Offaly – Ireland’s Hidden Gem Pavilion – ‘to showcase tourism and enterprise at the ploughing’.

Cathaoirleach, Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick, launches Offaly’s ‘Ireland’s Hidden Gem’ Pavilion

The National Ploughing Championships, which will kick off on Tuesday the 20th of September, is expected to generate millions in revenue for the local economy, with over 280,000 visitors and more than 1,500 trade stands expected to descend on Screggan, Tullamore for 3 days.

To coincide with the event, Offaly County Council will open the Offaly –Ireland’s Hidden Gem Pavilion at the ploughing. Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick said that “the pavilion will offer an impressive “Offaly experience” to visitors and will showcase a variety of great tourism experiences, and artisan food and craft producers. It will also highlight Offaly’s strengths in Innovation and Enterprise. This initiative is a major element of Offaly County Council’s work to capitalise on the fantastic opportunity presented by the National Ploughing Championships to attract tourists and investment to the county”.

Anna Maria Delaney, Chief Executive, Offaly County Council, said that “We want to present Offaly in the best positive light to visitors, media and participants during the National Ploughing Championships.  We are delighted with our prime location right in the heart of the trade stands and expect to welcome thousands of visitors to our pavilion over the course of the championships”. 

Offaly Tourism and Local Enterprise Office Offaly has lined up exciting competitions, tourism displays and artisan food and craft producers to showcase the huge variety of high quality tourism attractions and artisan food and craft products available in the county. There will also be a daily line up of performances, children’s workshops and presentations on stage by local musicians, craft producers and enterprise innovators. Offaly – Ireland’s Hidden Gem Pavilion will be located in Block 2, Row 14, Stand Number 323. 

Philip O’ Brien, General Manager, Tullamore Court Hotel and Chair of Offaly Tourism welcomed the initiative by the hotels in Offaly to staff the tourism stand in the Pavilion and provide the benefit of their extensive in depth knowledge of the tourism offering in the county. Philip also outlined plans to launch a new tourism brochure for the county at the National ploughing Championships.

For more information on what will be taking placing in the pavilion, please see www.offaly.ie and www.visitoffaly.ie