Creating Collaborations and Connecting Waterford through Rural Tourism Network
On Tuesday, March 31st over 100 tourism and hospitality businesses gathered in Dooleys Hotel, Waterford City, to take part in the Waterford Rural Tourism Network Showcase Event.
This event was funded and supported by Waterford City and County Council and Fáilte Ireland, and delivered by Runda Hospitality & Tourism Solutions. The Waterford Rural Tourism Network is made up of five cluster areas; Copper Coast, Blackwater Valley, Comeraghs, Gaeltacht na nDéise, and Waterford Estuary. The theme of the day was ‘Connecting Waterford’ and the event took the form of a showcase whereby each geographical area of the network highlighted the offering of that part of the county. There were also representatives from the Dungarvan, Tramore and City Tourist Information Centres.
The day began with industry updates and insights delivered by Sean Dobbs, Acting Director of Services, Waterford City and County Council. Mary Houlihan, Manager for Ireland’s Ancient East at Fáilte Ireland, updated the room on the importance of networking and promoting Waterford’s rich tourism offering to visitors before and during their trips to the city and county.
Speaking at the event, Mary Houlihan, Regional Development Manager for Ireland’s Ancient East at Fáilte Ireland said, “Waterford has a unique opportunity to become one of Ireland’s leading outdoor tourism destinations. With its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, the county is ideally positioned to develop compelling rural tourism experiences that will appeal to both domestic and international visitors. “This ambition aligns strongly with the objectives outlined in the recently launched Waterford Destination and Experience Development Plan. Working collaboratively across industry, communities and stakeholders is key to unlocking this potential and strengthening Waterford’s position as a key destination in Ireland’s Ancient East.”
Mary also noted how encouraging it was to see the level of engagement from attendees. She highlighted the vital role that frontline staff play in increasing visitor dwell time, emphasising they are often the first point of contact for visitors and therefore well placed to showcase the wide variety of experiences Waterford has to offer.
On the day Julie O’Brien of Runda Hospitality & Tourism Solutions remarked, “This has been one of the most impactful networking events I have attended. When I am in Waterford, I am always struck by how each community welcomes you into their corner of the county with such warmth and excitement. To have heard from the businesses here today, the desire to work as a collective is shining through. I am so looking forward to seeing how the new relationships and collaborations formed today will manifest in 2026.’’
Sean Dobbs, Acting Director of Services, Waterford City and County Council added, “Events like today’s are crucial for the success of Waterford. We are all working together to make Waterford the best place to live, work, visit and invest so to have this many businesses gathered in one room to strengthen and reinforce our exceptional offering is extraordinary. The work showcased here today is the reason Waterford is a premier visitor destination. I hope all the attendees leave feeling inspired and armed with information to assist in promoting Waterford as the World class destination it is.”
If you would like to find out more about the Waterford Rural Tourism Network or join one of the five Clusters in Waterford, please email caroline@runda.ie.
The Waterford Rural Tourism Network programme is funded by Waterford City and County Council and Fáilte Ireland.
