Offaly – Ireland’s Hidden Gem Pavilion – ‘to showcase tourism and enterprise at the Ploughing’.
Cathaoirleach, Cllr Danny Owens, launches Offaly’s ‘Ireland’s Hidden Gem’ Pavilion
The National Ploughing Championships, which will kick off on Tuesday the 18th 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.
Offaly Tourism working with Offaly Local Development Company have been awarded funding under the LEADER Programme, to showcase Food, Craft and Tourism in Offaly.
To coincide with the event, Offaly Tourism will open the Offaly –Ireland’s Hidden Gem Pavilion at the Ploughing for the third year. Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr Danny Owens 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 Tourism’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 the location of the Offaly “Ireland’s Hidden Gem” pavilion right in the heart of the trade stands and expect to welcome thousands of visitors to our pavilion over the course of the championships”.
Exhibitors include Silverline Cruisers; Wild Irish Foragers; Cúlcow Ice Cream; Mór Irish Gin; Tullamore Dew and Offaly Crafty to name put a few.
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 attractions and products available in the county. Offaly – Ireland’s Hidden Gem Pavilion will be located in Block 2, Row 14, Stand 293.
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.
For more information on what will be taking placing in the pavilion, please see www.offaly.ie and www.visitoffaly.ie
Photo: Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive Offaly County Council; Minister for Agriculture, Food & The Marine Michael Creed TD; Danny Owens, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council; Edel Boyd, Offaly County Council; Olive Farrelly, Offaly Tourism Officer and PJ Lynam, NPA Director at Screggan, Tullamore for the launch of this years National Ploughing Championships which will be held 18,19 & 20 September next.
