Arrivals from SA are up
TOURISM Ireland reports that
around 28 000 South Africans
visited Ireland last year, a 10%
increase over 2012, choosing the
country for a variety of reasons, among
them that it is English-speaking and
driving is on the same side of the road
as South Africa.
Many South Africans have Irish
heritage and count relatives among
the Irish who fought alongside the
Boers against the English in the AngloBoer
war.
Others are drawn to its scenery,
music and dance, pubs and culture.
Over the past 15 years, Tourism
Ireland has been active in South
Africa and continues to host press
trips, resulting in features through
mainstream media channels. It also
engages with potential tourists on
social media through competitions and
promotions.
Tourism Ireland is aiming for a 5%
increase in South African visitors
annually. Most travel to Ireland is for
leisure purposes, although the country
also sees many incentive groups.
Ethiad doubles up to Dublin
ETIHAD Airways has increased its Abu
Dhabi-Dublin service from 10 flights a
week, to double daily. The frequency
boost of 40% will provide 8 988 seats
each week between the capital cities of
the UAE and the Republic.
The airline operates a 380-seat
B777-300ER on the route, configured
with 40 seats in Pearl business class
and 340 in Coral economy class.
It also operates a 262-seat Airbus
A330-200 on the route, with 22 seats
in Pearl business class and 240
in Coral economy class.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’
president and ceo, said flights to
Dublin, which commenced in July
2007, had been one of the carrier’s
most successful routes. The increased
frequencies would benefit business and
leisure travel right across the Etihad
Airways network.
Since 2007, Etihad has flown nearly
1,2 million passengers on the route.
Last year was the busiest to date, with
more than 240 000 passengers.
Romantic Ireland
Ireland is a romantic destination.
For lovers seeking the most
romantic experience, the following
are worth consideration:
St Valentine’s Shrine in Dublin’s
Whitefriar Church. There is a
special Blessing of the Rings
ceremony at the shrine on the
saint’s feast day, February 14.
Everyone knows the scene from
the movie, Titanic – the iconic
moment when Leo shows Kate
how to fly. That photo opportunity
awaits at Titanic Belfast, the
visitor experience dedicated to
the world’s most famous ship.
The Claddagh ring is popular
the world over as a friendship,
engagement and wedding ring.
A quintessential Irish symbol,
it is worn by millions, including
the likes of U2 front man, Bono.
According to legend, it originated
in Claddagh in Galway in 17th
century. Thomas Dillon jewellers,
the original makers of the ring,
have a gift shop and museum in
Quay Street in the city centre.
Love is in the air at the Cliffs
of Moher – the outstanding
beauty of this natural wonder
makes it one of the world’s most
romantic attractions. Offering
stunning views over the wild
Atlantic Ocean, the cliffs provide
the perfect setting to pop the
question.
Kylemore Abbey in Connemara,
was built in 1867 as a lover’s
gift. A vast inheritance funded
the construction of the magical
castle, which Mitchell Henry
intended as a testament to his
wife Margaret. However Margaret
died suddenly in 1874 never
seeing her castle fully complete.
Touring with Britatish T.I.P.S
BRITISH T.I.P .S has added coach tours
to its portfolio, offering travellers using
Dublin as a base a chance to get out
and see more. The tours cost between
R530 and R1 040 per person.
The company also offers rail tours
covering most of Ireland, letting
travellers experience major tourist
attractions and countryside along the
way. Day-long rail tours start at around
R1 760 per person and overnight
options start at R3 000 per person.
British T.I.P.S offers a full range of
accommodation options, from B&Bs
and manor houses to castles.
Car hire, hotel transfers and
sightseeing tours in Dublin are also
offered. There is also a self-drive tour
programme, where tours of five nights
or more qualify for a free ‘Ireland at a
Glimpse’ voucher book with two-for-one
sightseeing packages.
Busabout Ireland tours
AMONG Busabout’s many
Irish itineraries are the
Celtic Rocker and Southern
Rocker, selling from R2 300
per person.
Guests explore local
sights, visit castles, hear
about local legends and
go for walks through the
countryside.
Darsha Soobramoney,
Busabout brand manager,
says: “In Ireland,
Busabout’s sister company
Shamrocker Adventures,
handles all ground
arrangements and all trips
depart from and return to
the Shamrocker Adventures
office in Dublin.”
Guests stay in local
dormitory accommodation.
Upon arrival at the
destinations each night,
a guide provides local
information to help guests
make the most of their
free time in the evenings.
Guests can enjoy a meal
with the tour group or
spend a night out on the
town, meeting locals and
immersing themselves in
Irish pub culture.
The tour price includes
all transport but excludes
accommodation.
Dorm beds usually cost
between €18 (R260) and
€20 (R290) a night, while
private rooms start at €25
(R360) per person.
Bed and breakfast options
start at €40 (R578) a night.
Stay at a Castle with Insight
INSIGHT Vacations is
promoting an itinerary that
includes a stay at medieval
Ashford Castle in County
Mayo.
‘Irish Elegance’ gives
guests the opportunity to
explore the interior of the
castle and stay overnight.
On the way to the castle
guests board Isle of Innisfree
for a scenic cruise of Loch
Corrib. The cruise offers
great opportunities for wildlife
spotting along the shore and
the captain, who is author
of A Voyage of Discovery, a
history of the castle, gives
an overview. After lunch,
passengers disembark
and are escorted over the
drawbridge to the castle.
Pieter Beyers, gm of Insight
Vacations, says the hotel
provides a romantic backdrop
in superior surroundings.
Guests can explore the vast
estate, visit the spa or go on
a ‘Hawk Walk’ to learn about
the ancient art of falconry.
Wild Atlantic Way launched
world’s most scenic coastal
drives, Tourism Ireland has
launched ‘The Wild Atlantic
Way’, the world’s longest
coastal touring route.
Three times the length of
California’s Pacific Coast
Highway, 10 times longer
than Australia’s Great Ocean
Road and over 12 times the
length of South Africa’s Garden
Route, the Wild Atlantic Way
stretches over 2 500km of
Ireland’s rugged coastline,
starting at the northwestcoast
of the Inishowen
Peninsula in Donegal. It ends
at the southernmost point, in
Kinsale in County Cork. The
route is mapped throughout,
pointing tourists to a number
of attractions, activities and
stunning coastal views.
The Wild Atlantic Way project
received €8 million (R113m)
in government funding in this
year’s budget and aims to
boost tourism to the west of
Ireland.
The west coast, which is
exposed to winds and swell
from the Atlantic, is also
known for its surf spots.
Signposts point to these along
the entire route, including
some world-class locations for
wave-riders. The full route also
links 53 Blue Flag beaches.
Many festivals, events,
pubs and restaurants can
be discovered along the way.
Sights and activities include
Irish heritage sites, hikes to
castles and scenic drives.
Game of Thrones film set draw fans
COMPETING with some of the
THE world-wide popularity
of the ‘Game of Thrones’ is
attracting fans to visit the
show’s film set in Belfast.
Tourism Ireland has put
together the three-day
‘Causeway Coast and
Glens Game of Thrones
Itinerary’, giving travellers
the opportunity to tour the
show’s production centre,
where filming takes place in
the Titanic Studios.
The 400km round-trip
travels across some of
Northern Ireland’s most
stunning landscapes with
plenty of activities and
sightseeing opportunities
along the way. It includes
the Causeway Coastal
Route, also used in many
scenes of the series.
From the Belfast studio
the tour heads along the
County Antrim coastline to
the small holiday town of
Ballycastle, then stops at
Cushendun, an important
landmark in the show.
This is also the location of
the famous ‘Kingsroad’–
locally known as ‘The Dark
Hedges’ and one of the
most photographed natural
phenomena in Northern
Ireland.
The tour also stops at the
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
– its cliffs and surrounding
water are often seen in
the television series – and
the ‘Giant’s Causeway’,
a Unesco World Heritage
Site.
Travellers can also opt to
self-guide their way through
some key locations.
Powerscourt-'one of the best
THE Powerscourt Gardens
in County Wicklow were
recently placed third in the
World’s Top 10 Gardens by
National Geographic. The vast,
landscaped gardens have two
golf courses, a five-star hotel,
wedding venues and corporate
events facilities.
To visit the gardens, adults
pay €8,50 (R120), students
€7,50 (R107), children
between five and 16 pay €5
(R71) and children under
the age of five go free. Adult
visitors to the waterfall pay
€5,50 (R78), students €5,
children between two and 16
pay €3,50 (R50) and children
under two years go free.
One of the most interesting
parts of the Powerscourt
Gardens is its pets’ cemetery,
believed to be the largest in
any private Irish garden.
Year round, Powerscourt
Estate holds events such as
flower shows, complimentary
gardening classes, dog
training, lessons on bird
watching and fun activities for
children.
