The Band Plays On as Dublin Goes Country

Dublin still stomping as Capital entertains visitors with a ‘City & Western’ series of events

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe today announced that Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Dublin’s tourism industry were stepping in to ensure that the many thousands of Garth Brooks’ fans would still have a weekend to remember if they went ahead with their travel plans to the city in the last weekend of July.

Minister Donohoe emphasised:

“Garth may not be coming but Dublin is still here and there’s a lot happening in Dublin that week. The tourism industry is working hard to ensure Garth Brooks fans will still have a reason to come. Fáilte Ireland and the city’s tourism industry have pulled out all the stops to add extra country and western themed events to make it a weekend to remember for all fans that come. And Tourism Ireland is spreading the message to fans in key markets overseas through social media advertising and targeted publicity. Aer Lingus and Ryanair have also agreed to promote ‘Dublin Goes Country’ to millions of their customers.”

Minister of State Ring said:

“Ireland is a great place for festivals, as we showed during the Gathering. I am sure this is going to be a great weekend too. I would encourage all visitors to come to Ireland as planned and take in the rest of the country as well as Dublin.”

Fáilte Ireland has developed a ‘Dublin Goes Country’ campaign with some specially created country & western events to complement the vast range of events and activities that Dublin is already offering visitors during the July 25-29 period. These will include a series of music events at a variety of venues; themed menus at Dublin bars and restaurants and a series of nightly events featuring food, dance and music.

Highlights announced by the Minister today include:

Whelan’s Bluegrass, Country & Roots Festival, July 25-27th;

“In Lonesome Dame” – live Outdoor music in the Dame St District, July 25-27th;

An ‘OK Corral’ Busking Trail – (Sat 26th July) from the Grafton Quarter to Wolf Tone Square; a busking trail of well-known and up and coming acts playing in key locations.

Stetson and the City (Friday 25th) – a one day music trail, organised by the people behind Breakingtunes Irish Music portal and Hard Working Class Heroes Festival, will showcase some of the best new country and folk bands in Ireland right now.

(See editor’s note for more details).

Fáilte Ireland will promote ‘Dublin Goes Country’ through VisitDublin.com, as well as via a variety of other digital channels and PR. Tourism Ireland will also promote the initiative through their own overseas platforms and liaise with the airlines.

Many tourism businesses taking part will be providing their own themed and related special events as well as special offers that weekend.

Everyone is encouraged to go to www.Ireland.com or www.VisitDublin.com or check out #DublinGoesCountry to keep up with all the latest news for the event.

Speaking today, Mary Collins from Fáilte Ireland’s Dublin team said:

“It’s a credit to the local tourism industry that they have all pitched in at such short notice to help us provide an exciting alternative for the many Garth Brooks fans who had already booked flights and accommodation to be here. Even, if people didn’t have a ticket for Garth, we would encourage them to check out these events, get into the swing of things and grab their partners for what should be a great hoe-down in the city later this month”.