Winners of the 2015 Irish Responsible Tourism Awards

17 March 2015
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Maria _ Jim
Atlantic Sea Kayaking and Wild Atlantic Walks win gold for Best Adventure Activity Provider for Responsible Tourism

Dublin, IRELAND - The winners of the 2015 Irish Responsible Tourism Awards were announced last night at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin 8. The award categories and the shortlisted businesses are (* indicates ATTA members):

Best Tour Operator for Responsible Tourism

  • GOLD: Connemara Wild Escapes (Co. Galway)*
  • SILVER: Cycle Inishowen (Co. Donegal), Whale Watch West Cork (Co. Cork)
Best Small Hotel or Accommodation for Responsible Tourism
  • GOLD: Hotel Doolin (Co. Clare)
  • SILVER: Pure Camping (Co. Clare), Ard Nahoo Eco Retreat (Co. Leitrim), Tory Bush Cottages (Co. Down)
Best Transport Initiative for Responsible Tourism
  • GOLD: An Taisce Green Schools Travel and Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark Partnership (Co. Clare)
  • SILVER: Cycle Inishowen (Co. Donegal), Rock Farm Slane (Co. Meath)
Best in a Marine or Coastal Environment
  • GOLD: Dolphin Watch (Co. Clare)
  • SILVER: Blasket Islands Eco Marine Tours (Co. Kerry) and Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre & Nature Reserve (Co. Kerry)
Best Destination for Responsible Tourism
  • GOLD: Loop Head Peninsula (Co. Clare),
  • SILVER: Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark (Co. Clare), Sheep’s Head & Bantry Tourism Cooperative (Co. Cork), Mulranny, Co. Mayo (Co. Mayo)
Best Cultural Heritage Attraction
  • GOLD: Cnoc Suain (Co. Galway)
  • SILVER: Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange & Knowth) (Co. Meath), Mizen Head Signal Station & Visitor Centre (Co. Cork)
Best Local Food Initiative
  • GOLD: Archways B&B (Co. Wexford)
  • SILVER: Burren Smokehouse (Co. Clare), Orchard Acre Farm (Co. Fermanagh)
Best Adventure Activity Provider for Responsible Tourism

  • GOLD: Atlantic Sea Kayaking and Wild Atlantic Walks (Co. Cork)*
  • SILVER: Life Adventure Centre (Co. Down), Boyne Valley Activities (Co. Meath)
Overall Winner: Atlantic Sea Kayaking and Wild Atlantic Walks (Co. Cork)*

Judges for the awards include:

  • Catherine Mack (Travel Writer, responsibletravel.com)
  • Kevin Griffin (DIT tourism lecturer and former-EDEN awards judge)
  • Ruth Morgan (Environmental Policy Officer, NITB)
  • Paddy Mathews (Fáilte Ireland)
  • Peter Krahenbuhl (former Tourism for Tomorrow judge)
  • Annabel Fitzgerald (Coastal Programmes Manager An Taisce)
  • David Owen (ex-UNEP Tourism)
  • Catherine Fulvio (Ballyknocken House & Cookery School)
Fáilte Ireland Brand Experience Manager, Paddy Matthews said, A more environmentally conscious and community-centred approach to developing tourism in Ireland is becoming more and more mainstream... and so it should. It results in more genuine and authentic experiences for all our visitors.”

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