Austrian travel journalists set to shine spotlight on Offaly

TOP Austrian travel journalists have been exploring Offaly during their visit to Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. The group – which included representatives of a national newspaper and two regional newspapers in Austria – has a combined reach of more than 1.3 million readers.

The group’s action-packed itinerary included a guided tour of Birr Castle Demesne, a river cruise to Clonmacnoise with Viking Tours Ireland, followed by a guided tour of Clonmacnoise, as well as a wild food foraging experience in Birr with Wild Food Mary. The journalists also enjoyed meals in Fallon’s Bar Shannonbridge, The Thatch Crinkill, The Stables Birr and The Blue Apron Restaurant, as well as an overnight stay at the County Arms Hotel.

Aubrey Irwin, Tourism Ireland’s Manager for Austria and Switzerland, said: “Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite these influential Austrian travel writers to Offaly and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. The articles they write when they return home will be read by more than 1.3 million people – so their visit is a really good opportunity to showcase Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands to a wide audience of prospective Austrian visitors.

“Tourism Ireland undertakes a busy publicity programme around the world each year to raise the profile of the island of Ireland – and visits by influential travel writers like these are a key element of that programme.”

In 2019, we welcomed 81,000 visitors from Austria to the island of Ireland, who spent €71 million during their time here.