Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One of the best examples of what Deputy Durkan is referring to is the video that was launched as part of Ireland's Rugby World Cup bid for 2023. It shows the four provinces, North and South of the Border, in a fantastic light. Apart from the bid offering and its importance, any discerning visitor would watch the video and want to visit this place. A large part of Tourism Ireland's marketing programmes in its major markets - Britain, North America and northern Europe - is sports tourism. The associated imagery, in particular of our indigenous games of hurling and Gaelic football, cannot be underestimated. Croke Park and the provincial locations, for example, Newbridge in the Deputy's part of the world and Donegal, which is the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's part of the world, are visitor attractions, as are the interprovincial contests of our national games. Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland are conscious of using that imagery in advertising Ireland in a good light. The Department will continue to support that work.

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