NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2014
GoKerry at the Ploughing Championships 2014: GoKerry A great time was had by all in the GoKerry Marquee at the Ploughing GoKerry Supplement 2014 Championships in Ratheniska, Co. Laois, September 2014. working with GoKerry working hard on your behalf to ensure that the brand is Rural represented throughout Ireland, Europe and USA so all our members will benefit from the exposure. Communities
Following the success of the Rural Animation Programme Welcome to GoKerry’s Autumn newsletter to help keep you in touch a number of communities with all that is going on in the county. brought their plans to fruition The 28 page GoKerry during the summer. Supplement was published in In this edition of the Newsletter we will bring you through the initiatives the Sunday Independent on undertaken by GoKerry this summer to promote your products and Our GoKerry Co-Ordinator June 29th. This publication Ann Pierce O'Connor has has been very well received destination. worked closely with the Mid- and the iMag is available on Kerry Cluster who have been the internet. The success of In this edition we will introduce you to our new coordinators who bring very active and produced the this Supplement is directly with them a wide range of talents that enable them to represent Mid-Kerry Map which has attributable to the support of GoKerry with a fresh view to marketing in Kerry been widely distributed. our members who bought The Hidden Valley of the advertising and supplied Reeks is another group who special offers and prizes. have been working diligently A first print of 10,000 copies and have more recently was followed by a reprint of produced a brochure entitled 10,000 copies. In addition 'The Hidden Valley of the there were two additional Reeks' supplements printed ; 7th September - Adventure Our Co-Ordinator Mike Edgar GoKerry has been very involved in walking activities this summer. It is now working with and Ploughing Championships all started with the updating of walking information on the GoKerry Glenbeigh and has 8th October: Autumn/Winter website and introducing maps to complement the walks already developed a wide portfolio of Breaks in Kerry photographs and videos on mentioned there and highlighted in the GoKerry Supplement. Mother & Baby Glenbeigh / Rossbeigh which can be seen on the Magazine Then the GoKerry coordinators took part in a number of Walking Glenbeigh page and Linda Daly editor of Mother YouTube. and Baby magazine wrote a ventures such as Sli na Slainte Walk in Killorglin, the Keel Uphill very fine article on her stay in Downhill loop and the Seefin/Windy Gap Walk. Our Co-Ordinator Mary Ballybunion. Our thanks to all Walsh was very closely our members who offered involved with the Kerry One very successful venture was the Killarney Walking Festival Walking Festival which took complimentary breaks from which took place in June and brought a large number of outdoor place in Killarney for three which Linda made her days in June. selection. enthusiasts to Kerry. The event was a great success and will be built on for 2015. Competition Winner Congratulations to Anthony Corcoran from Cork who was Our Contact Details the winner of the September GoKerry Adventure GoKerry, Library Place, Killorglin, Co. Kerry. Supplement Competition in Mrs Geraldine Collins and Tel: 066 9761516 the Sunday Independent family winners of GoKerry Email: [email protected] sponsored by Cronin's Yard. June Supplement Competition Anthony is a climber and a sponsored by Derrynane Website: www.gokerry.ie photographer. Hotel Meet the Co-Ordinators
GoKerry is present at Katrina Tamur is Caherdaniel resident who joined the Go Kerry team in August 2014, covering the area of Tourism Events in Derrynane, Caherdaniel, Castlecove, Sneem, Tahilla and Parkanasilla. Katrina graduated with honours in Kerry International Economic Relationships. She is experienced in management, administration, promotion and was very involved in the investment market. Katrina has excellent interpersonal and organisational skills. She spent many years in the tourism sector in South Kerry. Katrina speaks three languages, and is very enthusiastic about developing a good relationship with clients and wants to bring more efficiency to the business. Customer service and customer care are high on Katinna's list of priorities and she has a proven record for excellence in delivery of service and skills from her time working with Mary O'Connor at the Derrynane Hotel.
Triona Ni She is a Ventry resident who joined the GoKerry Team in September 2014 and will cover the Dingle Peninsula. Triona is a well known businesswoman in Dingle and has run her own B&B for many years. She brings with her a wealth of experience in Customer Service, Administration and Sales. She is GoKerry supported the 4th currently travelling the Dog Show circuit with her prize Dobermanns. Triona and her dogs have won many of July celebrations in prestigious titles throughout Europe and she will be looking at the Pet Friendly properties throughout Kerry. Killarney. Here she is with Mr Tino (International Multi Champion)
Mari Wilson has been a resident in Kenmare for 30 years, originally from Limerick she fell in love with Kerry from a young age when her parents had a caravan in Castlegregory, and they would spend long Summer’s there. Mari has always had a keen interest in tourism although she has been studying horticulture for the last few years. Now as a Coordinator with GoKerry she wants to promote Flora and Fauna in Kerry giving that Kerry has two rare plants, The Kerry lily and The Killarney fern, these attractions could boost tourism figures. Mari is anxious to give Kenmare the profile it deserves and is GoKerry were present at Ring of working with local tourism interests to update information on the town and surrounding areas on the Go Kerry Cycle in July and at Fleadh Kerry Website. Cheoil na Mumhan in September
Originally from the Liverpool area of England, Dave Elton is now 19 years living in Kerry, moving here from the Netherlands. From a career prospective he has been an electrician, lift engineer, hotel maintenance electrician as well as in Swiss Wire, Tralee for 15 years. A man of varied interests his hobbies include football (92 club member), contract bridge, ukulele, member of local walking group and member of local cycling club. Dave, now in his 2nd year with GoKerry, manages all the social media for GoKerry and assists the coordinators with the more technical aspects of the website. Highlights for this year include, cycling the Wild Atlantic Way with Destination Unknown on their Kerry leg of the journey plus the gruelling October saw GoKerry 209 km Inner Ring Cycle from Killarney, which took in 2,600 metres of climbs! promoting all that Kerry has to offer Adventure enthusiasts at the Helly Hanson Adventure Race Caroline Horgan joined the GoKerry Team in April 2014 as Co – Ordinator for the North & East Kerry area. Caroline’s background is within the Tourism and Customer Services sector which she thoroughly enjoys. She describes herself as a highly motivated, reliable and resourceful individual with proven communication and IT skills. Caroline has several years experience within customer service environments and has a broad network of contacts throughout the North Kerry and West Limerick area. Caroline is also secretary of the Duagh Development Association for the last 2 years in which they have been very successful in the running of Gathering Festivals and Food Festivals. Caroline is also a volunteer with Kerry Mental Health and is currently studying for her higher levels in Mental Health in the Community with University College Cork
GoKerry was represented at ifest in Boston where the GoKerry Supplement was very Kathleen Moriarty took up her position as administrator with GoKerry last year. She lives in Killorglin. She much in demand. was employed by FEXCO as a clerical assistant for over 22 years. She deals with the everyday tasks and enquiries from Board Members, GoKerry Members and Coordinators and updating the website and the GoKerry tourism database.
Gosia Horajska joined the GoKerry team in August 2014, covering the area of Tralee, Ballyseede, GoKerry has promoted and Kilflynn, Blennerville, Fenit, Banna, Ballyheigue, Ardfert, Kilmoyley, Ballymacelligott and Abbeydorney. Gosia originally is from Poland, has been living for the last 9 years in Ireland and has been a resident in supported this initiative. It Tralee for the past 5 years. Gosia is a professional geologist with extensive knowledge of Mineralogy received the gold standard and Gemology, and also advanced GIS skills. She is working to give the museums a profile on the status which covers an area of GoKerry website and developing new maps to promote Adventure and Activities in Kerry. 700km almost all of the Iveragh Peninsula. A 7 member TV crew from Japan filmed the area Tom Hanifin joined the GoKerry team in February 2014. He lives in Keel, Castlemaine. Tom is a recently for a documentary qualified architectural draughtsman and worked in Killarney for 15 years in this position. He brings which was aired in October. A with him many valuable organizational skills which enable him to manage the administration for the Chinese crew have already GoKerry team. He has superb interpersonal skills and can develop relationships with clients and visited and ITV plan a visit later coordinators that are beneficial to all involved. He has excellent time management and planning skills this year. and is involved in soccer coaching with Castlemaine United in his free time. NEWS ITEMS
GoKerry assists at Events Social Media goes International throughout the County Cycling Kerry’s Wild Atlan c Way by Dave Elton
In August this year GoKerry teamed up with Finnish blogger Satu of “Des na on Unknown”. She was
GoKerry Co-Ordinator Ann on a 5 week 2500 km cycle from Derry to Kinsale, taking in as much of the Wild Atlan c Way as was Pierce O'Connor was a Marshal at possible. On day 1 we met in Tarbert and cycled a good 120 km to Tralee. Taking in landmarks such as Puck Fair Bromore Cliffs, Kerryhead, Banna Strand and Fenit. The experience even underlined to us what an amazing Coastline Kerry has.
For the next leg we joined Satu and her new riding partner Kate. This me we took on the Wild landscape of South Kerry. The weather on the day threw everything at us with close on 4 seasons in 1 day being experienced. Rossbeigh was breath-taking as we climbed the cliff road away from the beach. Valen a Island was full of surprises, with its hills and lighthouse. The highlight of the Skellig Ring was the hot chocolate at the Chocolate factory a er the demanding cycle over Cumanaspig. GoKerry supported the Enchanted Fairy Festival in Kilflynn Lots of nice memories from our 2 days and some real eye openers for us all. The National Ploughing Championships - An insider's view 2014 was the real deal, 4 days full on! being part of the makeshi village, that over the 3 days had an a endance of close on 300,000. Jim Morris gave GoKerry a great plug when he was on Winning That’s about double the popula on of Kerry winging its way along the Streak recently highlighting it as N21 and M7, for 3 days in the sun, to Ratheniska! First impressions: the marketing arm for tourism in BIG and lots of people. It was a mass of bodies moving from one place Kerry. Well done Jim. to the next, but surprisingly it wasn’t too overwhelming, it worked. Nothing like a crush you might experience on All Ireland day.
The overriding image is of WHITE. Make shi buildings in white, marquees and tents ; with splashes of colour from adver sing, flags, tractors, cars, cherry GoKerry was present at the opening ceremony of the Adventure Travel pickers….you name it. Inside our own li le GoKerry World. The GOKERRY marquee. World Summit. Things got moving on early Monday a ernoon se ng up the stage, tables and general layout of the inside of the marquee. The outside needed decora ng with flags (big and small) as well as green and gold bun ng. Well it was only 24 hours since the boys had li ed Sam in Croker! The marquee had a nice steady flow of people coming through who were enjoying the Kerry hospitality on offer. Outside we had a “beach” set up for the “kids” to build sand castles, as well as lots of benches and tables for people to rest their weary legs. Inside there was a nice buzz with the ice cream from Ballybunion cooling everyone down, the girls from Mid-Kerry fa ening everyone up with teas, coffees and buns. The INEC took care of the GoKerry coordinators worked entertainment with Donal, DJ for the 3 days. He was given a nice lunch break by with Kerry Airport in the live acts. These included“Elvis” and Mickey Joe Hart, to name but a few. undertaking a survey of visitors on the departing Dingle came up with samples of locally dis lled gin and vodka. Jamie Knox put Ryanair Frankfurt-Hahn Flight The Rose of Tralee visits with Kellie Doherty, together a surfing experience. Mix all that together with the colour for four weeks in July 2014. Elaine Casey, Jim Morris and Dave Elton. This was to enable Kerry and craic coming from all the other businesses and areas in the Airport to get a better marquee, it added up to quite an atmosphere. Come Wednesday things got even be er, with record understanding of who was crowds of over 120,000, the weather kidding us we were in mid-July and the GoKerry tent burs ng at the using the service, how they came to Kerry, where they seams, it was certainly a me to remember. stayed and what activities they undertook.