Tourism initiative to promote Irish sporting traditions ranked as Trip Advisor’s No.1 thing to do in Dublin
Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, today (Friday) opened a new visitor centre aimed at promoting Irish sports and explaining the importance of the GAA in modern Ireland. The Experience Gaelic Games centre, which is situated at Na Fianna GAA club in Glasnevin, is the first of its kind in Ireland and seeks to illustrate our national sports to visitors through interactive means.
The importance of the GAA in Ireland hardly needs to be explained to anyone here at home. However, many of our tourists have never heard of, let alone played, hurling, handball or Gaelic football. Experience Gaelic Games is the official licensed activity of the GAA and has been running for four years now. It provides tourists with an opportunity to visit local GAA clubs, learn about our indigenous games through a range of fun and interactive activities and try out the sports for themselves.
“Ranked as the number one thing to do in Dublin by Trip Advisor for the last 20 months, Experience Gaelic Games offers visitors an unparalleled insight into the world of the GAA through a complete interactive experience. With plans to attract more than 10,000 visitors this year, and with more than 2,300 clubs in Ireland where visits and demonstrations can take place, the potential for the company to grow are enormous.
“The centre, which is headquartered at Na Fianna GAA club, has been designed by RTE’s celebrity architect, Dermot Bannon, and will provide a year-round space for those interested in learning about Gaelic games. By providing a distinctive experience that visitors cannot find anywhere else, this initiative also provides a great opportunity to showcase Ireland as a unique visitor destination.
“If we are to continue to entice visitors to Ireland, we must not only ensure that we offer a value for money product, we must also continue to build on what it is we offer. Fledgling companies such as this are an integral part of our future tourism sector, which bring the real Ireland to life for visitors to our shores.”
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