acclaimed UK-based Graeae Theatre Company. Signs of a Diva follows the adventures of mousey old Sue the undertaker from Bingley Bridge. No one knows she’s a Diva fanatic, until one day she is offered a cabaret spot at Harry’s Place. Overnight, Tammy Frascati is born and Sue finds herself hurtling to stardom and Las Vegas, signing the songs of her favourite Divas, Billie Holiday, Dusty Springfield, Ella Fitzgerald & Gloria Gaynor. But, as success beckons a handsome stranger pierces Sue’s heart. What does she do? Can she have both? The show is a one woman tour-de-force with Caroline Parker, known as ‘Britain’s favourite deaf diva’ at the helm. All performances include signed songs, captioned text and audio description. The show is full of classic songs by all the divas, given a fresh twist for those who can’t hear who may be discovering the songs for the first time, and also for those who can hear, but who will see them in a new light. A most see for all you Diva fans! Signs of a Diva is presented in partnership with Arts & Disability Ireland, with support from the British Council and Xilinx. Tickets €15/€12 check www.ballinaartscentre.com for more information or call 096 73593 to reserve your tickets. Ballina Arts Centre would like to wish all its patrons a happy and prosperous 2014 and looks forward to entertaining you with a varied line up of shows and events during the year.
Bluegrass legend for Ballina Arts Centre ON Saturday 1st February, 8pm Ballina Arts Centre presents The Nation Blackwell Bluegrass Band led by Curtis Blackwell. After more than 40 years of playing bluegrass music, Curtis Blackwell still captivates audiences with his high, powerful voice and the sincerity expressed in his singing. Curtis Blackwell is a member of the Atlanta Country & Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and a former member of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys. He has performed on the Grand Ole Opry and travelled extensively throughout the eastern U.S. performing at many of the historic Bluegrass festivals. So fans of high quality bluegrass and American country music don’t miss this opportunity to hear and see this award-winning band. Tickets €15/€12 website www.ballinaartscentre.com for more information or call 096 73593 to reserve your tickets.
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