Irish tourism and archaeology

Amhran Nua

Here in Ireland we have a rich historical and cultural heritage stretching back thousands of years, something that I feel has been badly underrepresented by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and its various marketing arms. We are also underperforming on another front, the acquisition and retention of artifacts and information via archaeological digs and analysis. This country is creaking with historical remains, to the extent that unauthorised use of a metal detector will land you with a five year prison sentence and a €50,000 fine.

What we need to do is use the oul' joined up thinking there and establish a network of unique showcases for our archaeological heritage, I don't mean more glass and steel spiderweb monstrosities but truly unique buildings to give visitors a taste of our culture. The tourism these generate could then help to fund a considerably enhanced archaeological system in Ireland, which in turn produces more history and artifacts, and so on and so forth.

These could also be used to showcase cultural artifacts like stories and music, and help us get in contact with the Irish diaspora. What do people think, is it a good idea, can it be done? What sort/style/colour of buildings or complexes would you use to display this rich historical record and make it an all round great experience?

#15

I agree. There are lots of sites around the country that are not being utilised properly.
Although at this stage, it's probably a blessing that they have been ignored and left undeveloped.
Some of the ones that have been 'developed' are just awful.

Saadyst

Would it just be more of the same? Or would it be "new" content, things from different periods etc?

I've been to a few places in Ireland (I'm not Irish, but living / working here), and it just seems to me to be fixated on how bad life was under British rule, natural scenery or life during the primitive era.

I'm guessing there's a shed load more out there that I just haven't heard of - which is where the marketing for tourism might be failing

Amhran Nua

Saadyst wrote: »

I'm guessing there's a shed load more out there that I just haven't heard of - which is where the marketing for tourism might be failing

One only needs to look at the likes of the Ardagh Chalice and the Book of Kells to see what else might be out there, we need properly funded archaeological teams all over the place before treasure hunting nimrods get to them, and they will. The archaeology forum is rife with stories of people finding stuff by accident and being told to take it home, as it would only end up gathering dust in a box somewhere, a massive underutilisation of a resource that many foreign tourists associate Ireland with, its history.

We could tie in several budding industries to it in fact, perhaps animated movies and the like, but I think just as important is to have an iconic building or buildings associated with the project - you see that sail-shaped hotel, you think Dubai, you see the pyramids, you think Egypt, you see the Eiffel tower, you think Paris. Can we do something(s) equally memorable to display our own heritage and reap the economic benefits thereof?

Amhran Nua

The tourism industry certainly needs a shot in the arm from some quarter anyway, tourism dropped by more than 15.7% this year.

The number of visitors to Ireland is down some 15.7 per cent this year, new figures show.

A report from the Central Statistics Office said this was the decline in the number of visitors between January and September.

In quarter 3, the number of overseas trips to Ireland fell by 8.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2009. Trips by UK residents were down by 10.8 per cent to 852,600 in the quarter.

Trips from other European countries and North America fell by 7.5 per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively, while those from other areas increased by 2.7 per cent to 110,200.

Irish residents took 2,137,200 overseas trips in quarter three – in effect the same as the number taken in the same quarter last year.

The CSO said this contrasted with a fall of 12 per cent in trips in the same period from 2008 to 2009.

Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons said 2010 had been one of the most difficult years on record for the industry across the Island.

"Air access to Ireland declined by 6 per cent this summer, following an 18 per cent decline in the early part of the year."

Bad news for the hotels and all the many small businesses that depend on tourism.

Pakia

I'd love to visit Ireland on an extended vacation.

Been to Holyhead, Wales and missed an opportunity to goto southern Ireland with friends on boat, as I'm bit skeptical to ride on boats in choppy waters.

Seloth

A bit of large thinking but while the eurotunnel was considered a bit of a failure for france and the UK I could see a similar version of one from Ireland to the UK doing wonders.

PhatPiggins

Seloth wrote: »

A bit of large thinking but while the eurotunnel was considered a bit of a failure for france and the UK I could see a similar version of one from Ireland to the UK doing wonders.

For what?

GCU Flexible Demeanour

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Can we do something(s) equally memorable to display our own heritage and reap the economic benefits thereof?

But is there a market for it? Do people go to America to see the last herd of Buffalo, or to go to DisneyLand?

A heritage product is already available. I'm not sure how popular it is - aren't visitors to the Cliffs of Moher dropping since they attempted the kind of commercial development you suggest?

There's a future for tourism, certainly. But I think it has more to do with developing entertainment in the cities than in investing even more in heritage sites.

Sorry if that sounds a bit plebian. But, tbh, I'm not sure that many people go on holiday to be archeologically uplifted. To get a sense of proportion, when I brought my kids to the Kennedy Space Centre - a tad more interesting, I'd have thought, than the Cliffs of Moher - I got a chorus of "Oh, no. This is like school. Its all about learning stuff."

I'd suggest commercial places of entertainment are what's needed. I wouldn't even suggest that the Government needs to give tax breaks or anything else. Perhaps they might relax planning restrictions, if there are any, on the opening of new venues. (Fpr example, do we still have that weird thing of needing to buy two rural pub licences before you can open a new pub in a town?)

hmmm

We're already doing our best with what we have, which frankly to a visitor isn't all that amazing. Newgrange, Trim Castle, Glendalough, the various monasteries are all quite well developed. Tourists don't come to Ireland to be awed by incredible history, if anything we should put more money into tidying up the towns and villages that surround these places.

thebman

I think people do go to see these places but commericalised, buy some merchandise of the cliffs type shop right beside the place, makes it look a bit tacky.

Prefer to just have nice little shop a bit away from the attraction with nothing to do with it like a rural cafe or something.

I agree that the main problem is there is nothing to do in many of our towns. I think this also leads to anti-social behavior.

Godge

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Here in Ireland we have a rich historical and cultural heritage stretching back thousands of years, something that I feel has been badly underrepresented by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and its various marketing arms. We are also underperforming on another front, the acquisition and retention of artifacts and information via archaeological digs and analysis. This country is creaking with historical remains, to the extent that unauthorised use of a metal detector will land you with a five year prison sentence and a €50,000 fine.

What we need to do is use the oul' joined up thinking there and establish a network of unique showcases for our archaeological heritage, I don't mean more glass and steel spiderweb monstrosities but truly unique buildings to give visitors a taste of our culture. The tourism these generate could then help to fund a considerably enhanced archaeological system in Ireland, which in turn produces more history and artifacts, and so on and so forth.

These could also be used to showcase cultural artifacts like stories and music, and help us get in contact with the Irish diaspora. What do people think, is it a good idea, can it be done? What sort/style/colour of buildings or complexes would you use to display this rich historical record and make it an all round great experience?

What exactly are you proposing?

You seem to suggest that we have a rich heritage that has been badly represented by the Department of Tourism and Sport, but what exactly do you mean? We have the Burren, Newgrange, Glendalough, Blarney, killarney, Dingle, Book of Kells, cliffs of moher etc that are more than well-served, for their appeal with tourism infrastructure. You can only do so much with what you have.

Think of the Loire Valley in France and the chateaux that they have opened to the public. Having visited over twenty of them, I have yet to replicate the same here (possible exception of Trim Castle). As for capital cities, anyone compare Paris to Dublin for heritage? Versailles for a start is light years beyond anything we have. Let us not forget a few facts, we were a provincial outpost of the British Empire, before that we had some monks (so did Iona, Scotland and the rest of Europe) before that we had Newgrange which is a little bit less than Stonehenge.

When it comes to tourism, it is time for a little bit of reality. Rather than focussing on the little things that we think are great (but are small in international terms) we should focus on the living culture, the living heritage. The music, the golf, the lifestyle, the attitude, the unspoiled countryside, the hospitality. Except that we lost so much of that during the Celtic tiger era. Where we can (excluding those places destroyed by bungalow bliss) let us get back to those basics of quality service and a quality experience.

thebman

Well one thing we could have that we have not done is build proper mountain bike courses like they have in the UK.

View

Amhran Nua wrote: »

I think just as important is to have an iconic building or buildings associated with the project - you see that sail-shaped hotel, you think Dubai, you see the pyramids, you think Egypt, you see the Eiffel tower, you think Paris. Can we do something(s) equally memorable to display our own heritage and reap the economic benefits thereof?

We could build a large sail-shaped hotel with Vegas style pyramids and Eiffel Towers on the top of the Hill of Tara? Maybe with a motorway to the door?

It'd be memorable - I'd say most tourists would never forget it.