Tertiary economic activities:(tourism)The western region

natural attractions

One of the factors that influence the development of tourism in the west of Ireland (Counties Mayo, Roscommon and Galway) is its natural, unspoiled scenery.

This region is famous for its beautiful landscape and this attracts tourists from all over the world.

Many tourists like to visit the region's bays which were shaped by the Atlantic Ocean.

The large Atlantic waves created perfect surfing conditions and in recent years surfing schools have been set up along coastal areas to encourage surfers from around the world to visit the region. This has furthered the development of tourism in the area.

Landscapes

The west of Ireland is possibly most famous for its scenic mountains and rolling green hills.

These landscapes attract tourists who are interested in hillwalking, nature and geography.

Connemara National Park is very popular with tourists as it has almost 3000 hectares of woodlands, grasslands, bogs and mountains.

Initiatives such as the Great Western Greenway, which is a cycling and walking trail along the west coast of Ireland, have been set up to help develop tourism in the area.

It is a former railway between Westport and Achill Island which was converted into a walking/cycling trail.

Boating trips and wild Atlantic way

Many companies have also set up boat trips on the River Shannon to cater to tourists who are looking to experience the natural beauty of the river.

This has boosted the economy of towns on the river, such as Carrick-on-Shannon, as they provide accommodation and restaurants for those who come for the boat trips.

Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's tourism development authority, has invested in The Wild Atlantic Way.

It is a marked scenic, coastal routeway all along the western coast and it takes in parts of the west of Ireland.

It has 31 stop-offs or discovery points at areas of natural beauty such as the cliffs at Downpatrick Head and Keem Strand in Achill.

This has boosted tourism in rural areas of the west of Ireland.

The Galway races and the Gaeltacht

In addition to its spectacular scenery, the west of Ireland is also rich in culture.

The west of Ireland contains the country's largest Gaeltacht area, Connemara Gaeltacht, which attracts approximately 20,000 students each summer who hope to learn the country's language and culture.

Galway City is a very popular tourist destination. In 2020 it was named the year's European Capital of Culture. Every year, events such as the Galway Arts Festival and the Galway Races attract tourists to the city.

Sporting events are becoming more popular in the west of Ireland. The Galway Races generate approximately €70 million each year.

There are also several popular golf courses located in Galway, attracting golfers from all over the world.

Improved transport links

Improved transport links, such as the M6 Dublin to Galway, makes the cultural attractions in the West more accessible to international and domestic tourists.

International tourists who land at Dublin airport can now visit the Connemara Gaeltacht or the Galway Races in under 2.5 hours.

Before the motorway was built, it would have taken them a lot longer on the poor roads to visit.

Thousands of religious tourists come to Knock each year to visit Knock Shrine, the site of an apparition of the Virgin Mary.

The nearby Knock Airport in Co. Mayo makes the area accessible to religious tourists who can fly directly to the west of Ireland.