New Partnership between Údarás na Gaeltachta and Great Lighthouses of Ireland to Promote Maritime Tourism – Ireland Aim to Lead World in Maritime Tourism

Lighthouse tourism experts meet on Valentia Island this week to plan on turning Ireland into a world-class maritime tourism destination. The Great Lighthouses of Ireland (GLI) annual gathering in Co Kerry will unveil a new 5-year strategy to reach this goal.

A key highlight of the gathering will be the announcement of a significant agreement between GLI and Údarás na Gaeltachta. This collaboration aims to boost sustainable tourism in Gaeltacht coastal communities, creating new economic opportunities while preserving and promoting Irish language and culture.

“Our collaboration with Great Lighthouses of Ireland opens up exciting possibilities for sustainable tourism in Gaeltacht coastal communities,” says Tomás Ó Síocháin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta. “By leveraging our rich maritime heritage and the universal appeal of lighthouses, we’re not just introducing visitors to the Irish language in a different context. We are also creating new economic opportunities that will help our unique regions thrive in the future.”

The gathering will showcase successful projects in Gaeltacht areas, such as Cape Clear’s Fastnet Rock Boat Tours, which has seen consistent double-digit growth in passenger numbers since 2014. Multi-million euro funding has already been announced for  Blacksod Lighthouse in the Mayo Gaeltacht, and new investments are planned, including a €5m visitor centre at Fanad. The new agreement will enable GLI and Údarás to collaborate further to support these kinds of successes.

Irish Lights CEO Yvonne Shields O’Connor emphasises partnering with communities and State agencies to create new visitor experiences. She highlights numerous examples like the Fanad Lighthouse in Donegal and Valentia Island’s lighthouse tours, where visitors can tour the lighthouse, and take a boat tour around Valentia and Skellig Michael lighthouses.  “Kerry Aqua Terra boat tours made a combined investment of around €200,000 this year for their water lighthouse tours. This involved new boats and created two additional jobs and a 50% increase in the number of trips they can run. These kinds of development are a real boast to coastal communities.”

GLI chairperson Bobby Kerr states, “GLI has an all-island partnership model for lighthouse tourism, and we have doubled in size over the last nine years. We want to harness the universal appeal of lighthouses to grow maritime tourism sustainably and boost regional development for coastal communities.”

The GLI gathering runs from 21st to 23rd October, featuring speakers from various tourism and maritime organisations. Bobby Kerr acknowledges the support of GLI funders and partners in making the gathering possible.