European visitors blown away by Inishowen's ‘passionate and inspiring’ locals

A group of local tourism providers and food producers from Italy were highly impressed by the inspiring and welcoming people of Inishowen during a recent field trip to the peninsula held as part of an EU project involving Inishowen Development Partnership.

TOAST – Tourism and Sustainability – is an Erasmus+ funded project which IDP became involved in last year also with partners from Italy and the Netherlands. It aims to offer an insight into European regional approaches to sustainable tourism and sharing of best practice from those involved in agri-tourism and small-scale sustainable food production.

Last month the project accumulated in the second site visit of the project with 11 people here in Inishowen promoting sustainable tourism, agri-tourism projects and small agri-producers.

During the three-day study visit, IDP staff brought the group to Living Green farm in Quigley’s Point, the IOSAS Centre at Whiteoaks in Muff, Muineagh Organic Farm, Donagh Bees in Carndonagh, Doagh Famine Village, The Wild Alpaca Way, William McLaughlin’s social farm, Solas Tobann Arthouse B&B in Malin Head and Culdaff House. The group also met with joint CEOs Shauna McClenaghan and Andrew Ward.

Denise McCool, team lead within IDP, said it was important for them see some excellent examples Inishowen has to offer on local tourism and farming initiatives that follow a social, green and sustainable approach.

“It was a great opportunity for us to showcase some of the innovative approaches to tourism and sustainability within the Inishowen peninsula. We really appreciate how the various local providers across the peninsula gave so generously of their time to tell our visitors about their projects, and their future plans” said Denise.

At a concluding seminar in McGrory’s Hotel in Culdaff, following presentations from Explore Inishowen and Artlink, the partners got tie to reflect on their learnings over the three day tour of Inishowen. On the whole they were overwhelmed by the welcome they received and wished they had more time to explore Inishowen.

“The people we met were so passionate and inspiring,” one of the partners stated.

“I knew very little about this region but I feel I learned a lot in such a short trip. I want to come back and explore the place properly.”

While another partner also believed that one of the most impressive things about the peninsula was it’s people.

“The people were so welcoming and you could tell straight away that they were passionate about their project/business. They all have a connection to the place and you feel that they are very invested in the place. I think it helps when people are local to the area, we wouldn’t have that as much in our country,” another of the visitors stated.

Partners also praised IDP for their connection with the local community.

Shauna McClenaghan, joint CEO of IDP said they have been working a community development company working directly with the community and people on the ground for more than 20 years. She said they have developed great relationships, however remarked how this doesn’t happen overnight.

“The community work with us and there difference is that most of staff are local therefore they have a personal interest in the promotion and development of this area,” added Shauna.

Meanwhile IDP Farm Support Officer Joe Sweeney spoke to the Europeans about the importance of working together and working within the EU.

“There are so many opportunities to work together within the EU,” said Joe.

“We have learned over the last few years that we are stronger together – I think that Brexit, the pandemic and the Ukraine war has proved that. We have learned a lot of lessons but we are in a good position from working together.”