German and Austrian travel journalists visit Leitrim

A group of German and Austrian travel journalists is visiting Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands this week, cruising on the River Shannon. They are here as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

The visiting journalists – representing various daily newspapers with a combined audience of 1.12 million readers – are here to find out more about cruising holidays on the Shannon and to experience at first-hand the spectacular scenery and the wealth of things to see and do in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.

This year, 240 inland cruisers on the Shannon are moving to sustainable HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel, reducing their carbon emissions by 92% – so a key message for Tourism Ireland is the fact that a cruising holiday on the Shannon is more environmentally friendly than ever.

The journalists began their cruise in Carrick-on-Shannon and continued to Heron Cottage in Kilnagross, where they enjoyed a fishing lesson. They cruised from Dromod to Clondara via the beautiful Camlin River and also visited the National Famine Museum Strokestown Park and Clonmacnoise.

German and Austrian travel journalists with Katja Meinken-Wiedemann, Tourism Ireland (back, left), at the marina in Carrick-on-Shannon, getting ready to enjoy their cruise on the Shannon. Also pictured are guide Paul Garland (front, second left) and Yvonne Schoen, Carrickcraft (front, centre).

“Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite this group of journalists to visit Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands,” said Nadine Lehmann, Tourism Ireland’s Manager Germany. “Fact-finding visits like this are a really effective way for us to shine a spotlight on cruising on the Shannon and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands – through their articles, the journalists will encourage their readers to come and experience this part of Ireland for themselves.

German and Austrian travel journalists with Katja Meinken-Wiedemann, Tourism Ireland (second left), at Heron Cottage, where local fisherman David Price (second right) taught them how to catch their own fish.

“Our aim is to inspire German holidaymakers to come and discover this part of Ireland and enjoy a holiday which allows them to connect with nature and enjoy spectacular landscapes. A key message for Tourism Ireland is that cruising on the River Shannon is more eco-friendly than ever from this year, with the cruisers now using sustainable fuel.”