Our unique island home

Is Ireland still an attractive place to holiday? 

Apparently our tourism figures for the first quarter of 2025 confirm that there is a waning interest in coming here. 

Tourist numbers from the UK and the US are down. 

A combination of exorbitant accommodation prices and the economic uncertainty since the election of Trump have contributed to this decline in visitors. 

But is that all? Are we losing some of our soul?

For most of my childhood, foreign holidays were a luxury that few could afford, so the Irish summer holiday was the height of it. 

For my grandparents' families, the pony and trap to Tramore, the kettle boiling on a small fire in the Burrows and a ride on a donkey was a special summer’s day out.

Usually once summer arrives we were sent to the grandparents in Portlaoise for what seemed like weeks on end. 

We got a few outings to the local cinema and every week we bought a Marvel Comic. 

On the evenings we had to hang around the back yard, we stayed up late, listening to the soundtrack of the adult films in the cinema which backed onto the rockery. 

All day long we wandered the streets, hiked up to the Rock of Dunamase and wherever possible got into scrapes.

Later we were brought to Butlins where I learned to swim and that certainly upped the anti! Whining to be brought to the beach, my lone parent Dad would come in from work and then bring us out to any beach in any weather, while we shivered and insisted on staying in the water for as long as possible.

Later myself and himself hitchhiked all over the country and beyond. 

Once going to Donegal and through the border we were stopped by the British Army and questioned about where we were going.

In our case it was Rossnowlagh, the home of surfing and our friend the Beardy Buck who was the reason we were visiting.

Ireland was waiting to be discovered. 

I’m full of nostalgia for the soulful way it was then. 

Cycling around our beautiful little island, stopping in every shebeen to have a mineral or a bottle of Guinness which was all that was available. 

Meandering across the midlands was magical. 

With a tent on the backcarrier we camped in back gardens, farms, and green spaces attracting curious children and friendly locals.

It was a rare event in those days to wander there.

Once along the Ring of Kerry we stopped at a sign for TAE where a 12 year old girl had set up a table in a byre, serving sliced pan with butter and jam washed down with that hot strong tae. 

When I brought an American friend on a train to Killarney, Ireland was still a wonderland of exotic and ancient culture. 

Barely part of the modern world at that stage we indulged in a plate of fish and chips in Dingle, the only outlet serving food besides a very posh hotel. 

“Quaint” was how she described it all.

We must never lose that old world simplicity on this incredible island. 

People come here for the land, landscape, coastlines, ancient sites, warm locals and great convivial drinking and eating out. 

It is now so expensive that we are in danger of pricing ourselves out of the reach of eager holiday makers.

At the same time as keeping our soulful culture alive we can rejoice in good coffee and scrumptious meals everywhere in Ireland. 

But without doubt our over-reaching for a more MacDonalds style of hospitality has dented the unique experience that so many tourists have raved about over the years. 

Our musicians, artists, community activists create something that we need to treasure, a culture which makes us unique as a place to visit.

When we go abroad, we want to know that we are experiencing the local cuisine and day to day life of that place; croissants in Paris, herrings in Norway, olives in Tuscany. 

My friends who visit Waterford want to experience fiddle music, dolmens, seafood and characterful pubs.

They want walks and landscapes, picnics and wild swimming. 

We have it all here and they always love it.

The positive news is that although figures for overseas tourists are down our own local Irish tourist market is growing. 

Yes we like to holiday at home and why wouldn’t we? 

There is nowhere quite like our own county with its unspoiled Copper Coast, Comeragh Mountains and small towns and rivers to dream away the day.

Nature has been to some extent protected here. 

Over development has ruined many beautiful places along the Wild Atlantic Way. 

Here we have soft and sheltered landscapes which are authentic and unique. 

But we must do much more to protect what we have!

At times I am loathe to mention my favourite places! “Shhh” I say, “don’t tell anyone, we love having it all to ourselves.” 

Earlier in the year, I was in San Sebastien in the Basque Country which now has 18 Michelin Star Restaurants and is a huge draw for tourists. 

It was the only place I saw the now infamous “Tourists go home” graffiti.

But maybe like the Spanish locals too many tourists here would be overkill. 

Let's settle instead for sharing the wonder and beauty of a slower kind of tourism. 

One that celebrates our unique soulful island home.