LAUNCH OF "A TASTE OF THE WATERWAYS, FAVOURITE PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK"

A new book "A Taste of the Waterways, Favourite Places to Eat and Drink" was officially launched by David Hanson MP, Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure on Tuesday 26th July.

The Guide, sponsored by Waterways Ireland features, restaurants and hostelries along the seven waterways within the remit of Waterways Ireland and includes reviews, photos and contact details.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister said: "This new publication is an imaginative way of promoting the local waterway economies and attracting new tourists. Its success should contribute in many ways to the social and economic regeneration of many rural areas along the banks of Ireland's key navigation routes."

The book, published by Waterways Ireland, is distributed free of charge to all registered Boat Owners North and South and to Tourist Information Offices throughout Europe. It also outlines suggested routes for navigating the waterways with lists of places to visit, stay, eat and drink along the way.

The Waterways included in the Guide are: the Barrow Navigation, the Erne System, the Grand Canal, the Lower Bann Navigation, the Royal Canal, the Shannon Navigation and the Shannon-Erne Waterway.

The book's author, Georgina Campbell, commented: "The independently assessed guide will lead to many enjoyable experiences and will leave many happy memories of Ireland's wonderful waterways."

Speaking at the Launch, Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing and Communications of Waterways Ireland said: "Two of the pillars of the Marketing and Promotion Strategy of Waterways Ireland are promoting greater use of the Waterways and building a platform for sustained market development, and this new Guide contributes to these aims".

He continued: "The 2004 Guide only covered three of the waterways, but due to its success, the current Guide has been extended to all seven waterways and I look forward to receiving feedback on the Guide from our customers."

Waterways Ireland is the North/South implementation body responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterways principally for recreational purposes.

Copies of the "A Taste of the Waterways, Favourite Places to Eat and Drink" may be obtained free of charge from the Waterways Ireland Marketing and Communications Division in Enniskillen at 028 66346 219.

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Further information from:

Ms. Aoife Morrissy, Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland,
00 353 71 9650787 or 00 353 87 9918412, or
Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland, 00 44 28 66346203.

Date: 15.08.2005
PR050021

At the Launch of "A Taste of the Waterways, Favourite Places to Eat and Drink", sponsored by Waterways Ireland, from left, Georgina Campbell, Author of the Guide; Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland; and David Hanson, MP, Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office

Location: Stormont Castle, Belfast.