Visit Downings are stirring up a healthy appetite for tourism this year following a food-themed launch for the collaborative tourism group.
Businesses from Carrigart, Glen and Downings gathered at Grape & Grain on Thursday 6th March to sample ‘A Taste of Downings’ and celebrate some of the best food tourism gems they have to offer.
Guests enjoyed a six course tasting experience with premium dishes provided by local restaurants and hotels.
A Taste of Downings – Shellfish Mornay from Singing Pub Downings
Celebrating the quality food of the region is just one of the many plans of Visit Downings in 2019.
The business group was formed in 2017 as a marketing platform to promote and sustain tourism growth in the area. Members developed a website, Facebook page, What’s On guide and commissioned a video showcasing scenic highlights and amenities.
The Visit Downings Committee: Mairead O’Connell (Singing Pub), Barry Connor (Downings Bay Hotel), Susie Coyle (Rosapenna Hotel), Cormac Walsh (Olde Glen Bar and Restaurant), John Casey (Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort), Chris Healy (Grape and Grain Downings), Seamus McGinty (Downings Coastguard Cottages) and Darragh McClafferty (Beach Hotel Downings)
Visit Downings committee member Susie Coyle said exciting plans are in store for 2019. “We want to further develop our website, we want to increase our exposure on various media and social media channels and we want to increase the distribution and frequency of the What’s On Downings guide,” she said.
Another exciting concept in the pipeline is a Visit Downings coupon book, combining discounts for local restaurants, businesses and activities. It is hoped that the books will be launched next season.
A Taste of Downings in Grape and Grain
A Taste of Downings
Also in attendance was Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh, who lives in Carrigart.
Mr McHugh said the launch was the “start of something very positive.”
He pointed out that the strength of the Downings community is on the ground, in their collaboration and in their families.
Minister Joe McHugh at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
“A lot of the businesses in this area are family businesses. Everybody is in it together but also families are making that investment. They are taking the risk and ensuring that, not alone do they provide employment for this generation, but they are also looking to the next generation,” Minister McHugh said.
Mr McHugh added that the Visit Downings initiative is an opportunity for locals to showcase what they value: “We have ways of threading through the great traditions we have and the great resources here. And the fundamental resource is the people we have.”
Noel McBride, Fine Gael candidate in the upcoming local elections, also commended the group and highlighted the economic benefits and job creation that comes with an extended tourist season.
A key aim of Visit Downings is extending the tourism season beyond the summer months. This was celebrated by Joan Crawford, Client Services Manager of Failte Ireland, who outlined the value of year-round tourism in Donegal.
Ms Crawford said: “People don’t come for a bed anymore, people come for what there is to see and do in an area and this is why Visit Downings is so important because it will showcase that.”
Ms Crawford added that Failte Ireland is looking forward to working with the organisation as it targets visitors from overseas markets, including France, Germany and the US.
John Martin (Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort), Barney McLaughlin (Donegal Tourism), Caroline Britton (Donegal Tourism) and Seamus McGinty (Downings Coast Guard Cottages) at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Barney McLaughlin from Donegal Tourism was keen to point out that there is so much to savour in Downings:
“People come for an experience, food is a big experience and what you have here is a true taste of what Downings has to offer.”
“It’s great to see businesses coming together a working collaboratively,” he added.
Maria Doherty, Sinn Féin candidate in the May elections, said she would be the biggest advocate of the initiative.
Susie Coyle (Visit Downings) and local election candidate Maria Doherty at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Local county councillor John O’Donnell said that Donegal is entitled to boast about its many attractions.
Cllr John O’Donnell at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Cllr O’Donnell said: “People will only visit Downings if we broadcast it throughout the rest of the world. The way we do that is when we travel near and far we tell people that Downings is open for business and we welcome people to all the facilities and amenities that are there.”
There was a strong sense of pride among local businesses at the event. Through celebrating food and hospitality, showcasing scenery and marketing local activities, the group is confident that it will attract and impress many more visitors in the year ahead.
Donegal Daily was there to soak up the atmosphere of the night in Grape & Grain, check out more photos below:
Susie Coyle, Catherine Nic Laifeartaigh, Leona McMenamin and Grainne Shiels at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Joan Crawford (Failte Ireland) and Martina Rafferty (Waterfront Hotel Dungloe) at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Mairead O’Connell, Helena Gallagher and Mary Bowden at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
John Casey (Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort), Chris Healy (Grape and Grain Downings) and Martin Casey (Harbour Bar and Fisk Restaurant) at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Collette Connor, Eileen Connor, Natalie Connor and Ale Connor from the Downings Bay Hotel at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Caite Fealty, Kevin Ward and Trés Connaghan at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Nicola Logue, Maggie Doherty, Francis Roberts and Bobby Roberts at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Hugh and Bridget Wilhare (Mulroy Bay Mussels) with Mary T Sweeney at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Martin Smith, Lorcan Connorr and Barry Connor at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Eddie McGroddy, Claire Doran and Frank Casey Jnr at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Visit Downings 2019
Darragh McClafferty, Victoria McClafferty, Charlie McClafferty and Aisling Cullen at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Mickey Doherty and Charlie McClafferty at the launch of Visit Downings 2019
Tags:
