New Kinsale website and 2015 plans unveiled

Tomas O’Brien, chairman of Kinsale Chamber of Tourism with treasurer Fiona Carson from Fitzgerald & Partners, and Des McGahan from Ballinacurra House, at the events launch in Ballinacurra House last week. (Photo: John Allen)

Kinsale's Chamber of Tourism & Business launched its schedule of headline events for 2015 and unveiled their new website, at a reception at Ballinacurra House last week.

The event, sponsored by the Kinsale Gourmet Academy and Private Label Wines, noted that the town currently has a lot to celebrate. A start and finish point on the Wild Atlantic Way, the town was also recently awarded Failte Ireland’s Best Small Tourism Town 2014 and was shortlisted for the Top Irish Foodie Town 2014.

Newly-appointed chairman of Kinsale Chamber of Tourism & Business, Tomas O’Brien, welcomed members and friends to a networking evening and outlined Kinsale Chamber’s marketing plans for 2015.

‘We are hoping for a strong season ahead, building on our Best Small Tourism Town award. We have a huge number of land and water-based activities on offer, a strong food tourism story and a significant historical dimension, as we commemorate the Centenary of the sinking of the Lusitania on May 7th. Also, the magnificent Charles Fort remains one of our top attractions year-on-year,’ he said.

Following the success of the Pink Ribbon Walk, Kinsale is preparing for its St Patrick’s Day Festival with its unique Maritime Parade on March 16th at 7pm in Kinsale Harbour. ‘This is well worth visiting, as boats light up with a choir singing on the pier, followed by a fireworks display,’ said Mr O’Brien.

(For more, see our special St Patrick’s Day feature.)

Other Spring events include the Kinsale Street Food Festival and All Ireland Chowder Cook Off (April 18th-19th), followed by the Heineken Kinsale Rugby 7s (May 2nd-3rd).

All headline and local events throughout the year will be listed on the new website at www.kinsale.ie and visitors to the site will be invited to sign up for a regular newsletter on the town’s activities and news.