Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We could talk all day about tourism. I come from the Carlow-Kilkenny region. Tourism is vital to the economy of Kilkenny and Carlow. I congratulate the local authorities in Kilkenny and Carlow who do great work in promoting both areas. Carlow is doing a really good job in trying to up its game in this area. I think it is safe to conclude at this point that The Gathering has been successful. I hope there will be a follow on from it.

While I do not mean to be critical, it seems to me that during the Celtic tiger years we all took our foot off the pedal in terms of tourism. I am interested in the urban-rural divide. I believe some of the large towns have a siege mentality in that the focus is on keeping people in the towns once there and on not telling them what exists in rural areas. I live in Graiguenamanagh, which is a place of natural beauty. I am always amazed at the low cost facilities available there. One can walk the towpath from Dublin to New Ross and meet very few people along the way, which means people are not being told about this free facility. It costs nothing to walk up and down by the river.