Fiona arrived at the Storehouse for 8:00 am for breakfast and at 9:30 am the invitees were directed to the Gravity Bar in preparation of the Queen’s arrival. At 10:30 am (on the button) the Queen arrived at Gravity Bar and was introduced to everyone. Fergal Murray, Guinness Master Brewer expertly pulled the Perfect Pint for the Queen & Duke.

Fiona was very impressed with how engaged and friendly the Queen and Duke were. They spent a time speaking to all the tourism representatives.  William Hague, Foreign Minister, who spoke at the Inaugural meeting of the Irish British Chamber of Commerce yesterday, mentioned how important it is that Ireland and Great Britain work together.

Everyone present was delighted how the visit went and remarked how friendly and interested the Royal couple were!

Congratulations to the Guinness Storehouse on a wonderful morning.

Custom Ireland ran a highly successful incentive programme for 450 Vector Marketing managers. The bi-location programme took in Galway and Dublin cities with visits to the scenic Cliffs of Moher, Connemara with a splendid lunch at Ashford Castle, as well as a hopping good evening at Guinness Storehouse! It was a delight to meet and assist our US and Canadian visitors over a busy week, and we’re thrilled with the resulting feedback – thank you! Check out endorsements on our website to get the full picture.

This month included our national holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, and the England v. Ireland rugby match in the shiny new Aviva Stadium. We had guests from Moscow, Germany and the UK, all living it up in style across the city’s best hotels! We hope you enjoyed some of the craic!

At the same time Fiona was on a US Sales with our agent WMG, and she finished up in New York at the SMU trade event. She reports a highly successful trip where she met lots of lovely and potential Ireland-bound clients. Crothur will be back in the States in the coming months to trek a different part of the country – be sure to get in contact if you want to meet up!

Finally, the clocks have gone forward and the days are lengthening. It seems as though we’re out of the winter gloom. The parks are looking greening, blossoms are on the trees and the country is looking very inviting. Speaking of such, Sarah is just back from a busy few days exploring the north of the country with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. She is full of new ideas for activities, gala events and all the latest hotel and event places. It’s time to explore somewhere new!

This all comes as Tourism Ireland starts its North American promotions for 2011. If you’re Stateside watch out for major Ireland advertising online, on the radio, in the papers and on tv. There are great experiences to be had along with good value, and Tourism Ireland plans to remind us.  Hopefully  this promotion will further push Ireland up the American traveller’s wishlist. Currently Ireland ranks fifth…not that that’s bad either! Watch out for the Ireland stand at all major travel events this year.

On that note, Fiona O’Sullivan will be in New York, Chicago and Minneapolis in March. She will be taking part in trade events and making sales calls. If you would like to meet her please be sure to contact us.

It was a very pleasant weekend. The first signs of spring are definitely in the air in Dublin town. For many of the Custom Ireland team the weekend finished at a very special screening of a superb Chinese film, Blood Oath. Director Stephen Shin was in attendance and introduced his epic work to a packed theatre.  Custom Ireland was delightd to join with Dublin City Council and the Dublin Chinese New Year film festival to support an event that is promised to continue alongside the CNY celebrations for years ahead.

We hope the Year of the Rabbit is an auspicious one for all.
Oh… and Happy Valentine’s Day!

-LC

Firstly, Ireland was recognised by two leading Chinese publications as a destination with most potential for 2011 or most popular travel choice. 400,000 readers of the ‘Oriental Morning Post’ voted Ireland the best destination of 2010. Now that’s good news!

The reader’s of Frommer’s guide have also placed Ireland at the top of their travel wishlist for 2011. Knocking Paris off top place, Ireland featured because it’s ‘a magical destination in nearly every way’, according to one poll participant. See for yourself!

See this press piece for details: ITOA NI Announcement

All going to plan, in peak season entertainers and full time guides will direct visitors along the route, telling particular stories in each of the historic areas.

It all sounds like a wonderful idea, making people better aware of the many, and lesser known attractions in Dublin. We have the stories to tell and superb buildings to visit, we just need to make sure everyone knows it! We’ll keep you posted!

-LC

With great patience (and to prove a point) there’s not a clean face yet! Fiona O’Sullivan returns to the office after a couple of weeks travel, and they’re waiting to surprise her with their manly endeavours!

So what do you think? Naughty or nice?! Should we start a petition to get the guys to keep their new facial hair? It would keep them so much warmer in this weather…

Finally, thank you to all who have donated generously to the Magnum C.I appeal on Movember Ireland.

If you haven’t already heard about it, Movember is the time of year when men forsake a clean shave for a moustache in the name of men’s health awareness. Our boys… I mean MEN, are doing just that. We have our own Three Moustacheers, our very own Tash Force letting it all grow out for this good cause! If this all sounds too kitsch, it’s only because they’re starting to look a little 1980s!

Strict rules apply; having started out clean shaven on Monday 1^st November, hair growth is restricted to the upper lip area only. No avoiding the razor on the rest of the face for a lazy morning start!

So from the Mo’Sistas (supporting ladies) of Custom Ireland to our Mo’Bros, we applaud the efforts of team ‘Magnum C.I’ … even if we don’t necessarily love the look of it!

We’ll be keeping a photo update on our blog for the month, and if you wish to show your support you can donate to cancer research and awareness by donating via their Movember page.

Just to prove the men are doing as they promise, check out these photos and note the changes!

-LC.