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Inishowen needs cruise control
30.04.08
by Simon McGeady, Inishowen Independent
WITH more and more cruises dropping anchor in the
Foyle, the head of Inishowen Tourism, Tony
McLaughlin, insists more must be done to ensure
visitors disembarking in Greencastle or Moville have
the option of spending their time ashore in
Inishowen rather than Derry.
Mr McLaughlin’s comments come in the week P&O
Cruises announce their first ever round-Britain and
Ireland cruise.
In July 2009, the eight-deck Artemis will sail an
11-night British Isles cruise. Moville is listed as
one of the two Irish ports of call, the other being
Dublin.
However Moville is listed as Moville (for Derry) and
therefore, according to Mr McLaughlin, the people of
Inishowen can expect to gain little from the
Artemis’ visit except a nice photo opportunity. |
“The idea of a ferry
coming to Greencastle or Moville is great, but if
every cruise just lands and the people are bussed
into Derry, there is no benefit to the local area.
“A few years ago a ferry came and there was a big
welcoming committee in Greencastle for the tourists.
The Maritime Museum Café opened specifically for the |
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guests arriving but the
whole lot were bussed out right under our nose. They
didn’t even take the ferry over and back to
Magilligan,” he said.
Mr McLaughlin said the sign greeting the
holidaymakers disembarking at Greencastle that day
said ‘Welcome to the Port of Derry,’ which didn’t
help.
He added that most of the people coming to Inishowen
were active retirees who would appreciate
Inishowen’s attractions, but only way to get
Inishowen included on the excursions of cruise ships
is to get in when the itinerary is being drawn up.
On August 10 last year Mr McLaughlin accompanied
Saga Shipping’s Shore Excursion Executive on a
day-long tour of the peninsula’s attractions,
including Fort Dunree, the Doagh Famine Village and
the Greencastle Maritime Museum.
The executive spent the previous day being shown
around Derry and the day after at the Giant's
Causeway.
“I concentrated on showing her what Inishowen has to
offer. While this was last year, any outcome will
only start to be shown this year at the earliest.”
The 2009 P&O cruise will call at Leith (for
Edinburgh), Invergordon, Kirkwall (in the Orkney
Islands), Moville (for Derry), Greenock (for
Glasgow), Dublin, Falmouth and St. Peter Port on the
Channel Island of Guernsey. |
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