Welcoming the news that County Clare tourism cycling routes have been voted in the world top ten of the Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2010’ guide, Flan Quilligan, Shannon Development, Tourism Product Development Manger said, "We are delighted that Co. Clare has been named in the top ten super cycling routes in the world by the Lonely Planet ‘Best in Travel 2010’ guide. This is a testament to the amount of work that has gone into the development of the tourism cycling product in County Clare in recent times.”
Highlighting what has been achieved to-date, Mr. Quilligan added, “Under the Shannon Development led €2 million Shannon Region Trails Programme a number of new tourism cycling routes and tracks were developed in recent times. These works were undertaken in partnership with Clare County Council and with financial support from Failte Ireland. Among these include the new Doolin cycling hub which incorporates four new looped walks in the North Clare area. These will also form part of a new Shannon Region cycling network being established by Shannon Development and linked to the national cycling network.”
“Currently 102,000 overseas visitors participate in cycling holidays in Ireland annually, generating €78m in annual revenue. Being featured in this prestigious travel guide will have a direct benefit in the growth of cycling tourism in County Clare. The fact that the Lonely Planet Guide recommends that Co. Clare should be on ‘every cyclist’s wish list is a great endorsement of our product. I had the good fortune recently to meet Tony Wheeler Co-founder of the Lonely Planet travel guide and I expressed our appreciation to him,” he concluded.
The Co. Clare cycling product has been getting a high profile in recent times. This summer world famous US cyclist Greg LeMond, three-time winner of the Tour de France, sampled some of County Clare’s new cycle trails. During his visit he expressed his love of Ireland and in particular the new cycling trails and said their development made county Clare a wonderful place to cycle.
As posted in the Irish Times on November 18th:
According to the Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2010 guide, the route between Miltown Malbay and Doolin in west Clare ranks with nine other routes from Vietnam, Cuba, USA, Canada, UK, France, Australia, Italy and New Zealand. "Beginning in fertile lowlands flanking the Shannon estuary," the guide says, "this route rolls past golden-sand beaches to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher facing the Atlantic".
It recommends stopping at Milltown Malbay and Doolin before progressing to the Burren, and "a sojourn into Yeats' country", understood to be a reference to the poet's home near Gort, Thoor Ballylee castle, "before sauntering back in a loop through County Clare's gentle patchwork countryside".
(l-r) Flan Quilligan, Shannon Development, Tourism Product Development Manager, Shannon Development with world famous US cyclist Greg LeMond sampling Co. Clare's cycling routes.
For further media information please contact:
Nandi O' Sullivan
Senior Press & Public Relations Executive
Shannon Development
Shannon, Co Clare, Ireland
Tel: + 353 (0)61 710 259
Mbl: + 353 (0)86 237 1510
Email: osullivanna@shannondevelopment.ie
Web: www.shannondevelopment.ie
Head Office, Shannon Town Centre,
Shannon, Co Clare: t: +353 (0)61 361555 f: +353 (0)61 361903