Podcasts about Moher

Paul Marden heads to the AVEA conference in front of a LIVE audience to find out why gift shops are such an important part of the attraction mix. Joining him is Jennifer Kennedy, Retail Consultant, JK Consulting and Michael Dolan, MD of Shamrock Gift Company. They discuss why your gift shop is an integral part of your brand and why it needs to be just as good as the experience you have on offer. This coinsides with the launch of our brand new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide To Going Beyond The Gift Shop', where you can find out exactly how to improve your online offering to take your ecommerce to the next level. Download your FREE copy here:  https://pages.crowdconvert.co.uk/skip-the-queue-playbookBut that's not all. Paul walks the conference floor and speaks to:Susanne Reid, CEO of Christchurch Cathedral Dublin, on how they are celebrating their millennium anniversary - 1000 years!Charles Coyle, Managing Director, Emerald Park, on how they are bringing AI integrations to enhance their booking processesRay Dempsey, General Manager of The Old Jamerson Distillery on how they offering more accessible touring optionsIt's a mega episode and one you'll not want to miss. Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references:  Jennifer Kennedy — Founder, JK Consultinghttps://jkconsultingnyc.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-kennedy-aba75712/Michael Dolan — Managing Director, Shamrock Gift Companyhttps://www.shamrockgiftcompany.com/Catherine Toolan — Managing Director, Guinness Storehouse & Global Head of Brand Homes, Diageohttp://diageo.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinetoolan/Máirín Walsh — Operations Manager, Waterford Museumhttps://www.waterfordtreasures.com/Dean Kelly — Photography & Visitor Experience Specialist https://www.wearephotoexperience.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-kelly-1259a316/Charles Coyle — Managing Director, Emerald Parkhttps://www.emeraldpark.ieSusanne Reid — CEO, Christ Church Cathedral Dublinhttp://www.christchurchcathedral.iehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/susannereid/Ray Dempsey — General Manager, Jameson Distilleryhttps://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/en-ie/visit-our-distilleries/jameson-bow-street-distillery-tour/https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-dempsey-37a8665a/ Transcription: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast that tells the stories behind the world's best attractions and the amazing people that work in them. In today's episode, I'm at the AVEA 2025 conference in Waterford, Ireland, and we're talking about gift shop best practices. With Jennifer Kennedy from JK Consulting, a tourism and retail consultancy. And Jennifer led retail at Guinness Storehouse for more years than she would care to mention, I think. And we're also here with Michael Dolan, MD of Shamrock Gift Company, who has brought along the most amazing array of gift shop merchandise, which I'm sure we'll get into talking a little something about later on. And I've also got an amazing live audience. Say hello, everybody.Everyone: Hello.Paul Marden: There we go. So we always start with icebreaker that I don't prepare the two of you. Now this is probably a very unfair question for the pair of you, actually. What's the quirkiest souvenir you've ever bought? I can think of those little, the ones that you get in Spain are the little pooping santas.Jennifer  Kennedy: I have a thing for Christmas decorations when I go on travel, so for me, there always tends to be something around having a little decoration on my tree every year. That if I've had one or two holidays or I've been away, that has some little thing that comes back that ends up on the tree of Christmas. I have a lovely little lemon from Amalfi that's a Christmas decoration, and so you know, so a little kind of quirky things like that.Paul Marden: Michael, what about you? Michael  Dolan: One of our designers who will remain nameless? She has a thing about poo. So everyone brings her back to some poo relation. Paul Marden: Sadly, there's quite a lot of that around at the moment, isn't there? That's a bit disappointing. First question then, what's the point of a gift shop? If I put that in a more eloquent way, why are gift shops such an important part of the attraction mix?Jennifer  Kennedy: Okay, it was from my point of view, the gift shop in an attraction or a destination is the ultimate touch point that the brand has to leave a lasting memory when visitors go away. So for me, they're intrinsically important in the complete 360 of how your brand shows up— as a destination or an attraction. And without a really good gift shop and really good product to take away from it, you're letting your brand down. And it's an integral piece that people can share. From a marketing point of view, every piece of your own product that's been developed, that's taken away to any part of the world can sit in someone's kitchen. It can be in multiple forms. It can be a fridge magnet. It could be a tea towel. It could be anything. But it's a connection to your brand and the home that they visited when they chose to be wherever they're visiting. So for me, I'm very passionate about the fact that your gift shop should be as good as everything else your experience has to offer. So that's my view on it. Michael  Dolan: Sometimes it's neglected when people create a new visitor attraction. They don't put enough time into the retail element. I think that's changing, and a very good example of that would be Game of Thrones in Banbridge. We worked with them for two years developing the range, but also the shop. So the shop reflects the... I actually think the shop is the best part of the whole experience. But the shop reflects the actual whole experience.  Jennifer  Kennedy: The teaming.Michael  Dolan: The teaming. So you have banners throughout the shop, the music, the lighting, it looks like a dungeon. All the display stands have swords in them, reflecting the theme of the entrance.Jennifer  Kennedy: Yeah, it's a good example of how a brand like that has incorporated the full essence and theme of why they exist into their physical retail space.Paul Marden: They definitely loosened a few pounds out of my pocket. Michael  Dolan: Another good example is Titanic Belfast. So they spent 80 million on that visitor attraction, which was opened in 2012, but they forgot about the shop. So the architect who designed the building designed the shop that looked like something out of the Tate Gallery. Yeah, and we went and said, 'This shop is not functional; it won't work for our type of product.' They said, 'We don't have anything in the budget to redevelop the shop.' So we paid a Dublin architect to redesign the shop. So the shop you have today, that design was paid for by Shamrock Gift Company. And if you've been in the shop, it's all brass, wood, ropes. So it's an integral part of the overall experience. But unfortunately... you can miss the shop on the way out.Paul Marden: Yeah, it is very easy to walk out the building and not engage in the shop itself. It's a bit like a dessert for a meal, isn't it? The meal's not complete if you've not had a dessert. And I think the gift shop experience is a little bit like that. The trip to the experience isn't finished.  If you haven't exited through the gate. Michael  Dolan: But it's the lasting memories that people bring back to the office in New York, put the mug on the table to remind people of when they're in Belfast or Dublin to go to. You know, storehouse or Titanic. So those last impressions are indelibly, you know, set.Paul Marden: So we've already said the positioning of the shop then is super important, how it feels, but product is super important, isn't it? What product you fill into the shop is a make or break experience? How do you go about curating the right product? Michael  Dolan: Most important is authenticity. You know, it has to be relevant to the visitor attraction. So it's not a question of just banging out a few key rings and magnets. So I brought you along some samples there. So we're doing two new ranges, one for Titanic and one for the Royal Yacht Britannia, and they're totally different. But reflect the personality of each attraction.Paul Marden: Absolutely.Michael  Dolan: I mean, a good example, we worked together or collaborated together on many, many projects in Guinness. But we also worked in St. Patrick's Cathedral.Jennifer  Kennedy: Yeah.Michael  Dolan: You were the consultant.Jennifer  Kennedy: Yeah, yeah. So I suppose, again, from the product point of view. Yeah, if you can root product in why the experience exists. So in that example, a cathedral is a great example of how you can create really great product by utilising. Well, the main reason people are there is because this amazing building exists and the historic elements of it. So I suppose to make it real, some examples of products that connected with the audience in that environment are things like a little stone coaster. But the stone coaster is a replica of the floor you're standing on. So I suppose the other balance in attractions is realistic price points and realistic products. So there's no point in creating a range of products that's outside the price point of what your visitors are prepared to pay. So it's that fine balance of creating product that connects with them, which is, I'm using the cathedral as an example because you've got architraves, you've got stained glass windows, you've got stunning tiles. So all the elements of the fabric of that building. Can be utilised to create really beautiful products, but castles, you know, cathedrals, all of those sorts of spaces.Jennifer  Kennedy: When we start talking about product, always we go to, 'why are we here?' And also the storytelling elements. There's some beautiful stories that can, I can give you another really great example of a product that was created for another cathedral, which was... So in cathedral spaces, there's all these stunning doors that run the whole way through, like they're spectacular; they're like pieces of art in their own right. And every one of them has a very unique ornate key that unlocks each door. So one of the products that did one of the cathedrals was we wanted to create a ring of brass keys with replicas of all the keys in the cathedral. But as we were progressing, we forgot at the start— it was like we forgot to tell them to scale them down. They weren't the same size as all the keys in the cathedral. So it was a very intrinsically specific gift to this particular cathedral. And it's been used ever since as kind of the special gift they give to people who come to visit from all over the world. They get quite emotional about this particular gift because it's like this is the actual replica of all the keys to all the doors in the cathedral.Jennifer  Kennedy: So it's a product that's completely born. It can never be replicated anywhere else. And it's completely unique to that particular space. And I think that's the power of, for me, that's what authenticity feels and looks like in these environments. It has to be connected to the fabric of why you exist.Paul Marden: Yeah, so I was at Big Pit in Wales six months ago, I think it was. Museums Wales are redeveloping all of their gift shops and they are going through exactly that process that you're talking about, but bringing it back to the place itself because all, I think, it's six of their museums, the gift shops had much the same set of product. They described it as, you know, you were just walking into a generic Welsh gift shop with the dressed lady.Jennifer  Kennedy: And it's hard— like it really takes an awful lot of work— like it doesn't just happen, like you really have to put a lot of thought and planning into what our product should and could look like. And then, when you've aligned on with the team of people managing and running these businesses, that this is the direction you want to take, then it's the operational element of it. It's about sourcing, MOQs, and price, and all of that stuff that comes into it. Minimum order quantities.Michael  Dolan: That's where we come in. So, you know, we met Jennifer in St. Patrick's and we met Liz then, we met the Dean. So we really sat around and talked about what were the most important elements in the cathedral that we wanted to celebrate in product.Michael  Dolan: And St. Patrick obviously was the obvious number one element. Then they have a harp stained glass window. And then they have a shamrock version of that as well. So they were the three elements that we hit on. You know, it took a year to put those three ranges together. So we would have started out with our concept drawings, which we presented to the team in St. Patrick's. They would have approved them. Then we would have talked to them about the size of the range and what products we were looking at. So then we would have done the artwork for those separate ranges, brought them back in to get them approved, go to sampling, bring the samples back in, then sit down and talk about pricing, minimum order quantities, delivery times.Michael  Dolan: So the sample, you know, so that all goes out to order and then it arrives in about four or five months later into our warehouse. So we carry all the risk. We design everything, we source it, make sure that it's safely made, all the tests are confirmed that the products are good. In conformity with all EU legislation. It'll be in our warehouse and then it's called off the weekly basis. So we carry, we do everything.  So one stop shop. Paul Marden: So the traction isn't even sitting on stock that they've invested in. We know what we're doing and we're quite happy to carry the risk. So one of the things we were talking about just before we started the episode was the challenges of sourcing locally. It's really important, isn't it? But it can be challenging to do that.Jennifer  Kennedy: It can. And, you know, but I would say in recent years, there's a lot more creators and makers have come to the fore after COVID. So in kind of more... Specifically, kind of artisan kind of product types. So things like candles are a great example where, you know, now you can find great candle makers all over Ireland with, you know, small minimum quantity requirements. And also they can bespoke or tailor it to your brand. So if you're a museum or if you're a, again, whatever the nature of your brand is, a national store or whatever, you can have a small batch made. Which lets you have something that has provenance. And here it's Irish made, it's Irish owned. And then there's some, you know, it just it gives you an opportunity.Jennifer  Kennedy: Unfortunately, we're never going to be in a position where we can source everything we want in Ireland. It just isn't realistic. And commercially, it's not viable. As much as you can, you should try and connect with the makers and creators that they are available and see if small batches are available. And they're beautiful to have within your gift store, but they also have to be the balance of other commercial products that will have to be sourced outside of Ireland will also have to play a significant role as well.Máirín Walsh: I think there needs to be a good price point as well. Like, you know, we find that in our museum, that, you know, if something is above 20, 25 euro, the customer has to kind of really think about purchasing it, where if it's 20 euro or under, you know, it's...Michael  Dolan: More of an input item, yeah.Máirín Walsh: Yes, exactly, yeah.Paul Marden: And so when it's over that price point, that's when you need to be sourcing locally again. Máirín Walsh: It's a harder sell. You're kind of maybe explaining a bit more to them and trying to get them to purchase it. You know, they have to think about it.Jennifer  Kennedy: But it's also good for the storytelling elements as well because it helps you engage. So I've often found as well that even train the teams and the customer service. It's actually a lovely space to have, to be able to use it as part of storytelling that we have this locally made or it's made in Cork or wherever it's coming from, that it's Irish made.Máirín Walsh: We have, what have we got? We've kind of got scarves and that and we have local— we had candles a few years ago actually. I think they were made or... up the country or whatever. But anyway, it was at Reginald's Tower and there were different kinds of candles of different attractions around and they really connected with your audience.Michael  Dolan: So 20% of our turnover would be food and all that is made in Ireland. Virtually all of that is sourced locally here in Ireland. And that's a very important part of our overall product portfolio and growing as well.Paul Marden: Is it important to serve different audiences with the right product? So I'm thinking... Making sure that there's pocket money items in there for kids, because often when they come to a museum or attraction, it's their first time they ever get to spend their own money on a transaction. Yeah, that would be their first memory of shopping. So giving them what they need, but at the same time having that 25 euro and over price point. To have a real set piece item is?Jennifer  Kennedy: I would say that's very specific to the brand. Paul Marden: Really? Jennifer  Kennedy: Yes, because some brands can't actually sell products or shouldn't be selling products to children. Paul Marden: Really? I'm looking at the Guinness items at the end of the table.Jennifer  Kennedy: So it depends on the brand. So obviously, in many of the destinations around Ireland, some of them are quite heavily family-oriented. And absolutely in those environments where you've got gardens, playgrounds or theme parks. Absolutely. You have to have that range of product that's very much tailored to young families and children. In other environments, not necessarily. But you still need to have a range that appeals to the masses. Because you will have visitors from all walks of life and with all perspectives. So it's more about having something. I'm going to keep bringing it back to it. It's specific to why this brand is here. And if you can create product within a fair price point, and Mairin is absolutely right. The balance of how much your products cost to the consumer will make or break how your retail performs. And in most destinations, what you're actually aiming to do is basket size. You want them to go away with three, four, five products from you, not necessarily one.Jennifer  Kennedy: Because if you think about it, that's more beneficial for the brand. I mean, most people are buying for gifting purposes. They're bringing things back to multiple people. So, if I'm able to pick up a nice candle and it's eight or 10 euros, well, I might buy three of them if it's a beautiful candle in a nice package. Whereas, if I went in and the only option available to me was a 35-euro candle, I probably might buy that, but I'm only buying one product. And I'm only giving that to either myself or one other person. Whereas, if you can create a range that's a good price, but it's also appealing and very connected to why they came to visit you in the first place, then that's a much more powerful, for the brand point of view, that's a much more... Powerful purchasing options are available to have a basket size that's growing.Michael  Dolan: We worked together in the National Stud in Kildare, so we did a great kids range of stationery, which worked really well. We've just done a new range for the GAA museum, all stationery-related, because they get a lot of kids. Again, we would have collaborated on that.Jennifer  Kennedy: And actually, the natural studs are a really nice example as well, because from even a textile point of view, you can lean into equine as the, so you can do beautiful products with ponies and horses. Yeah. You know, so again, some brands make it very, it's easy to see the path that you can take with product. And then others are, you know, you have to think harder. It's a little bit more challenging. So, and particularly for cultural and heritage sites, then that really has to be grounded in what are the collections, what is on offer in these sites, in these museums, in these heritage sites, and really start to unravel the stories that you can turn into product.Paul Marden: But a product isn't enough, is it?Jennifer  Kennedy: Absolutely not.Paul Marden: Set making, merchandising, storytelling, they all engage the customer, don't they?Jennifer  Kennedy: 100%.Paul Marden: Where have you seen that being done well in Ireland?Michael  Dolan: Get a store is the preeminent example, I would think. I mean, it's a stunning shop. Have you met Catherine too? Paul Marden: No, not yet. Lovely to meet you, Catherine.  Michael  Dolan: Catherine is in charge of getting the stories. Paul Marden: Okay. Any other examples that aren't, maybe, sat at the table? Game of Thrones is a really good example and Titanic.Michael  Dolan: Game of Thrones.  I think Titanic's good. The new shop in Trinity College is very strong, I think. So it's a temporary digital exhibition while they're revamping the library. They've done an excellent job in creating a wonderful new shop, even on a temporary basis.Jennifer  Kennedy: I would say Crowe Park as well. The GAA museum there has undergone a full refurbishment and it's very tailored towards their audience. So they're very, it's high volume, very specific to their... And the look and feel is very much in keeping with the nature of the reason why people go to Crowe Park. I would say the Irish National Asteroid as well. And Colmar Abbey, Cliffs of Moher. We've got some really great offers all over the island of Ireland.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. I was at W5 recently in Belfast and I think that is a brilliant example of what a Science Centre gift shop could be like. Because often there will be the kind of generic stuff that you'll see in any attraction— a notebook with rubber and a pencil— but they also had lots of, there were lots of science-led toys and engineering-led toys, so they had... big Lego section. It was like going into a proper toy shop. It was just a really impressive gift shop that you could imagine engaging a kid.Catherine Toolan: And if I could come in there for an example outside of Ireland, you've got the House of Lego in Billund. I don't know if anybody has been there, but they've got a customised range, which is only available. Really? Yes, and it's so special. They've got a really unique building, so the Lego set is in the shape of the building. They've got their original dock. But the retail store in that space, it's very geared towards children as Lego is, but also imagination play. So they've done a brilliant job on looking at, you know, the texture of their product, the colour of their product. And whilst it's usually geared to children, it's also geared to adult lovers of Lego. So it's beautiful. Huge tech as well. They've incredible RFID wristbands, which you get from your ticket at the beginning of the experience. So all of your photo ops and everything you can download from the RFID wristband. Very cool.Jennifer  Kennedy: Actually, I would say it's probably from a tech point of view, one of the best attractions I've been to in recent years. Like, it's phenomenal. I remember going there the year it opened first because it was fascinating. I have two boys who are absolutely Lego nuts. And I just— we went to the home of LEGO in Billund when it opened that year and I just was blown away. I had never experienced, and I go to experiences everywhere, but I've never, from a tech point of view and a brand engagement perspective, understood the nature, the type of product that they deliver. For me, it's, like I said, I tell everyone to go to Billund. Paul Marden: Really? We've got such amazing jobs, haven't we? However, as you're both talking, I'm thinking you're a bit like me. You don't get to go and enjoy the experience for the experience's own sake because you're looking at what everybody's doing.Jennifer  Kennedy: But can I actually just add to that? There's another one in the Swarovski Crystal in Austria.Paul Marden: Really?Jennifer  Kennedy: That is phenomenal. And in terms of their retail space, it's like, I like a bit of sparkle, so I'm not going to lie. It was like walking into heaven. And their retail offering there is world-class in that store. And the whole brand experience from start to finish, which is what you're always trying to achieve. It's the full 360 of full immersion. You're literally standing inside a giant crystal. It's like being in a dream. Right. A crystal, sparkly dream from start to finish. And then, every year, they partner and collaborate with whoever— designers, musicians, whoever's iconic or, you know, very... present in that year or whatever. And they do these wonderful collaborations and partnerships with artists, designers, you name it.Paul Marden: Sorry, Catherine, there you go.Catherine Toolan: Thank you very much. It's on my list of places to go, but I do know the team there and what they're also doing is looking at the premiumization. So they close their retail store for high net worth individuals to come in and buy unique and special pieces. You know, they use their core experience for the daytime. And we all talk about the challenges. I know, Tom, you talk about this, you know, how do you scale up visitor experience when you're at capacity and still make sure you've a brilliant net promoter score and that the experience of the customer is fantastic. So that is about sweating the acid and you know it's that good, better, best. You know they have something for everybody but they have that halo effect as well.  So it's really cool.Paul Marden: Wow. Thank you. I'm a bit of a geek. I love a bit of technology. What do you think technology is doing to the gift shop experience? Are there new technologies that are coming along that are going to fundamentally change the way the gift shop experience works?Jennifer  Kennedy: I think that's rooted in the overall experience. So I don't think it's a separate piece. I think there's loads of things out there now where you can, you know, virtual mirrors have been around for years and all these other really interesting. The whole gamification piece, if you're in an amazing experience and you're getting prompts and things to move an offer today, but so that's that's been around for quite some time. I'm not sure that it's been fully utilised yet across the board, especially in I would say there's a way to go in how it influences the stores in Ireland in attractions at the moment. There'll be only a handful who I'd say are using technology, mainly digital screens, is what I'm experiencing and seeing generally. And then, if there is a big attraction, some sort of prompts throughout that and how you're communicating digitally through the whole experience to get people back into the retail space. Paul Marden: Yeah, I can imagine using tech to be able to prompt somebody at the quiet times of the gift shop. Michael  Dolan: Yeah, also Guinness now you can order a pint glass with your own message on it in advance. It's ready for you when you finish your tour. You go to a locker and you just open the locker and you walk out with your glass. Catherine Toolan: Could I just say, though, that you just don't open a locker like it's actually lockers? There's a lot of customisation to the lockers because the idea came from the original Parcel Motel. So the locker is actually you key in a code and then when you open the customised locker, there's a Guinness quote inside it and your personalised glass is inside it. And the amount of customers and guests that we get to say, could we lock the door again? We want to actually open it and have that. whole experience so you know that's where I think in you know and one of the questions that would be really interesting to talk about is you know, what about self-scanning and you know, the idea of checkouts that are not having the human connection. Is that a thing that will work when you've got real experiences? I don't know. But we know that the personalisation of the engraved glasses and how we've custom designed the lockers— not to just be set of lockers— has made that difference. So they're very unique, they're colourful, they're very Guinnessified. And of course, the little personal quote that you get when you open the locker from our archives, make that a retail experience that's elevated. Paul Marden: Wow.Jennifer  Kennedy: But I would also say to your point on that, that the actual, the real magic is also in the people, in the destinations, because it's not like gift shops and destinations and experiences. They're not like high street and they shouldn't be. It should be a very different experience that people are having when they've paid to come and participate with you in your destination. So I actually think technology inevitably plays a role and it's a support and it will create lovely quirks and unusual little elements throughout the years.Paul Marden: I think personalisation is great.  Jennifer  Kennedy: And personalisation, absolutely. But the actual, like I would be quite against the idea of automating checkout and payouts in gift shops, in destinations, because for me... That takes away the whole essence of the final touch point is actually whoever's talked to you when you did that transaction and whoever said goodbye or asked how your experience was or did you enjoy yourself? So those you can't you can't replace that with without a human personal touch. So for me, that's intrinsically important, that it has to be retained, that the personal touch is always there for the goodbye.Dean Kelly: I'm very happy that you brought up the human touch. I'm a photo company, I do pictures. And all the time when we're talking to operators, they're like, 'Can we make it self-serve? Can we get rid of the staffing costs?' I'm like, 'I'm a photographer. Photographers take pictures of people. We need each other to engage, react, and put the groups together. No, we don't want the staff costs. But I'm like, it's not about the staff costs. It's about the customer's experience. So all day long, our challenge is, more so in the UK now, because we operate in the UK, and everybody over there is very, we don't want the staff.' And I think, if you lose the staff engagement, especially taking a picture, you lose the memory and you lose the moment. And photographers have a really good job to do, a very interesting job, is where to capture people together. And if you lose that person— touch point of getting the togetherness— You just have people touching the screen, which they might as well be on their phone.Paul Marden: And the photo won't look as good, will it? Anybody could take a photo, but it takes a photographer to make people look like they're engaged and happy and in the moment.Dean Kelly: Yeah, exactly, and a couple of other points that you mentioned— with the brand, personalisation, gamification, all that kind of cool, juicy stuff, all the retail stuff, people going home with the memory, the moment, all that stuff's cool, but nobody mentioned photos until Cashin, you mentioned photos. We've had a long conversation with photos for a long time, and we'll probably be still chatting for another long time as well. But photography is a super, super retail revenue stream. But it's not about the revenue, it's about the moment and the magic. Jennifer  Kennedy: Yeah, you're capturing the magic. Dean Kelly: Capturing it. And fair enough that what you guys do at Shamrock is very interesting because you talk to the operators. You kind of go, 'What gifts are going to work for your visitors?' And you turn that into a product. And that's exactly what we do with all the experiences. We take pictures.Dean Kelly: But what's your demographic saying? What's your price points? What's your brand? What's your message? And let's turn that into a personalised souvenir, put the people in the brand, and let them take it home and engage with it.Paul Marden: So... I think one of the most important things is how you blend the gift shop with the rest of the experience. You were giving a good example of exiting through the gift shop. It's a very important thing, isn't it? But if you put it in the wrong place, you don't get that. How do you blend the gift shop into the experience?Jennifer  Kennedy: Well, I would say I wouldn't call it a blend. For me, the retail element of the brand should be a wow. Like it should be as invaluable, as important as everything else. So my perspective would be get eyes on your retail offering sooner rather than later. Not necessarily that they will participate there and then.Jennifer  Kennedy: The visual and the impact it has on seeing a wow— this looks like an amazing space. This looks like with all these products, but it's also— I was always chasing the wow. I want you to go, wow, this looks amazing. Because, to me, that's when you've engaged someone that they're not leaving until they've gotten in there. It is important that people can potentially move through it at the end. And, you know, it depends on the building. It depends on the structure. You know, a lot of these things are taken out of your hands. You've got to work with what you've got. Jennifer  Kennedy: But you have to work with what you've got, not just to blend it, to make it stand out as exceptional. Because that's actually where the magic really starts. And it doesn't matter what brand that is. The aim should always be that your retail offering is exceptional from every touch point. And it shouldn't be obvious that we've spent millions in creating this wonderful experience. And now you're being shoehorned into the poor relation that was forgotten a little bit and now has ten years later looks a bit ramshackle. And we're trying to figure out why we don't get what we should out of it.Michael  Dolan: And it has to be an integral part of the whole experience.Jennifer  Kennedy: Yeah, and I think for new experiences that are in planning stages, I've seen that more and more in recent years. Now, where I was being called to retrofix or rip out things going, this doesn't work, I'm like, okay, well, we have to retro do this. Now, when people are doing new builds or new investments into new spaces, I'm getting those calls at the planning stages where it's like, we've allocated this amount of space to retail. Do you think that's enough? And I don't think I've ever said yes, ever. At every single turn, I'm like... No, it's not enough. And, you know, what's your anticipated football? Oh, that's the numbers start to play a role in it. But it's not just about that. It's about the future proofing. It's like what happens in five years, 10 years, 15? Because I've been very lucky to work in buildings where it's not easy to figure out where you're going to go next. And particularly heritage sites and cultural heritage. Like I can't go in and knock a hole in the crypt in Christchurch Cathedral. But I need a bigger retail space there.Jennifer  Kennedy: The earlier you start to put retail as a central commercial revenue stream in your business, the more eyes you have on it from the get-go, the more likely it is that it will be successful. Not now, not in five years, not in ten years, but that you're building blocks for this, what can become. Like it should be one of your strongest revenue streams after ticket sales because that's what it can become. But you have to go at it as this is going to be amazing.Catherine Toolan: I think it's important that it's not a hard sell and that's in your face. And, you know, that's where, when you think about the consumer journey, we always think about the behavioural science of the beginning, the middle, and the end. And people remember three things. You know, there's lots of other touch points. But if retail is a really hard sell throughout the experience, I don't think the net promoter score of your overall experience will, you know, come out, especially if you're, you know, and we're not a children's destination. An over 25 adult destination at the Guinness Storehouse and at our alcohol brand homes. But what's really important is that it's authentic, it's really good, and it's highly merchandised, and that it's unique. I think that uniqueness is it— something that you can get that you can't get anywhere else. You know, how do you actually, one of the things that we would have done if we had it again, we would be able to make our retail store available to the domestic audience, to the public without buying a ticket. So, you know, you've got that opportunity if your brand is the right brand that you can have walk-in off the high street, for example.Catherine Toolan: So, you know, there's so many other things that you can think about because that's an extension of your revenue opportunity where you don't have to come in to do the whole experience. And that is a way to connect the domestic audience, which is something I know a lot of the members of the Association, AVEA are trying to do. You know, how do we engage and connect and get repeat visits and and retail is a big opportunity to do that, especially at gifting season.Paul Marden: Yeah, yeah, sustainability is increasingly important to the narrative of the whole retail experience, isn't it? How do you make sure that we're not going about just selling plastic tat that nobody's going to look after?Michael  Dolan: We've made this a core value for Shamrock Gift Company, so we've engaged with a company called Clearstream Solutions, the same company that Guinness Store has. have worked with them. So it's a long-term partnership. So they've measured our carbon footprint from 2019 to 2023. So we've set ourselves the ambitious target of being carbon neutral by 2030.Michael  Dolan: So just some of the elements that we've engaged in. So we put 700 solar panels on our roof as of last summer. All our deliveries in Dublin are done with electric vans, which we've recently purchased. All the lights in the building now are LED. Motion-sensored as well. All the cars are electric or that we've purchased recently, and we've got a gas boiler. So we've also now our shipments from China we're looking at biodiesel. So that's fully sustainable. And we also, where we can't use biodiesel, we're doing carbon offsetting as well.Paul Marden: So a lot of work being done in terms of the cost of CO2 of the transport that you're doing. What about the product itself? How do you make sure that the product itself is inherently something that people are going to treasure and is not a throwaway item?Michael  Dolan: We're using more sustainable materials, so a lot more stone, a lot more wood. Paul Marden: Oh, really? Michael  Dolan: Yeah. Also, it begins with great design. Yeah. So, you know, and obviously working with our retail partners, make sure that the goods are very well designed, very well manufactured. So we're working with some wonderful, well, best in class manufacturers around the world. Absolutely.Jennifer  Kennedy: I think as well, if... you can, and it's becoming easier to do, if you can collaborate with some creators and makers that are actually within your location.Jennifer  Kennedy: Within Ireland, there's a lot more of that happening, which means sourcing is closer to home. But you also have this other economy that's like the underbelly of the craft makers market in Ireland, which is fabulous, which needs to be brought to the fore. So collaborations with brands can also form a very integral part of product development that's close to home and connected to people who are here—people who are actually creating product in Ireland.Paul Marden: This is just instinct, not knowledge at all. But I would imagine that when you're dealing with those local crafters and makers, that they are inherently more sustainable because they're creating things local to you. It's not just the distance that's...Jennifer  Kennedy: Absolutely, but in any instances that I'm aware of that I've been involved with, anyway, even the materials and their mythology, yeah, is all grounded in sustainability and which is fabulous to see. Like, there's more and there's more and more coming all the time.Michael  Dolan: We've got rid of 3 million bags a year. Key rings, mags used to be individually bagged. And now there are 12 key rings in a bag that's biodegradable. That alone is 2 million bags.Paul Marden: It's amazing, isn't it? When you look at something as innocuous as the bag itself that it's packaged in before it's shipped out. You can engineer out of the supply chain quite a lot of unnecessary packaging Michael  Dolan: And likewise, then for the retailer, they don't have to dispose of all that packaging. So it's a lot easier and cleaner to put the product on the shelf. Yes.Paul Marden: Something close to my heart, online retail. Have you seen examples where Irish attractions have extended their gift shop experience online, particularly well?Jennifer  Kennedy: For instance, there are a few examples, but what I was thinking more about on that particular thought was around the nature of the brand again and the product that, in my experience, the brands that can do that successfully tend to have something on offer that's very nostalgic or collectible. Or memorabilia and I think there are some examples in the UK potentially that are where they can be successful online because they have a brand or a product that people are collecting.Paul Marden: Yeah, so one of my clients is Jane Austen House, only about two miles away from where I live. And it blew me away the importance of their online shop to them. They're tiny. I mean, it is a little cottage in the middle of Hampshire, but they have an international audience for their gift shop. And it's because they've got this really, really committed audience of Jane Austen fans who want to buy something from the house. Then everybody talks about the Tank Museum in Dorset.Paul Marden: Who make a fortune selling fluffy tank slippers and all you could possibly imagine memorabilia related to tanks. Because again, it's that collection of highly curated products and this really, really committed audience of people worldwide. Catherine Toolan: The Tank were here last year presenting at the AVEA conference and it was such an incredible story about their success and, you know, how they went from a very small museum with a lot of support from government to COVID to having an incredible retail store, which is now driving their commercial success.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Nick has done a load of work. Yeah, that leads me nicely onto a note. So listeners, for a long time, Skip the Queue has been totally focused on the podcast. But today we have launched our first playbook. Which is hopefully the first of many. But the playbook that we're launching today is all about how attractions can focus on best practice for gift shop e-commerce. So we work with partners, Rubber Cheese, Navigate, and Stephen Spencer Associates. So Steve and his team has helped us to contribute to some sections to the guide around, how do you curate your product? How do you identify who the audience is? How do you create that collection? The team at Rubber Cheese talk about the mechanics of how do you put it online and then our friends at Navigate help you to figure out what the best way is to get bums on seats. So it was a crackpot idea of mine six months ago to put it together, and it is now huge.Paul Marden: It's packed full of advice, and that's gone live today. So you can go over to skipthequeue.fm and click on the Playbooks link there to go and download that. Thank you. So, Jennifer, Michael, it has been absolutely wonderful to talk to both of you. Thank you to my audience. You've also been fabulous. Well done. And what a packed episode that was. I get the feeling you two quite enjoy gift shops and retailing. You could talk quite a lot about it.Jennifer  Kennedy: I mean, I love it.  Paul Marden: That didn't come over at all. Jennifer  Kennedy: Well, I just think it's such a lovely way of connecting with people and keeping a connection, particularly from a brand point of view. It should be the icing on the cake, you know?Paul Marden: You're not just a market store salesperson, are you?Jennifer  Kennedy: And I thoroughly believe that the most successful ones are because the experiences that they're a part of sow the seeds. They plant the love, the emotion, the energy. All you're really doing is making sure that that magic stays with people when they go away. The brand experience is the piece that's actually got them there in the first place. Paul Marden: Now let's go over to the conference floor to hear from some Irish operators and suppliers.Charles  Coyle: I'm Charles Coyle. I'm the managing director of Emerald Park. We're Ireland's only theme park and zoo. We opened in November 2010, which shows you how naive and foolish we were that we opened a visitor attraction in the middle of winter. Fortunately, we survived it.Paul Marden: But you wouldn't open a visitor attraction in the middle of summer, so give yourself a little bit of a run-up to it. It's not a bad idea.Charles  Coyle: Well, that's true, actually. You know what? I'll say that from now on, that we had the genius to open in the winter. We're open 15 years now, and we have grown from very small, humble aspirations of maybe getting 150,000 people a year to we welcomed 810,000 last year. And we'll probably be in and around the same this year as well.  Paul Marden: Wowzers, that is really impressive. So we are here on the floor. We've already heard some really interesting talks. We've been talking about AI in the most recent one. What can we expect to happen for you in the season coming in?Charles  Coyle: Well, we are hopefully going to be integrating a lot of AI. There's possibly putting in a new booking system and things like that. A lot of that will have AI dynamic pricing, which has got a bad rap recently, but it has been done for years and years in hotels.Paul Marden: Human nature, if you ask people, should I be punished for travelling during the summer holidays and visiting in a park? No, that sounds terrible. Should I be rewarded for visiting during a quiet period? Oh, yes! Yes, I should definitely. It's all about perspective, isn't it? Very much so. And it is how much you don't want to price gouge people. You've got to be really careful. But I do think dynamic pricing has its place.Charles  Coyle: Oh, absolutely. I mean, a perfect example of it is right now, our top price is not going to go any higher, but it'll just be our lower price will be there more constantly, you know, and we'll... Be encouraging people to come in on the Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as you said, rewarding people for coming in at times in which we're not that busy and they're probably going to have a better day as a result.Susanne Reid: Hi, Suzanne Reid here. I'm the CEO at Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin. What are you here to get out of the conference? First and foremost, the conference is a great opportunity every year to... catch up with people that you may only see once a year from all corners of the country and it's also an opportunity to find out what's new and trending within tourism. We've just come from a really energising session on AI and also a very thought-provoking session on crisis management and the dangers of solar panels.Paul Marden: Yes, absolutely. Yeah, the story of We the Curious is definitely an interesting one. So we've just come off the back of the summer season. So how was that for you?Susanne Reid:Summer season started slower than we would have liked this year in 2025, but the two big American football matches were very strong for us in Dublin. Dublin had a reasonable season, I would say, and we're very pleased so far on the 13th of the month at how October is playing out. So hoping for a very strong finish to the year. So coming up to Christmas at Christchurch, we'll have a number of cathedral events. So typically our carol concerts, they tend to sell out throughout the season. Then we have our normal pattern of services and things as well.Paul Marden: I think it's really important, isn't it? You have to think back to this being a place of worship. Yes, it is a visitor attraction. Yes, that's an aside, isn't it? And the reason it is a place of worship.Susanne Reid: I think that's obviously back to what our earlier speaker was talking about today. That's our charitable purpose, the promotion of religion, Christianity. However, you know, Christchurch is one of the most visited attractions in the city.Susanne Reid: Primarily, people do come because it will be there a thousand years in 2028. So there is, you know, the stones speak really. And, you know, one of the sessions I've really benefited from this morning was around accessible tourism. And certainly that's a journey we're on at the cathedral because, you know, a medieval building never designed for access, really. Paul Marden: No, not hugely. Susanne Reid: Not at all. So that's part of our programming and our thinking and our commitment to the city and to those that come to it from our local communities. But also from further afield, that they can come and enjoy the splendour of this sacred space.Paul Marden: I've been thinking long and hard, and been interviewing people, especially people like We The Curious, where they're coming into their 25th anniversary. They were a Millennium Project. I hadn't even thought about interviewing an attraction that was a thousand years old. A genuine millennium project.Susanne Reid: Yeah, so we're working towards that, Paul. And, you know, obviously there's a committee in-house thinking of how we might celebrate that. One of the things that, you know, I know others may have seen elsewhere, but... We've commissioned a Lego builder to build a Lego model of the cathedral. There will obviously be some beautiful music commissioned to surround the celebration of a thousand years of Christchurch at the heart of the city. There'll be a conference. We're also commissioning a new audio tour called the ACE Tour, Adults, Children and Everyone, which will read the cathedral for people who have no sense of what they're looking at when they maybe see a baptismal font, for example. You know, we're really excited about this and we're hoping the city will be celebratory mood with us in 2028.Paul Marden: Well, maybe you can bring me back and I'll come and do an episode and focus on your thousand year anniversary.Susanne Reid: You'd be so welcome.Paul Marden: Oh, wonderful. Thank you, Suzanne.Paul Marden: I am back on the floor. We have wrapped up day one. And I am here with Ray Dempsey from Jameson Distillery. Ray, what's it been like today?Ray  Dempsey: Paul, it's been a great day. I have to say, I always loved the AVEA conference. It brings in such great insights into our industry and into our sector. And it's hosted here in Waterford, a city that I'm a native of. And, you know, seeing it through the eyes of a tourist is just amazing, actually, because normally I fly through here. And I don't have the chance to kind of stop and think, but the overall development of Waterford and the presentation from the Waterford County Council was really, really good. It's fantastic. They have a plan. A plan that really is driving tourism. Waterford, as a tourist destination, whereas before, you passed through Waterford. It was Waterford Crystal's stop and that was it. But they have put so much into the restoration of buildings, the introduction of lovely artisan products, very complimentary to people coming to here, whether it is for a day, a weekend, or a week. Fantastic.Paul Marden: What is it? We're in the middle of October and it's a bit grey and drizzly out there. But let's be fair, the town has been packed. The town has been packed.With coaches outside, so my hotel this morning full of tourists.Ray  Dempsey: Amazing, yeah it's a great hub, a great hub, and they've done so much with the city to enable that, and you see, as you pass down the keys, you know that new bridge there to enable extra traffic coming straight into the heart of the city, it's fantastic. We're all learning from it, and hopefully, bring it all back to our own hometowns.Paul Marden: I think it's been really interesting. We were talking earlier on, before I got the microphone out, saying how it's been a real mixed bag this year across the island of Ireland, hasn't it? So some people really, really busy, some people rubbish year.Ray  Dempsey: Yeah, I mean, I feel privileged the fact that, you know, we haven't seen that in Dublin. So, you know, there's a it's been a very strong year, a little bit after a little bit of a bumpy start in January, February. But, like, for the rest of the year onwards, it's been fantastic. It's been back to back festivals and lots of things, lots of reasons why people come to Dublin. And, of course, with the introduction of the NFL. That's new to us this year. And hopefully, we'll see it for a number of years to come. But they're great builders for organic growth for our visitor numbers. So I'm happy to say that I'm seeing a growth in both revenue and in visitor numbers in the Jameson Distillery. So I'm happy to see that. Now, naturally, I'm going to have to work harder to make sure it happens next year and the year after. But I'm happy to say that the tourism product in Dublin has definitely improved. And Dublin-based visitor attractions are doing well. Paul Marden: Exciting plans for summer 26? Ray  Dempsey: Yes, every year is exciting, Paul. And every year brings a challenge and everything else. But I'm delighted to say that our focus for 2026 really is on building inclusion. So we're looking at language tours.Ray  Dempsey: We're looking at tours for... you know, margins in society. And I think it's a really interesting way for us to be able to embrace accessibility to our story. And also, we have increased our experience repertoire to engage more high-end experiences, not private experiences. More demand for those. Okay. So we're delighted to say that we have the product in order to be able to do that. So that's exciting for us, you know, to be building into 2026. Great. Paul Marden: Thank you so much for joining us. I am the only thing standing in the way of you and a drink at the cocktail reception later on. So I think we should call it quits. Ray  Dempsey: And for sure. Paul Marden: If you enjoyed today's episode, then please like and comment in your podcast app. It really does help others to find us. Today's episode was written by me, Paul Marden, with help from Emily Burrows from Plaster. It was edited by Steve Folland and produced by Wenalyn Dionaldo. See you next week. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

We went to Ireland and we tell you all about it! Jason and Justina chronicle their adventure through Dublin, Belfast, and Galway! They talk about driving on the left side of the road, Guinness and lovely pubs, the wonderful sights like Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway, the rich history of Ireland including the castles and The Troubles, and find out about every single place Bono drinks a pint. They also meet up with their dear old friend, Charlie who lives in Belfast and made them wise on the Tayto game. It's a craic'n good time! Instagram: @SecretFoodTours, @CycleDublinBikeTours, @CabToursBelfast, @KeyWestOfficial, @BrazenHeadDublin, @FinnegansDalkey, @DalkeyCastle, @BullhouseEast, @MonroesTavernGalway, @SeansBar, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Threads: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @ThereItIsPod  Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

For the first time ever, a regular season NFL game is set to take place in Ireland. Ahead of their historic game against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park on September 28th, the Pittsburgh Steelers began their cross-country tour of Ireland. As part of the tour, former Steelers offensive tackle and two-time Super Bowl Champion Max Starks visited iconic locations across the country, including the Cliffs of Moher this afternoon. Alan Morrissey was joined by a very special guest on Wednesday's Morning Focus by Max Starks, former Steelers player and two-time Superbowl Champion. Photo (c) Former Pittsburgh Steelers player and two-time Super Bowl Champion Max Starks

Clare County Council is being accused of taking "too long" to address infrastructural issues impacting on access to emergency care in the north of the county. The Midwest Hospital Campaign is highlighting the journey time between the Cliffs of Moher and University Hospital Limerick's emergency department which it says is one hour and 15 minutes at a minimum, and is often hampered by delays at the likes of Blake's Corner in Ennistymon. It calls comes as emergency services had to attend to two separate incidents at the North Clare attraction in one day this week. Ennis resident and Midwest Hospital Campaign spokesperson Hilary Tonge says in addition to a Model 4 hospital in the county town, the roads require urgent attention.

Esta tierra celta, con una historia antigua y lengua propia, el gaélico, alberga miles de yacimientos arqueológicos, formados por piedras, tumbas y alineamientos, que aún esconden incontables misterios. La República de Irlanda, hoy, es europea, pero comparte con el territorio británico del Úlster, en el Norte, un destino común y una historia turbulenta. Recorreremos la isla de Dublín a Belfast, de Galway a Killarney, de la Calzada del Gigante a los Acantilados de Moher, y conoceremos a un pueblo apegado a sus raíces y a su historia.

Alan Morrissey was joined on Monday's Morning Focus by Margarita Urdenko. Margarita, who hails from Ukraine, has swapped international tankers for Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, where she now helps passengers sail to the Aran Islands and cruise beneath the Cliffs of Moher as a deck officer with Doolin Ferry. The Odessa native is the only female crew member at Doolin Ferry, and she's carving out her own unique path in Ireland's maritime world. As Ireland's school leavers consider their next steps, one woman on the Wild Atlantic Way is showing that the sea holds more opportunities than many might imagine.

We have had a huge amount of tourists visiting Ireland over the course of this summer, and generally they tend to frequent a lot of the same spots: the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, the Guinness Storehouse, etc.However, a new (and slightly odd) tourism attraction has recently emerged in Limerick city, thanks to Blindboy Boatclub.Fans of the author and podcaster have started flocking to Limerick's “bird shit district”.So, what is it? Blindboy Boatclub joins Seán to discuss.

We have had a huge amount of tourists visiting Ireland over the course of this summer, and generally they tend to frequent a lot of the same spots: the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry, the Guinness Storehouse, etc.However, a new (and slightly odd) tourism attraction has recently emerged in Limerick city, thanks to Blindboy Boatclub.Fans of the author and podcaster have started flocking to Limerick's “bird shit district”.So, what is it? Blindboy Boatclub joins Seán to discuss.

Michael Lieberman was definitely playing against type when he dreamed up this crossword, because he spends his days at his law firm fighting corporate mergers, but his nights -- apparently -- trying to encourage them. You'll see what we mean when you have a listen to today's episode, or wander over to (warning: it's spoiler city if you click that link!) the solution at xwordinfo.com.In addition to the crossword, we have identified our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) for this week; deets inside.A small logistical side-note: we are taking a break for the next week, as one of us is  traveling to such a distant time zone that we can't sync up for recording. But we will be back at it, laboring, so to speak, on Labor Day. Until then, may your crossword streak grow ever longer.Show note imagery: The Cliffs of Moher in ERIN (aka Ireland)We love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

It's claimed not enough is being done to harness the potential of one of the counties most historically significant tourist spots. Clare's Aontú rep, June Dillon, claims Craggaunowen Castle & Crannóg has the ability to contend with the Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle as one of the county's main tourist attractions. Implementing a shuttle service to and from the site, along with installing cafe and playground facilities have been proposed as ways of increasing footfall to the amenity. The Kilmurry McMahon native, says Craggaunowen is hamstrung by its location without functional transport links.

After running every mountain in Ireland last year, endurance athlete Seán is back with an even bigger challenge, this time he's taking on the entire Wild Atlantic Way on foot. He set off this morning with the goal of running the full 2,500km coastal route in just 27 days, that's over 100 kilometres a day. He'll be passing through Clare, including the Cliffs of Moher, in the days ahead — and you can follow his journey on Instagram at @runseanierun. To find out more about the run and how it's going so far, Derrick Lynch was joined by ultra runner, Sean Clifford.

Doirín Graham, CEO of Clare Local Development Company, explains her concerns about the Cliffs of Moher Walking Trail.

We're sailing across the ocean on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #720 . Subscribe now! Lussa, Tulua, Chloe Matharu, Andrew Finn Magill, Doolin', Marc Gunn Fir Arda, The Irish Lassies, Natalie Padilla, Jaywalkers, Brynmor, Wooden Legs, Celtica Pipes Rock, Moher  -  BZH GET CELTIC MUSIC NEWS IN YOUR INBOX The Celtic Music Magazine is a quick and easy way to plug yourself into more great Celtic culture. Enjoy seven weekly news items with what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Subscribe now and get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. VOTE IN THE CELTIC TOP 20 FOR 2025 This is our way of finding the best songs and artists each year. You can vote for as many songs and tunes that inspire you in each episode. Your vote helps me create this year's Best Celtic music of 2025 episode. You have just three weeks to vote this year. Vote Now! You can follow our playlist on YouTube to listen to those top voted tracks as they are added every 2 - 3 weeks. THIS WEEK IN CELTIC MUSIC 0:06 - Lussa "Lussa Reels" from Lussa Reels 3:57 - WELCOME 6:22 - Tulua "The Opening Set" from No Coming No Going 10:56 - Chloe Matharu "The Silkie of Sule Skerry" from Sailors and Rolling Stones 17:37 - Andrew Finn Magill "Charles Dickens' Jig, Erynn & Carl's Jig" from Courting the Sun 21:31 - Doolin' "Sailing Across the Ocean" from Doolin' 24:18 - FEEDBACK 26:36 - Fir Arda  "Boys of Ballycastle/The Dunmore Lasses" from At Home 30:29 - The Irish Lassies "Andersonville" from Andersonville 35:02 - Natalie Padilla "Terra" from Eostre 39:02 - Marc Gunn "Bunny in the Bracken" from Patreon Single 41:15 - THANKS 43:49 - Jaywalkers "The Longest Day" from Move On 47:44 - Brynmor "Musical Preist" from The Great Hill 49:58 - Wooden Legs "We Ne'er Shall Wean Her" from Animali 55:25 - Celtica Pipes Rock "Beyond Avalon" from Legends And Visions 59:04 - CLOSING 59:57 - Moher  -  BZH "Le reel du Cheval Blanc" from single 1:04:13 - CREDITS Support for this program comes from International speaker, Joseph Dumond, teaching the ancient roots of the Gaelic people. Learn more about their origins at Sightedmoon.com The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast was produced by Marc Gunn, The Celtfather and our Patrons on Patreon. The show was edited by Mitchell Petersen with Graphics by Miranda Nelson Designs. Visit our website to follow the show. You'll find links to all of the artists played in this episode. Todd Wiley is the editor of the Celtic Music Magazine. Subscribe to get 34 Celtic MP3s for Free. Plus, you'll get 7 weekly news items about what's happening with Celtic music and culture online. Best of all, you will connect with your Celtic heritage. Please tell one friend about this podcast. Word of mouth is the absolute best way to support any creative endeavor. Finally, remember—our planet's future is in our hands. The overwhelming evidence shows that human activity is driving climate change, from record  -  breaking heat waves to rising sea levels. But the good news? We have the power to fix it. Every choice we make—reducing waste, conserving energy, supporting clean energy, and lobbying our political leaders—moves us toward a more stable climate. Start a conversation today. The facts are out there, and the future is ours to shape. Promote Celtic culture through music at http://celticmusicpodcast.com/. WELCOME THE IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST * Helping you celebrate Celtic culture through music. I am Marc Gunn. I'm a Celtic musician and also host of Folk Songs & Stories with a new feature coming soon. It's called Quest & Chorus: Where every place has a story, every story has a song, and every song is a step in the quest. This podcast is for fans of Celtic music. We are here to build a diverse Celtic community and help the incredible artists who so generously share their music with you. If you hear music you love, please email artists to let them know you heard them on the Irish and Celtic Music Podcast. Musicians depend on your generosity to release new music. So please find a way to support them. Buy a CD, Album Pin, Shirt, Digital Download, or join their community on Patreon. You can find a link to all of the artists in the shownotes, along with show times, when you visit our website at celticmusicpodcast.com. Email follow@bestcelticmusic to learn how to subscribe to the podcast and you will get a free music - only episode. You'll also learn how to get your band played on the podcast. Bands don't need to send in music, and You will get a free eBook called Celtic Musicians Guide to Digital Music. It's 100% free. Again email follow@bestcelticmusic Todd Wiley, the Celtic Music Magazine editor, relaunched his old podcast. Celtic Indy Podcast is now available online. He's currently aiming at new episodes every two weeks. You'll learn about new Celtic music concerts in the Midwest on the show. A big thanks to our very first underwriter of the podcast. Joseph Dumon is an international speaker. He teaches the ancient roots of the Gaelic people at Sightedmoon.com. You'll hear me mention him in each episode of the podcast at the end of the show. This is not exactly advertising. It's awareness promotion. I have no more than four more slots available every month if you, your business or your band want to be mentioned as an underwriter of the podcast. GET AN IRISH & CELTIC MUSIC PODCAST ALBUM PIN Supplies are limited. Grab your album pin now before they're gone! These stunning lapel pins feature bold designs inspired by our official podcast compilation albums—packed with some of the best Celtic bands around.And here's the kicker: each pin comes with the full digital album. Art you can wear, music you can love. Get yours at magerecords.com And if you're a musician, I've got a full blog post with templates and tips to help you design your own album pin jacket.  WHAT IS AN ALBUM PIN? THANK YOU PATRONS OF THE PODCAST! Because of generous patrons like you, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast releases new episodes nearly every single week. Your support doesn't just fund the show—it fuels a movement. It helps us share the magic of Celtic music with thousands of new listeners and grow a global community of music lovers. Your contributions pay for everything behind the scenes: audio engineering, stunning graphics, weekly issues of the Celtic Music Magazine, show promotion, and—most importantly—buying the music we feature from indie Celtic artists. And if you're not yet a patron? You're missing out! Patrons get: Early access to episodes Music - only editions Free MP3 downloads Exclusive stories and artist interviews A vote in the Celtic Top 20 Join us today and help keep the music alive, vibrant, and independent.

Clare's coastal gems are now easier than ever to reach, without a car. The new TFI Local Link Route 351 connects Galway City to Doolin Pier and the Cliffs of Moher, with up to five services daily. The service opens up key Wild Atlantic Way destinations including Ballyvaughan, Fanore, and Doolin, and links with ferry departures to the Aran Islands. It's a major boost for sustainable travel and local tourism. To find out more, Derrick Lynch was joined by Liam O'Brien, owner of Doolin Ferry.

If you've been out and about around Clare this summer, you might have noticed a very handy little shuttle bus making its way through some of the county's most scenic and historic spots. It's called the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Explorer Shuttle Bus, and it's been ferrying both tourists and locals around to and from the Cliffs of Moher, and around to places like Corofin, Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna, Ballyvaughan and Miltown Malbay — giving people a chance to explore without needing a car. It's all part of a campaign to promote sustainable travel in the Burren Geopark, support local businesses, and help us all slow down and soak up what's on our doorstep. To tell us a bit more about how it all works, and why it's not just for visitors, Colum McGrath sat down with Siobhán King — she's the Projects Officer for County Clare with Fáilte Ireland.

Peterborough Musicfest is proud to present a full week of Irish-themed concerts at Del Crary Park from Saturday, August 2 to Saturday, August 9, 2025, in celebration of Bicentennial 2025 and the Nine Ships 1825 commemorative event

In this special bonus episode of Insight: The Stripped Back Podcast, we welcome back a powerful voice and previous guest, Robin Grace, who first joined us in Season 5, Episode 5. During that episode, Robin courageously opened up about his battle with mental health issues rooted in childhood trauma, sharing how it led to moments of deep struggle and suicidal thoughts. His story left a lasting impression on us and our listeners alike.Since then, Robin has been on a mission. Passionate about making a difference, he's been exploring how technology can be implemented in high-risk areas for self-harm and suicide such as coastal cliffs and tourist hotspots to serve as potential life-saving interventions. However, despite his drive, compassion, and forward-thinking ideas, he's encountered barriers and resistance from those in positions of influence.This episode is about giving Robin the mic unfiltered and uncut to share his updates, his frustrations, and his hopes. He dives into the progress he's made, the walls he's hit, and why he believes now, more than ever, we need to act before more lives are lost.Whether you're someone who works in local government, tourism, or simply care about mental health and community well-being, this episode is one you need to hear.Let's amplify Robin's message, for his community and beyond.Press play, share it wide, and be part of the change.If you have been affected by anything mentioned during this episode, the following supports are available;Samaritans116 123 (Free, 24/7)www.samaritans.ieOffers emotional support for anyone in distress or struggling to cope.Pieta House1800 247 247 (Free, 24/7)Text HELP to 51444www.pieta.ieProvides free therapy for people who are suicidal, engaging in self-harm, or bereaved by suicide.1800 80 48 48 (Daily, 10am–10pm)www.aware.ieSupport for people experiencing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or related mood conditions.www.jigsaw.ieProvides mental health support and services for young people aged 12–25.If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 999 or 112.

Wandering Works for Us PodcastDate: 19 July 2025Title: Dingle and Galway, Ireland Summary of EpisodeIn this episode, we continue our amazing road trip from Dublin to Dingle and Galway, Ireland. We discover that driving in Ireland can be harrowing, but the countryside is beautiful, the pubs are fantastic, and the baby lambs are just adorable!Key Topics[02:45] Suitcase fiasco, learning to drive on the left/right.[06:00] Connor Pass (aghhhhh!)[12:00] Dingle Town [13:00] Ring of Kerry–The Irish Road Trip (map and guide)Kenmare is where the stone circle is, Torc Waterfall is what we missed, and Ladies View  was amazing (Derrycunnihy)[19:30] Hold a baby lamb, and sheep herding demonstrations [25:00] Slea Head  Drive[31:20] Drive to Galway and ferry ride and the meltdown in Galway[13:15] Cliffs of Moher[41:25] Hop on Hop off bus [42:35] Long Walk[44:00] Eyre Square, local markets [45:00] Salt Hill[45:55] Latin Quarter and the pubs, buskers, shopping[47:00] Galic football in a pub [48:08] What we loved[49:39] What we did not love (narrow roads)[51:40] What we want to do next time  Important Links To follow all of our antics and adventures, please visit our social media pages and our website at wwforus.com! You can send us a message at any of these places and feel free to email us at Wandering@wwforus.comLike what we are doing? Buy us a gin and tonic and help us keep going!InstagramFacebookTiktokYouTubeLooking for a tour guide in Portugal? I have a whole list!Blog post for this episode: Driving the West of Ireland: Dingle and GalwayThanks to Everyone who has been so supportive!Special thanks to all of you who have listened, subscribed, followed us on social media and just took the time to say hello and tell us how much you enjoy our podcast and blog. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!RESOURCES & LINKSSpecial shout outs to AL and Leanne of A Sideways Life that has given us so much help and support for the move. To Gal and Mayaan at Smoozitive with their love and support. Please check out their podcasts on Apple Podcasts A Sideways Life website and podcastSmoozitive website (if you are moving abroad, these women are experts and will help you out!)Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wandering-works-for-us/donations

Enhancing economic opportunities in Kilrush and Lahinch, securing a fair deal for Cliffs of Moher landowners and improving the road network have been listed as the top priorities for the West Clare Municipal District's new Cathaoirleach. Lahinch Fine Gael Councillor Bill Slattery succeeds Doonbeg Councillor Rita McInerney in the role and will wear the chains of office for the second time in his career. The first ever councillor from Quilty, Fianna Fáil's Michael Shannon will serve as Leas Cathaoirleach. Cathaoirleach Slattery says he's hoping to achieve a lot in the year ahead.

In this episode, Kelsey sits down with Martha from The Next Chapter Travel, a company that curates small luxury trips for women. Martha shares all the details of their unforgettable 5-star journey across Ireland — from spa treatments to falconry, fine dining to pub hopping, castle stays and countryside views in October 2024,Their itinerary highlights include Adare, Killarney, Kenmare, Cork, and Dublin, with overnight stays at some of Ireland's most celebrated properties: Adare Manor, The Park Hotel, and Hayfield Manor. You'll hear about tastings at Jameson and Guinness, views of the iconic cliffs, and how this luxurious, all-female escape delivered the perfect blend of pampering, culture, and connection.This episode is presented by The Next Chapter Travel.Trip Tales listeners can get $100 OFF a trip curated by The Next Chapter Travel by using code TNCT100 at booking.Buy Me a CoffeeMentioned in this episode:- ADARE: Adare Manor, Calendar House, falconry, The Oak Room, Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Gus O'Connor's Pub- KILLARNEY: Killarney National Park, Ring of Kerry, Ross Castle- KENMARE: Park Hotel, SAMAS Spa, tea at Sheen Falls Lodge, Cromwell's Bridge, fairy tree, Kenmare Stone Circle, The Quiet Man movie- CORK: Jameson Midleton Distillery Tour, Hayfield Manor Hotel, Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone, Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, The Cork English Market, The Rock of Cashel, The Cashel Palace Hotel, Irish National Stud & Gardens- DUBLIN: EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, The Shelbourne Hotel, St. Stephen's Green, Trinity College, The Book of Kells Experience, The Long Room at The Library of Trinity College Dublin, St. Patrick's Cathedral, The Church Cafe Bar- Ashford Castle in Mayo, Ireland- Dromoland Castle Hotel in Country Clare, Ireland- The K Club

Clare County Council says it will begin the process of hiring a Trail Manager for the Cliffs of Moher "shortly". An update from the Clare's Tourism Development Directorate on the transition of the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk from the Clare Local Development Company to the local authority this week says it's currently "facilitating landowner engagement". It also says the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Management Plan was circulated to key stakeholders on April 7th and 8th, and that it's now in a "period of digestion". One of the recommendations of the recently published Tobin Report is that Clare County Council assume management of the entire route. Corofin Fianna Fáil Councillor Joe Killeen says people are growing impatient.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 1:20) Bible scholar Dr. Jeremy Grinnell joins the team to take on Bible questions. Sometimes Perry doubts God’s promises. But he’s growing in trust because the passage above is starting to sink in! Every promise of God will be fulfilled and every promise is ultimately pointing to one staggering truth. And Jeremy unpacks it! Then Stephanie asks: “In John 16:7 Jesus said, ‘but in fact, it is best for you if I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come.’ Why did Jesus have to leave in order for the Holy Spirit to come? Why couldn't they both be on earth?” How could it possibly be better for Jesus to leave? Next, Todd’s question: “What's your position on ‘Once saved always saved?’ “ And last Perry is fresh off his trip with his bride to Ireland. At the Cliffs of Moher he was reprimanded by a park worker. He was rude to her and then the Holy Spirit said, “Go back and apologize!?” A conversation about the power of kindness.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clare County Council has been asked to explain the rationale behind its decision to acquire two separate sites at the Cliffs of Moher in 2023 at a cost of €8 million. The purchase came to light at last month's meeting of the local authority. This week, a joint motion has been tabled by 12 councillors calling for the statutory basis, governance procedure and rationale underpinning the purchase to be explained. To find out more about this, Alan Morrissey was joined by Cllr Joe Garrihy and Cllr Rita McInerney.

We really get in there with our guest on this week's show, Cormac McGinley. Cormac runs walking tours along the Cliffs of Moher and all over the Burren in County Clare, one of our favorite places in Ireland. Name an -ology and Cormac probably studied it, and he brings his love of science to his love of Ireland with him on every walk he leads.On this episode, we speak with Cormac about really getting to know a place deeply; ecological wrong turns and the unnatural Irish landscape; the impact of consumer culture and how to separate needs from wants; and how he is working on building a life so that if tourism vanishes, he can still live in his favorite place. Much like our previous guests, Cormac also imparts some valuable life advice: “Time is all we have, so retain a sense of humor and try not to be a dick.”Dyed Green is a project of Bog & Thunder, whose mission is to highlight the best of Irish food and culture, through food tours, events, and media. Find out more at www.bogandthunder.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit katemccabe.substack.com

It's hoped a new shuttle bus service connecting towns and villages in West and North Clare will deliver for the local economy. The free of charge Burren and Cliffs Explorer is expected to run for the next three months and significantly ease traffic congestion in the region. Operated by C&C Executive Travel, the service offers seven busses on seven different routes servicing areas including Miltown Malbay, Lahinch, Liscannor, Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna, Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Poulnabhrone, Corofin and Carron. Chair of Clare's Strategic Tourism Policy Committee, Cllr Shane Talty, who's also a member of the Cliffs Of Moher 2040 Board, says it's a positive day for the region.

A new free of charge shuttle bus service connecting two of Clare's most prominent tourist destinations to towns and villages has officially been launched today. The Burren and Cliffs Explorer is expected to run for the next three months and significantly ease traffic congestion in the region. There are seven busses in the fleet for seven different routes that will all be operated by C&C Executive Travel. The service begins at 9am daily in Miltown Malbay, Kilfenora, Doolin and Liscannor and will have busses arriving at, and leaving the Cliffs of Moher every half hour. Clare Tourism Director Siobhán McNulty believes it will bring major benefits.

Like many of Square's RPGs of the late 90's and early 2000's, Vagrant Story is an ambitious, flawed, divisive and fantastic RPG, full of big ideas that didn't get a chance to full develop into what was planned. What we got was only one part of a larger saga (see also: Xenogears from just a few years prior), a game that stands on its own, proudly displaying all of the rough edges and brilliant ideas for all to see. It made for a great discussion on the podcast! Guest info: Aidan Moher * Check out Aidan's new podcast FunFactor https://funfactorpod.com/ * Find Aidan's writing on Astrolabe https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/ * Find Aidan's book Fight, Magic, Items https://fightmagicitems.rocks/ * Look forward to Aidan's next book about Suikoden 1 and 2 https://astrolabe.aidanmoher.com/suikoden-1-2-history-boss-fight-books-2026/ * Follow on BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/aidanis.fun TIMESTAMPS * 0:00 Title Card * 0:38 Intros/Personal Histories/Opening Thoughts * 14:58 Story Setup/Themes/Localization * 42:35 Presentation * 1:03:32 Combat/Equipment * 1:36:21 Closing Thoughts/Recommendations/Plugs * 1:45:45 SPOILER WALL/Patron Thank-Yous * 1:47:38 Spoiler Section Music used in the episode is credited to Hitoshi Sakimoto. Tracks used: Opening Movie, Greyland Event Climax, Snowfly Forest, Dullahan, Minotauros, Remembrance, Dawn of Lea Monde, Fanfare Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon! (https://patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com/realdavejackson)! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! (https://discord.gg/V3ZHz3vYQR) Social Media: BlueSky (https://bsky.app/profile/tftblpod.bsky.social) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/talesfromthebacklog/) Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages (https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures) Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-top-3-podcast/id1555269504), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2euGp3pWi7Hy1c6fmY526O?si=0ebcb770618c460c) and other podcast platforms (atop3podcast.fireside.fm)!

It's claimed the trust between Clare County Council and its elected members has been shattered following the purchase of two "special interest sites" at the Cliffs of Moher for over €8m. The purchase was made by the local authority in 2023, however most councillors only found about the deal this week after it was published in a government audit of the council. The council has stated that the purchase was key to the successful implementation of the Cliffs of Moher 2040 Strategy, which has not been adopted by councilors. Lisdoonvarna Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy has been telling Clare FM's Daragh Dolan that the auditor will be asked to appear before their next meeting to get to the bottom of the issue and ensure its never repeated.

Punch a N*zi month is here! Helping me kick (punch) it off I am joined by Ashton Ruby from the Retro Hangover Podcast and author Aidan Moher to talk about the granddaddy of boomer shooters, Wolfenstein 3D! We talk about how this game set the course for an entire genre of games, how so much of gaming history has traveled in and out of it's orbit and of course, we punch some goddam n*zis. Follow Aidan on Bluesky! https://bsky.app/profile/aidanis.fun Check out Ashton on Retro Hangover Podcast! https://linktr.ee/retrohangover Shout-out Song: Wondering About My Loved Ones Composer: Robert Prince Album: Wolfenstein 3D Soundtrack https://youtu.be/cMzhzRi3YZE?si=HmyHFKTtF_2Xp_O0 End Song: Paper Mario: Get Psyched Artist: mikedm92 Album: N/A https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03536 Check out the Bit by Bit Foundation! https://www.bitbybitfoundation.org/ Support the Podcast! https://www.patreon.com/stillloadingpod Want to buy some Still Loading merch? https://www.teepublic.com/user/still-loading-podcast

Calls are being made for major investment to tackle the "embarrassing condition" of Liscannor's Main Street. It follows an array of complaints over the state of the village's footpaths, kerbing and public car parking. The settlement is wholly dependent on the summer tourist season and draws huge crowds, boosted by its proximity to Lahinch Beach, the Cliffs of Moher and Liscannor Bay. Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Talty says the works need to be completed as soon as possible.

Clare County Council has now published the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk Management Plan, a 246-page report that recommends the local authority become the management organisation for the future management and development of the coastal trail from Doolin to Hags Head, a trail that showcases the world-renowned Cliffs of Moher. The report, which had as its key objective securing the future of the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk, was prepared by TOBIN on behalf of the council and in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development, Fáilte Ireland and Clare Local Development Company (CLDC). To discuss this Morrissey was joined by the Director of Cliffs Of Moher Visitor Experience, Geraldine Enright, Clare County Council's Director of Service Tourism Development, Siobhán McNulty and by North Clare IFA Chair Pat Sweeney, who invented the trail, to get the perspective of landowners

A new report has recommended that Clare County Council take over the management of the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk. Sections of it were closed last year because of a number of accidents. Siobhan McNulty is Director of Tourism Development with Clare County Council, and she tells us why they commissioned the study...

Charles O'Donnell and Aisling O'Brien bring you the biggest stories of the week in Irish agriculture from Agriland, which this week includes: Trump puts 20% tariff on EU exports;Slurry storage exemption expected from September;Increased financial support for BVD testing and other scheme updates;Cliffs of Moher ‘CPO' recommendation;Rewetting project on Clare farm.Don't forget to rate, review and follow The Farming Week, Agriland's weekly review of Irish agriculture, and visit Agriland.ie for more. 

The compulsory purchase of land around the Cliffs of Moher has sparked controversy with local farmers, who claim they have been bullied and intimidated by Clare County Council…Andrea is joined by Pat Sweeney, Farmer, Tour Guide, Chair Doolin Branch IFA and Tom Lane, former Clare IFA County Chair to discuss.

Much of the popular walking trail remains closed for safety reasons, following a number of tragic deaths last year. Drivetime has seen a leaked, Draft report that recommends a Clare County Council takeover of the spectacular Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk – describing it as "not fit for purpose". Reporter John Cooke tells us more.

The Tobin Report, which is designed to overcome an impasse and determine a future management structure for the Cliffs of Moher, has recommended that Clare County Council buy the necessary land from over 30 landowners to go on and bring the trail up to standard. The Southern coastal walking trail and 500m section of the Northern route remain closed as significant safety works are required on the trail. The Tobin report also estimates it would cost the local authority over €460K to manage the trail and has recommended Compulsory Purchase Orders of land as a last resort. None of this is binding however, there will undoubtedly be several meetings with the council, Fáilte Ireland, Clare Local Development Company and Clare IFA ahead. To discuss this further, Alan Morrissey was joined by Parteen-based Clare IFA representative, Tom Lane and Joe Cooney, Bodyke Fine Gael TD. Photo (c) Visit Clare

It's claimed good-faith negotiations with landowners is the only viable way to secure the future of the Cliffs of Moher walking trail. A leaked report aiming to address the future management of the coastal walk by Tobin Consultants, has recommended the council should have full title of all the lands by outright purchase and compulsory purchase orders if necessary. It also estimates that the cliff walk, which is partially closed on health and safety grounds will not reopen fully until 2028. Clare Independent MEP Michael McNamara says landowners need proper remuneration for what they already provide.

Two more stops have been confirmed as part of a Cliffs of Moher shuttle bus service due to commence on May 1st. The service will now take on passengers at Corofin and Carran in addition to halts at Kilfenora, Doolin, Liscannor, Lahinch Miltown Malbay and Lisdoonvarna, with the latter two both to serve as hubs with facilities and free parking. The service is expected to run until August 31st with a potential extension until September, while public consultation on the proposed timetables will run from now until the end of next month. Corofin Fianna Fáil Councillor Joe Killeen is hopeful it will become a permanent feature.

A plan to determine the future management of the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk will be released in the coming days. Last year, Clare County Council hired Tobin Consultants to prepare a report that would aim to address significant safety, transport, and capacity issues at the iconic landmark. The 6km southern walking trail from Liscannor to Hags Head is expected to remain closed for the year, while a 500m section of the Northern Trail also remains closed on health and safety grounds. Corofin Fianna Fáil Councillor Joe Killeen says they're expecting updates very soon.

This week Nathan and Chris are joined by freelance writer Aidan Moher to discuss his upcoming book about Suikoden I and II, a pair of sneakily influential JRPGs from the PS1 era that, yes, are very much worth writing an entire book about. Then we discuss news from the eye of the pre-GDC storm: Next week thousands of game developers will convene in San Francisco to network and exchange knowledge, but a growing number of non-US-based devs are dropping out due to Trump's hostile policies and erratic governance. After that we talk about Sony and Microsoft both introducing new unwanted AI features in the same week. Whose is worse? We'll let you decide. Lastly, we design the one product that should include generative AI: a fucked-up private jet for rich people that definitely works just fine.Credits- Hosts: Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, & special guest Aidan Moher- Podcast Production & Ads: Multitude- Subscribe to Aftermath!About The ShowAftermath Hours is the flagship podcast of Aftermath, a worker-owned, subscription-based website covering video games, the internet, and everything that comes after from journalists who previously worked at Kotaku, Vice, and The Washington Post. Each week, games journalism veterans Luke Plunkett, Nathan Grayson, Chris Person, Riley MacLeod, and Gita Jackson – though not always all at once, because that's too many people for a podcast – break down video game news, Remember Some Games, and learn about Chris' frankly incredible number of special interests. Sometimes we even bring on guests from both inside and outside the video game industry! I don't know what else to tell you; it's a great time. Simply by reading this description, you're already wasting time that you could be spending listening to the show. Head to aftermath.site for more info. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oscar season has passed but the stars are still out; all 108 of them! Kat, Nadia, and Eric are joined by a special guest who literally wrote the book on Suikoden; Aidan Moher! They discuss the ups and downs of the recently released remaster and whether they are the versions of Suikoden you should play! Tune in to live recordings of the show every Saturday morning at https://www.twitch.tv/bloodgodpod and subscribe for bonus episodes and discord access at https://www.patreon.com/bloodgodpod Also in this episode: Other Suikoden news of varying quality! Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Adult Swim memories Timestamps: 10:24 - Main Topic - Suikoden I&II HD Remaster 51:12 - Random Encounters 1:08:00 - The Tavern - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 1:32:16 - Nadia's Nostalgia Nook Music Used in this Episode: Do Your Best - [Breath of Fire III] A Curious Tale - [Secret of Mana] A Bustling Town - [Suikoden II] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journey along Ireland's spectacular northern coast with Johnny Mac! From the bohemian streets of Galway to the rugged beauty of Connemara, and from the majestic Cliffs of Moher to the otherworldly Burren landscape, discover the natural wonders of Ireland's west coast. Get practical tips on driving the coastal route, finding traditional music sessions, and experiencing the best local food and craft scenes. Plus, learn when to visit popular sites to avoid crowds and capture the perfect photos.Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visitcaloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed! You also get 20+ other shows on the network ad-free!

Surprise! We're back to season four with a very special 66th episode. We're joined by Aidan Moher to discuss his upcoming book on Suikoden and Suikoden II and listen to some of Aidan's thoughts on Suikoden I&II HD Remaster. In finer detail, that includes: accepting Suikoden pronunciations, measuring Suikoden's place in RPG history, wondering if RPG sequels have a place in today's game space, exiting battles in five seconds, filling a world with life and activity, totaling the cost of violence, interpreting Suikoden differently as adults, comfortably adjusting to sprite changes, making questionable decisions about what to remaster and what to leave behind, failing a background check, experiencing existential dread in a remastered Pizza Hut, smoothing out some legends of localization, and remaining true to piss. You must still Determine or Cancel. Find Aidan and his work at: Bluesky Astrolabe Fight, Magic, Items: The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs in the West 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:50 Suikoden's Beating Heart 00:15:36 Suikoden's Stellar Moments 00:24:02 Let's Make a Water Margin RPG 00:39:29 Favorite Stars of Destiny 00:46:42 Pronouncing Jowy 00:48:00 Bespoke Animation Preservation 00:51:23 Remaster? Remake? 01:02:16 Localization: Adjustment or Replacement? 01:10:05 New Features 01:15:16 Bonus Questions 01:21:46 Outro

Imagine winding your way along a rugged coastline, pulling over to see towering cliffs plunging into the Atlantic Ocean. Sheep-dotted hills roll out before you, and colorful villages beckon you to stop and explore their charming pubs and local culture. This is the Wild Atlantic Way, a 1,600-mile scenic driving route that hugs the western coast of Ireland, offering travelers some of the most impressive scenery on the Emerald Isle. Today, host Angie Orth welcomes Amanda Williams. She's a former journalist turned travel blogger here to help us discover one of Ireland's most breathtaking drives. Having traveled through Ireland many times, her expertise will help you plan the road trip of a lifetime. You'll take a virtual journey along this iconic route, which includes dramatic sites like the Cliffs of Moher and Dingle Peninsula as well as as one-of-a-kind accommodations, such as Ashford Castle and Ballyseede Castle. You'll hear insider tips on where to stay, when to plan your visit, and which must-see destinations should be included on your itinerary. What You'll Learn:(1:08) Getting to know the Wild Atlantic Way (4:31) The best places to stay along the route(9:17) A virtual road trip from north to south(14:45) The top sites to explore(24:23) Planning for Irish weatherConnect with Amanda Williams:Website: https://www.dangerous-business.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dangerousbizConnect with AAA:Book travel: https://aaa-text.co/travelingwithaaa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaa-auto-club-enterprisesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprisesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AAAAutoClubEnterprises

The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland's most popular natural attraction at the edge of the Burren landscape, are experiencing partial trail closures due to necessary repairs on specific trail sections. However, the visitor centre and several trails remain open, with options for guided tours providing safe and comprehensive experiences. The trail closures stem from safety concerns... The post Cliffs of Moher in 2025: Safety and Tips appeared first on Ireland Family Vacations.

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The Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experience admits North Clare communities aren't seeing a substantial economic benefit despite being in close proximity to the world-famous tourist attraction. It comes as the Cliffs of Moher Experience Activity Report for 2024 has revealed that the attraction generated a visitor spend of €19 million last year. Of the visitors who stayed overnight in Clare during the months of July and August, 26% stayed for at least one night while 12% remained for at least three nights. Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experience Geraldine Enright has been telling Clare FM's Seán Lyons the data demonstrates the positive "power of tourism" - but says nearby businesses aren't feeling the desired effect.

A new shuttle bus service to the Cliffs Of Moher to be rolled out later this year will come with free entry to the landmark. The complementary service by Clare County Council will be ran as a pilot through the peak tourist months of June, July and August both this year and in 2026 and will be extended to May and September depending on demand. There will be multiple pre-determined routes with stops at Miltown Malbay, Lahinch, Liscannor, Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna, Liscannor and Doolin. Local Fine Gael Councillor Joe Garrihy is hopeful it will be a success.

Overseas tourists are being urged not to alter their travel plans as the Cliffs of Moher remains widely open for business. Although the southern coastal walking trail and a section of the northern route remain closed for remedial works, the main interpretive centre, visitor centre and viewing stations remain fully operational. The landmark welcomed almost 1.5m visitors last year, however its been reported that concerns regarding the trail are causing uncertainy for visitors in the UK and US. Cathoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District Councillor Rita McInerney says its vital misconceptions are dispelled ahead of the peak season.

“Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind.” ~ Winston Churchill Guest Introduction:  Welcome to Exploring the Seasons of Life: Travel Edition! I'm Cindy MacMillan, your host and the owner of Pangea World Travel Agency, a boutique travel agency on the beautiful Space Coast of Florida. Today, as I record this episode on January 16, 2025, I'm thrilled to share details of an incredible group trip you won't want to miss. Let me introduce the 2025 Taste of Scotland & Ireland, a 10-day, 9-night group adventure starting on September 19, 2025. Imagine savoring a whisky tasting, marveling at the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, exploring historic St. Andrews, and enjoying a Medieval Castle Banquet — and that's just the start of this incredible itinerary. This group is perfect for history enthusiasts, culture lovers, scenic explorers and folks who Enjoy meeting new people, engaging with locals, and sharing experiences with a group of like-minded travelers. My guest today is going to walk us through the 2025 Taste of Scotland & Ireland tour with CIE Tours. Here's a glimpse of our conversation:  Now, it's my pleasure to introduce today's guest, Robert Eagles. 2:18  I really felt travel was my passion, so I began looking to get back into the travel industry. I found that CIE Tours had a position open, and the rest is history. 3:28 Founded in 1932, CIE Tours has built a reputation for excellence by delivering signature Irish hospitality. Now, 93 years later, we're proud to still be going strong, sharing the beauty and culture of Ireland with travelers worldwide. 6:21 I would say Paris. In high school, I did a study abroad program in northeastern France, but I only had one day to explore Paris. I've studied French extensively and find French history absolutely fascinating, so Paris holds a special interest for me. 10:25 All of our destinations feature accommodations that are always four-star or higher. Whether it's hotels, manor homes, or even castle stays included on some tours, you can trust that the accommodations will always be of exceptional quality. 11:36 The hotel we're staying at just outside of Edinburgh is called the Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club. It's absolutely stunning, with beautiful gardens to stroll through, a golf course, and a luxurious leisure club with pool and state-of-the-art gym. It's truly an incredible place to stay. 19:33 You'll visit the Skellig Experience, which focuses on Skellig Michael, one of Ireland's two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You'll learn about the early Christian hermits who built and lived in this incredibly remote settlement—a truly fascinating part of Ireland's history. 25:11   Our motor coaches are nothing like the ones you might remember from high school. These are luxury coaches, fully equipped with air conditioning and heating tailored to the season of your visit. A special group departure to Taste of Scotland and Ireland