Govt urged not to forget Tipperary in favour of coastal tourism

The government are being urged not to overlook the spine of the country when it comes to tourism, as Deputy Alan Kelly pointed out that tourists tend to visit the outskirts of the country but that the central part of Ireland has plenty to offer as well.

​"As the Minister will probably know, I used to work in Bord Fáilte and Fáilte Ireland until I made the crazy decision to get into politics. I am sure all members wish I had not”.

"A colleague of mine, a fellow Tipperary man who was my manager, had a saying about tourism: ‘We cannot forget the hole in the doughnut’. The issue is that a large number of people who come into this country go around the outskirts of Ireland.

"If, however, we consider the quality of the offering and, from a price comparison point of view, of what is also available for tourists down the spine of Ireland, there is a golden opportunity for us, particularly with Deputy Burke as Minister and, dare I say, with the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, beside him. From Cavan all the way down to the Cork-Kerry border, it as an oval shape that is the hole in the doughnut. That is where we need to concentrate capital and current investment”.

A report published by Tipperary County Council in December last year showed largely positive outcomes for Tipperary, as 74% of businesses who took part in a survey reported growth or a stable performance compared with 2024, while 26% experienced a decline. The survey also found that 66% of accommodation providers had reported increased or steady performance year-on-year since 2024.

Companies providing entertainment and activities had an even more positive report, as 82% maintained or grew their visitor numbers. Deputy Kelly drew on his past life in tourism to demonstrate how the tourist season could be extended.

“A number of years ago, when we had very little money, we launched the Lough Derg plan, a roadmap for experience development and destination marketing. Where I am from, along Lough Derg, which touches County Clare, north Tipperary and south Galway and the Shannon basin, is a hidden secret. People come into Killaloe now that we have the new bridge, which I hold my hands up as being responsible for.

“Some of them have never heard of the greatest place on earth, Garrykennedy, which is unbelievably popular once people get there, or they go to Terryglass, Dromineer, Ballycommon, Ballina or wherever else.I use that as an example of how we, as a country, need to extend our tourism season and our tourism product generally”.