Delegation gives Boston a taste of West Cork

CORK County Council sent a delegation to Boston recently to promote Norwegian Air’s Cork to Providence route.

The delegation, led by Rose Carroll, who works with the Council’s Tourism, Economic Development, Enterprise and Tourism Directorate, was also designed to forge new business links in the greater Boston area. The delegation included Helen Collins, chairperson of A Taste of West Cork Food Festival, and a passionate advocate for the West Cork way of life. Michael Magner of the Vienna Woods Hotel was there to represent the Cork Branch of Irish Hotels Federation and to promote Cork county.

Lorraine Grainger, a tourism consultant, also attended the event, which was supported by Tourism Ireland.

During their visit, the delegation carried out sales calls to a mixture of tour operators and high-end travel agencies that specialise in small group tours and culinary adventures, which is what A Taste of West Cork truly represents.

The sales blitz promoted the companies West Cork Experiences and Munster Vales, which showcase both locations as vibrant tourism destinations.

Such was the success of the trip that A Taste of West Cork Food Festival and the West Cork Experiences initiative are confident that there will be additional tours coming to Cork, particularly West Cork, on the Norwegian Air route from Providence.

Chefs from Providence, Quincy, and possibly Boston, are also expected to travel to take part in this year’s Taste of West Cork festival, with an official group from Quincy due to visit West Cork as well.

During the trip to Boston, the delegation met with Clare Puzarne of Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University in Hamden. 

Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum is sending its acclaimed art collection to Ireland in 2018 and both Dublin and Skibbereen have been chosen as the two locations for the Coming Home Art and The Great Hunger Exhibition.

The exhibition, featuring 50 pieces of art, will run at the Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre from July 19th to October 13th.