On Saturday, March 8^th 2025, Community Groups and Tourism businesses came together to attend the Ballyhoura Networking Forum at the Spruce & Willow in Ardpatrick.

Tourism is a vital force for regeneration in rural Ireland and the Forum was focused on the future and the potential of tourism across the Ballyhoura region. Community groups and the tourism trade explored the mutual benefits of working together to develop the tourism offer of the region, and took part in a lively creative, and constructive envisioning of what the future could look like.

Ballyhoura Development are currently working with Failte Ireland to deliver a Destination Experience Development Plan (DEDP) for the Ballyhoura Region and representatives of Failte Ireland and Repucon Consulting were present to hear the feedback and ambitions of the communities present which will form such an important part in shaping the plan and to ensure that it reflects the authentic voice of the region.

Pádraig Casey, CEO of Ballyhoura Development welcomed the partnership with Failte Ireland to develop a locally led Destination Experience Development Plan, saying “Visitor expectations are evolving and the Ballyhoura visitor experience needs to continue to adapt to meet visitor desires for authentic community connections, world-class product and service offerings and environmental sustainability standards. The Failte Ireland supported, locally led, DEDP process will enhance capacity, improve performance and build better connections across the local tourism community”.

On the agenda was:

• Information about the Destination Experience Development Plan currently in process for the Ballyhoura region.
• Consultation with the team from Failte Ireland and some round table discussions.
• A presentation on the Ballyhoura Sustainable Tourism Destination Certificate course and learnings.
• Information about Rural Recreation and the Trails Masterplan.
• An update on Creative Places- Kilfinane.
• LEADER update.
• Update on the Ireland Canada Homecoming - Remembering the Peter Robinson Settlers of the Ballyhoura Region.
• Update on INSPIRE Interreg Europe - Smart Villages rationale and digitisation for the sustainable development of rural areas.

Find out more about DEDP