Just seen the new lonely planet guide to the Emerald Isle.
At first glance it really is a Damning slur on our celtic tiger culture, that can only turn potential tourists away. But is this accurate? Are we forgetting what Ireland has to offer the tourist for their Euro?
Without doubt it is reasonaby accurate and arguably pulls its punches a bit. Why Dublin gets so many tourists beats me. 1 full day is loads of time to see anything worthwhile or unique that almost anyother capital city has. Without wanting to sound biased it is the very areas that are supposedly losing out along the West Coast that are the best places to visit, with the exceptions of Clonmacnoise in the Midlands and Newgrange/Glendalough in the East. But having travelled widely myself, particularly in Europe, there is fabulous value on the Continent compared to our grossly overpriced Island. I always found LP a good reference guide wherever I travelled particularly for accommodation, although I depend more on the internet these days for more up to date info.
Id have to agree Kerrynorth. The LP is consistant if nothing else. As u rightly say, the accom guide is fairly bang on wherever one goes. As regards impact on tourism, i doubt it very much. However i do think that ireland relies far to much on the Green field/Guiness/irish stew blah blah as a sales pitch.
I really think we need to develop a balanced marketing approach promoting the irish culture alongside our contemporary culture that has evolved from the Celtic Tiger Economy.
It not so much that it sounds biased, so much as it is biased and evidence of a bit of a mindset problem. In truth, if you visit Europe you find countries like France that have a higher population density than us manage to retain tracts of unspoilt countryside that are a pleasure to visit. Go the West of Ireland and you just find ignorant people destroying their own environment, which is unlikely to be much of a tourist attraction at any price.Originally Posted by kerrynorth
I hope that doesn't sound biased.
ishwhale.blogspot.com
Picture hereIt not so much that it sounds biased, so much as it is biased and evidence of a bit of a mindset problem. In truth, if you visit Europe you find countries like France that have a higher population density than us manage to retain tracts of unspoilt countryside that are a pleasure to visit. Go the West of Ireland and you just find ignorant people destroying their own environment, which is unlikely to be much of a tourist attraction at any price.
I hope that doesn't sound biased.
Once there was only a miserable ould bit of poor seaside land with a few scrawny sheep on it to look at. On a dark night twas as black as ink. Now look at it, modern, homely comfortable houses with flush toilets and all mod cons. At night the whole place is lit up like Christmas! We need to be puttin pictures like this in brochures and not oul thatched cottages and donkeys.
<mod by Conor> I replaced the picture with a link because it was distorting the thread </mod>
grrrrr
Here's what that Lonely Planet World Guide sees fit to mention about my own dear Galway...
Heck, I've lived here practically all my life and I didn't know that!Code:Factoid "No Mercy" In 1588 two hundred Spaniards stranded in Galway Bay after a shipwreck were slaughtered on orders of the Lord Deputy. At the time the Spanish Armada was at full strength.
Makes us sound like a nice friendly bunch of ppl and all!
Ich mag Steine!
It was the same along the west coast of Ireland wherever the Spanish sailors straggled ashore ....many were beaten to death by the local Irish on the beaches. I remember reading a detailed book on it many years ago.
I don't know how mush truth is in that. Was the Lord Mayor welected by the people the people and did ordinary Galwegians or the British army carry out the act.
The UK was at war with the British at the time.
By the way the comment that people like going to France and seeing large tracts of unpüsoiled countryside is a bit off.
A lot of Tourist love the fact that the can go to out of the way villages in Connemara and still find people living there. Ireland unusal popualtion density is a turn on for many tourists. If they dont see it at home they like- basic rule of Tourism.
"Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative."
Oscar Wilde
It was the ordinary Irish people who came across them on the beaches. One spanish who survived described how they clubbed many of the shipwreck survivors to death and stole their possessions.I don't know how mush truth is in that. Was the Lord Mayor welected by the people the people and did ordinary Galwegians or the British army carry out the act.
So you think everyone loves the "Bungalow bliss" blight and ribbon development on the landscape ?
Did I say that? No. Stupid man. Some do. I know this beacue I spent the best part tof 4 years working with Tourists.
Where is your source for your allegation about clubbing Spanairds? Seems to contradict the Lonley Planets account. They said it was on the orders of the Lord Major. You say that I was just a notion they took.
"Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative."
Oscar Wilde
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