Cavan to move into Ireland's Hidden Heartlands

Fáilte Ireland confirmed the change today.

County Cavan is to move to Ireland's Hidden Heartlands.

The Fáilte Ireland tourism scheme aims to promote the Midlands as a tourist destination, following on from the success of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Up to now Cavan found itself split, with west Cavan under the Hidden Heartlands brand and east Cavan under Ireland's Ancient East.

Other counties, Westmeath, Offaly and Tipperary, will now also be included in the Ireland's Hidden Heartlands brand. Previously, like Cavan, they were split into separate areas.

The news has been welcomed locally. TD Niamh Smyth (FF), who's Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, said the change will allow Cavan to be better marketed as a destination:

"Fáilte Ireland have confirmed to me that this move will see Cavan promoted from a tourism perspective in a more cohesive way and that they will now work with industry stakeholders to make the Hidden Heartlands brand one of the leading regenerative tourism destinations in Europe."

Party colleague Brendan Smith TD has also welcomed the decision saying it will help Cavan to capitalise work already underway to promote the county:

"For many years now tourism has become an increasingly significant contributor to our local economy and creation of employment.

"Recently we have had announcements of significant investment in Cavan’s tourism product and we will see further enhancement of local facilities and the further development of our natural resources which will bring more tourists to our region."