The KNOW CORK Local Experts Programme comes to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday 24th September
Fáilte Ireland’s Local Experts Programme comes to Cork for the first time this month. The programme has been developed to support anybody involved in the tourism sector and the local community who is in regular contact with visitors.
Local Experts equips local people with information and expertise. This allows them to create positive experiences which will benefit and grow the local economy.
This programme consists of a 3-hour interactive and dynamic workshop on what to see and do in Cork.
Become a Local Expert by attending one of the workshops listed below:
Tuesday, 24th September: Páirc Uí Chaoimh, from 09.30 – 12.30 (registration from 09.00) & 15.30 – 18.30 (registration from 15.00)
The FREE programme features annual events; social media initiatives; a Visitor Attractions Pass and opportunities to network with other tourism professionals.
Explaining the programme, Linda Campbell, Visitor Engagement Manager with Fáilte Ireland said:
“The Local Experts programme has been a great success so far, with people from across the tourism industry and local community participating in the workshops, joining the network and sharing ideas and business. It’s great to see local businesses passing the baton and sharing business by recommending others in the area. We know how important local knowledge is in making the visitor experience memorable and positive and this programme helps to maximise that, working together with our growing network of Local Experts.”
Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority is calling on all visitor-facing employees, local volunteers and people in the Cork community that regularly interact with visitors. So, if you work in a tourism business such as a B&B, a hotel, self-catering accommodation, restaurant, pub, retail store, taxi company, or if you are active in your local community, this programme is for you.
This is a free event and places are on a first come first serve basis. To register for the Workshop please email: localexperts@failteireland.ie.
The post Fáilte Ireland’s Local Experts programme comes to Cork appeared first on Ring of Cork.

Congratulation to Cronin’s Pub & Mad Fish Restaurant who won Best Regional Pub in the Food Category for the The Irish Pub Awards on September 9th 2019. They will join other regional winners, Wrights Anglers Rest, Russells Select Bar, The Hanged Mans, The Strand Cahore, Murph’s Bistro at Derragarra Inn and Paddy Coyne’s Pub, at the Irish Pub Awards national gala which takes place on November 20th at the RDS Concert Hall in Ballsbridge, Dublin, where the overall winner will be decided on the night. The overall winner and individual category winners will receive a customised plaque for their premises, as well as digital assets for online promotion.

Any member of VFI and LVA is eligible to enter the Irish Pub Awards. And this year saw a record number of entries according to the Irish Pub Awards website. If anyone wants to attend the Gala taking place on November 20th, they can purchase tickets online:
https://www.irishpubawards.ie/gala/
From all of us at the Ring of Cork we wish them the very best of luck on November 20th!
The post Cronin’s Pub wins “Best Regional Pub” for outstanding food appeared first on Ring of Cork.

Fota Wildlife Park in Co Cork has become the first major visitor attraction in the country to receive an autism-friendly accreditation from AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity.
The award comes following a period of training to assist autistic people and their families visiting the attraction and the development of an autism inclusion charter which makes short, medium and long-term commitments to autism accessibility.
Understanding communication, predicting what will happen next, managing the sensory environment, and other people’s attitudes can all pose challenges for autistic people.
Simple changes to how things work, such as clearer communication and providing quiet spaces, can make the experience easier and allow autistic people to fully participate.
AsIAm supports organisations in making these changes through its autism-friendly accreditation Scheme.
Roisin FitzGerald, marketing manager of Fota Wildlife Park, said they consider this a major step to further improve the experience of visitors living with ASD at Fota Wildlife Park.
AsIAm have provided training for our core public-facing staff and have performed an environmental evaluation and audited the 100-acre visitor attraction.
“AsIAm have provided extremely helpful, insightful and practical solutions and suggestions in improving the quality of the visit for our visitors in the autism community — such as creating a sensory map, providing complimentary earbuds, inclusion of a social story and soundbites on the website and training in recognising the needs of visitors who may experience sensory issues.”
Adam Harris, founder and chief executive of AsIAm, said their autism-friendly accreditation is an achievable but challenging designation to receive.
“It requires real changes to how things work in terms of the sensory environment, promotional materials and staff attitude.
“Fota Wildlife Parks journey towards accreditation shows a real and genuine effort to be universally inclusive.”
Original story on Irish Examiner – By Olivia Kelleher
The post Fota Wildlife Park first to get autism-friendly accreditation appeared first on Ring of Cork.