West Cork food festival celebrates winning major tourism award

A TASTE of West Cork food festival was named the Best Wild Atlantic Way Tourism Experience (Small) at the Irish Tourism Awards in Dublin last week. 

The festival has grown from modest seeds to become one of the must-visit attractions in the West Cork annual calendar. 

It won in the ‘less than 50,000 visitors’ category at the awards, organised by the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland.

In all, 15 winning companies were named best in their category from 75 shortlisted finalists.

The event encourages, recognises and celebrates excellence in the tourism sector. Presenter Kathryn Thomas hosted the gala evening, which took place in Dublin at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road and was attended by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross TD, who presented the awards. 

Helen Collins of A Taste of West Cork expressed delight with winning the award for Best Wild Atlantic Way Tourism: ‘This is a great achievement for us and we are delighted to be recognised as winner – tourism is vital for the national and regional economy and we are so pleased to play our part in such a key sector.’

Other award-winners included The Gleneagle Group in Killarney in the ‘Best Innovative Place to Stay’ category, House of Waterford Crystal in the ‘Best Ireland’s Ancient East Tourism Experience (greater than 50,000 visitors)’ category, and  the Cliffs of Moher for the ‘Best Wild Atlantic Way Tourism, greater than 50,000 visitors’ category.  

Aer Lingus was named the Best International Access Initiative. 

For a full list of winners see www.irishtourismindustryawards.ie