Boosting Cloughjordan’s appeal
Almost 20 representatives from tourism businesses across County Tipperary gathered in Cloughjordan on a warm, sunny evening recently to nework with each other and learn about all that Cloughjordan has to offer the visitor. One of a series of Familiarisation Trips that have been organised by Tipperary County Council Tourism Officer, Caroline Rice, in conjunction with Tipperary Tourism CLG this year, the evening really hit the mark in terms of educating those tourism businesses participating on what the village had to offer.
During the visit to Cloughjordan by the members of Tipperary Tourism, the organisation's chairman John G O'Dwyer said: “Cloughjordan is now an example of rural tourism at its best with deep roots in the local community. The village has many positive examples of people and businesses working together for the common good that others can follow. Cloughjordan House employs approximately 83 and accommodates 150 weddings each year. In a short time, it has become the main local industry, creating a spinoff for the village hostel, where sustainability courses are also a big selling point.
“The Eco Village is now well integrated with the community and sells much of its produce locally, while Cloughjordan Community Development Association has spearheaded the Scohaboy Bog Restoration Project and created several great loop walks in the area.”
At the end of the visit, the Chairman thanked Gearóid Ó Foighil for organising the visit to Cloughjordan and taking the group around the lovely Knocknacree Woodland Trail. He also thanked Pa Finucane, Django's Hostel; Veronica Ryan, Eco Village; Julie Lockett, Riot Rye Bread and Bread School; and Julie and Peter Baker of Cloughjordan House for the extremely interesting, guided tours.
All the tourism businesses attending valued the opportunity to further develop relationships with each other across the tourism sector in the county, with one business even travelling all the way from Carrick-on-Suir to attend to better get to know the county. It was refreshing to see such openness with each other in relation to their business journeys.
“Visitors to Tipperary are more than happy to travel one-and-a-half to two hours to enjoy experiences and think nothing of it compared to the vast distances they may travel on mainland Europe or the US between sites of interest, so it was great to see so many businesses ‘be like a visitor’ for the day,” remarked Caroline Rice.
Tipperary Tourism is committed to the marketing and development of the tourism potential in Tipperary. Tipperary Tourism membership is available to approved tourism operators in the county and is open year round. For details of 2025 membership, email tourism@tipperarycoco.ie.