New look Louth Hidden History app launched

A screenshot from the Louth Hidden History app

A new look and updated Louth Hidden History App has been unveiled at the County Museum in Dundalk this morning, this time 
around featuring a collaboration with Louth-based Upstate Theatre Project.

The free app which was first launched in 2012 is an important tool for tourists visiting the area as well as those based locally who are keen on learning more about the history of the region.

The County Museum has joined forces with the Upstate Theatre Project and the groups latest project ECHOES: A Community Research Project Commemorating 1912-1922.

Upstate Theatre Project was supported in 2014 by the European Union’s PEACE III Programme in creating a large community action research project in Louth which sought to empower individuals, young and old, to research their own personal background and try to find out where their own ancestors may have been during the commemorative decade of 1912 to 1922.

Now, in association with Louth County Museum, Upstate Theatre Project is delighted to present the completed app developed with the artists, historians and team of 274 community researchers.

The launch was attended with Museum Curator Brian Walsh alongside Upstate’s Declan Mallon, Maura Mullen, Cait Murphy, Sandra Gough and Pat Kerley, and Graham O’Rourke of MOR Solutions uploading the first four narrated histories.

The four personal histories are only the beginning of what is to be a 
larger archive with Upstate Theatre Project hoping to build upon this foundation and, together with new and existing community researchers across Louth, continue to develop and add to the project in the coming years of this significant commemorative decade.

Speaking at the launch, Museum Curator, Brian Walsh said: “Louth Hidden History was a completely new innovation when we launched it in 2012 and I am thrilled that with the Upstate Theatre Project it is taken a new direction.”

Also speaking at the launch Declan Mallon said: “History is often, and necessarily, mediated to us. Someone writes that history, choosing what we need to know and what we don’t. Only through personal intervention can we prevent our individual histories being lost. But where do we start?

“What happened in Ireland between 1912 and 1922 happened in a global context, a turbulent time in human history. Through this project Upstate Theatre Project hopes to begin to uncover this period of commemoration and explore the humanity of our shared histories.”

The Louth Hidden History appis now available FREE at the Apple App Store.

Online aerial tour of Blackrock gets 1000 views in 12 hours

An eye catching  promotional video for a new tourist website on www.visitblackrock.ie has drawn just over 1000 views in just 12 hours.

The aerial tour was created using a remote control drone is a four minute tour of stunning Blackrock and is sure to draw tourists from all over the world if the views on YouTube are anything to go by.

The tour is part of a new website for the #VisitBlackrock campaign by well know local businessman Conor Hughes, who is aiming to put one of Ireland’s most beautiful villages on the global tourist trail.

“Generations of people have been coming to enjoy the beauty of Blackrock for over 100 years and now we are bringing Blackrock to the world via our new website,” said Hughes.

“Tourists can get a sample of what we have to offer as a destination in Louth and the video really gives the experience of being here.”

The website has sections for shops, bars, restaurants, accommodation, things to do, travel guide, photo gallery, weather reports and an aerial tour.

See for yourself on www.visitblackrock.ie

Fitzpatrick welcomes increased tourist numbers to the North East

Peter Fitzpatrick TD

Local TD Peter Fitzpatrick has welcomed the news that the number of tourists to the North East has risen.

According to the CSO, the number of overseas visits to Ireland between December and February increased by 10.3%, with the North East amongst the areas to have benefitted.

Deputy Fitzpatrick was in the area yesterday with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Michael Ring, who was impressed with Louth’s offering to tourists.

“During a visit to Carlingford, Minister Michael Ring highlighted to me the importance of attractions like the Cooley Mountains, the festivities in Carlingford, the heritage of Drogheda and the amenities in nearby Dundalk to tourists in attracting visitors,” said the Fine Gael TD.

“The strength of the tourism offering in Louth continues to grow and we are in a very strong position to add to the current success. It is clear to those on the ground that more people are coming to visit, we see and deal with them every day, but now we have the details.

“Tourists from North America are up by 6.6%, 7.7% of new visitors are coming from the UK and 18.1% are coming from mainland Europe.

“Tourism is a major area of potential growth for the North East and in particular for County Louth. I am confident that tourism numbers in this area will continue to grow and I congratulate all those working in the business who have contributed to the sector’s success to date.”

Louth people amongst the country’s friendliest, according to survey

Carlingford is one of the most popular tourist areas in the county

A new survey from Fáilte Ireland has found that counties on ‘Dublin’s Doorstep’ – an area which includes Louth – are the friendliest in Ireland.

The area, comprising of the Wee County, Laois, Meath, Wicklow and Kildare – rated the highest in the tourism survey for friendliness of locals with a score of 4.93 out of five.

The study is based on the opinion of 10,000 domestic and international tourists who holidayed in Ireland between May and October last year.

Release of 1926 Census could boost tourism in Louth, insists Mullen

Senator Ronan Mullen with CSPE students from Scoil Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer on his visit to the school recently

Independent Senator Rónán Mullen has called on the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to bring forward the long awaited legislation which would release the returns for the 1926 census.

Senator Mullen, who is running for a seat in the European Parliament in the Midlands-North-West constituency in May, believes releasing the information now rather than in two years time would act as a huge tourism boost for Louth.

“Minister Deenihan promised he would amend the law in 2012 to allow access to the 1926 census by 2016. I believe there is no reason to wait until 2016. Releasing the information now could provide a real boost for tourism in Louth. Many of the Irish Diaspora and tourists are interested in genealogical research and visits to Ireland.”

Senator Mullen said the 1926 census, which was compiled 88 years ago, is a wonderful resource. He said people all across the world would be interested in the history of the people of Louth in 1926.

“The first census of the State was conducted against a back drop of huge change in Ireland. The 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the foundation of our State. The Irish Community across the globe would, I’m sure, have huge interest in such a valuable insight into our history. Louth had 62,739 people in 1922 and 122,808 in 2011. Consider the changes that have happened since and the descendants that are all over the globe from Sydney to Seattle.”

Senator Mullen said the year of the Gathering would have been a perfect opportunity for people to discover more about their Irish heritage. He said the delay in releasing the census was inexcusable.

“I am calling on the Minister to act now to make the necessary changes to release this information.”