All of Westmeath to be promoted under Fáilte Ireland’s ‘Hidden Heartlands’ brand
All of County Westmeath will be within the remit of the ‘Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’ tourism brand with immediate effect, Fáilte Ireland has announced today.
The county had previously been split between ‘Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’ and ‘Ireland’s Ancient East’, but along with Cavan and Offaly, will now fall exclusively under the former heading.
The decision follows a comprehensive review of Fáilte Ireland’s tourism brands.
In addition, a slightly larger portion of Tipperary will be also be encompassed by the Hidden Heartlands brand – namely, the Nenagh Municipal District and part of the Thurles Municipal District.
The announcement was made at Fáilte Ireland’s ‘From Survival to Recovery’ industry event at The Convention Centre Dublin, which was attended by over 800 representatives from the tourism and hospitality industry.
Making the announcement, Paddy Mathews, Head of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands at Fáilte Ireland said: “Today’s expansion of the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands brand to include Cavan, Westmeath, Offaly and part of Tipperary will allow us to further raise awareness of this region domestically and internationally.
“The Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands brand is centred around Ireland’s natural rural beauty, relaxation, and untouched heritage and outdoor activities which each of these counties boast in abundance.
“We look forward to working with industry stakeholders, strategic partners, Members of the Oireachtas and the Local Authorities as we develop this beautiful region as one of the leading regenerative tourism destinations in Europe, with nature and communities at its heart.”
Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands was launched by Fáilte Ireland in 2018 and has been successful in growing tourism in the region. The expanded footprint for Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands to include Cavan, Westmeath, Offaly and part of Tipperary will give visitors a more cohesive visitor experience in the area and will strengthen the overall tourism offering.