Trail Kilkenny is exploring the possibility of adding a hi-tech, spine-chilling Ghost Trail to its suite of leisure and activity routes around County Kilkenny as part of its latest rural tourism initiative.

The group is gathering ghost stories from around the County and plans to bring these to life via a smartphone app and video technology which should entice visitors to explore the County and visit the historic locations where these spooky events are reported to have occurred.

The idea is to develop a new and intriguing way to uncover Kilkenny’s rich heritage and varied history. But what makes this concept really interesting is how these stories will be delivered, according to Trail Kilkenny and Kilkenny Leader Partnership’s Eoin Hogan.

As well as a traditional printed trail guide and signage, Trail Kilkenny is investigating the use of cutting edge technology to lead you along the trails. Visitors will download an app to a smart phone or similar device through which a storyteller will narrate ghost stories; using the latest augmented reality techniques to visualise the story at some locations.

“Essentially a ghostly occurrence will be recreated using video at a historic site and this video will be activated when the visitor scans the scene at a particular location using a smart phone,” Eoin Hogan explains.

“This is history with a difference. Visitors are being encouraged to explore Kilkenny’s heritage by presenting it in a light, entertaining way that uses ghost stories to tie history with heritage sites around the County.

“This should have broad market appeal and we also plan to incorporate elements into the trail product to attract school tours market, families and visitors to Kilkenny.

“Other destinations market ghostly tours very successfully. Edinburgh’s Witchery Tour for example is a must for visitors. But this is a very innovative project. Nobody has developed something quite like this; using technology to add an exciting dimension to a County heritage tour.”

Trail Kilkenny are collaborating with Thomastown based Glass Eye Productions on this project which is currently in its scoping phase and its feasibility and proposals for the development of the ghost trail will be reviewed before Halloween!!!

-Dublin’s finest Georgian square celebrating its 250th anniversary-

Failte Ireland unveils plan to put Merrion Square on the Map. Pictured: Dylan Jones and his sister Ruby Jones helping Failte Ireland launch an initiative to awaken and promote Dublin's Merrion Square as a unique and vibrant cultural destination and tourist attraction. Merrion Square is celebrating its 250th anniversary.Photo Chris Bellew / Copyright 2012 Fennell Photography.

Fáilte Ireland today (Thursday August 9th) launched an initiative to “awaken” and promote Dublin’s Merrion Square as a unique and vibrant cultural destination and tourist attraction.

Merrion Square, located in the heart of Georgian Dublin, has an exciting cultural and events programme happening this year which is sure to position it as a “go-to” place for national and international culture seekers. Enabled by Fáilte Ireland, the stakeholders and community around Merrion Square are coming together to build awareness of its rich history and heritage, and to stimulate civic pride. This is especially apt for 2012 as Merrion Square is celebrating its 250th anniversary.

A Merrion Square Open Day will be held on August 25th followed by September On The Square, a month long series of events bringing visitors on an exciting journey of discovery through art, literature, music, history, architecture and family activities.

Last year the museums and institutions on Merrion Square attracted 1.6 million visitors but Fáilte Ireland believes there is huge potential to increase this number.

Launching the Merrion Square initiative today, Fáilte Ireland Chief Executive, Mr Shaun Quinn, said globally cultural tourism is the fastest growing tourism segment.

“Merrion Square has all the elements necessary to make it a strong, vibrant and important cultural tourism centre. Right now Merrion Square is asleep and many of its treasures are hidden from view. Through this project Fáilte Ireland, along with the Merrion Square stakeholders, will promote the Square. Nurturing Dublin’s heritage and cultural assets in this way is critical to the long term prosperity of Dublin.

“We are delighted to be working with the stakeholders in Merrion Square in order to reveal the inaccessible culture and heritage that is waiting to be explored.”

This initiative has emerged from ideas that were generated during the Merrion Square Innovation process where 37 stakeholders came together to unlock the potential of Merrion Square as a key cultural destination in Dublin for local, national and international visitors.

Speaking today, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, Sean Rainbird, said –

“Promoting the Merrion Square cultural quarter is a very important development that will create awareness of and enhance the public’s access to art, history and heritage.”

Merrion Square has an abundance of strengths from its strong Georgian heritage, cultural institutions, leisure facilities, and its political, social and scientific history. Mapped out 250 years ago in 1762, it has fine Georgian Houses on three sides and the garden of Leinster House and The National Gallery and Natural History Museum on the 4th.

Today many of the houses are predominantly used as office space but there is a wealth of history attached. Oscar Wilde lived as a child at 1 Merrion Square, where Bram Stoker also spent a lot of time attending Lady Wilde’s salons, while W. B. Yeats lived at No 82, and Daniel O’Connell at No 58.

The Square is well known for its Sunday Open Art Gallery and is home to diverse organisations such the National Maternity Hospital, the Irish Traditional Music Archive, the Irish Architectural Archive, the Irish Georgian Society, the Society of Antiquities, the College of Anaesthetists and the Irish Red Cross. It has a stunning public park and is looking forward to welcoming increased Dublin visitors over the coming weeks.

The September in The Square activities will include walking tours, mid-week lunchtime music performances and talks in key buildings as well as special events on Culture Night on Friday September 21st. The programme will give people the opportunity to see inside key buildings on the square, and experience events in some of Dublin’s most beautiful rooms.

Events during the month will include:

• A series of Weekend Wonders with themed programmes, all with a spirit of discovery to uncover the secrets of Merrion Square and its unique character.
• A dedicated Family Trail free of charge to encourage the young at heart to uncover Merrion Square’s secrets.
• A series of pop-up evening events giving the opportunity to experience Georgian Living on the Square, the great period of socialising, ideas and culture that the Square was expressly developed to meet.
• Specific Sunday events will include a Wilde about Words day, where great thinkers, poets and innovators will come together inspired by the spirit, and writings, of Oscar Wilde and his family
The month will conclude with a Weekend Wonder on Sunday 30th September designed to get behind the personalities and characters of the individual buildings and their histories.

Many of the events will be free of charge. See www.merrionsquare.ie for more information

Medieval jousters from the Robin Hood series and First Knight will perform twice daily at Borris House in Carlow over the August Bank Holiday Weeekend.Stunning Borris House is preparing to welcome 10,000 plus visitors from across Ireland and the UK to its 650 acre estate as it host the National Country Fair over the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

· Irish Strongman Challenge to be hosted by legendary International Strongman Glenn (The Daddy) Ross

STUNNING Borris House in Co. Carlow is to welcome 10,000 plus visitors from Ireland and the UK to its 650 acre estate for the National Country Fair over the August Bank Holiday Weekend (4th and 5th).

Final preparations are being made for the internationally-renowned event which is set to be a massive revenue-spinner for Carlow and the south east region. Borris House, the ancestral home of the McMorrough Kavanaghs, High Kings of Leinster, forms the perfect backdrop for the National Country Fair which will feature a host of country lifestyle events.

Some of the biggest names and the biggest men will compete in the Irish Strongman Challenge on Saturday 4th August. Hosted by ten times winner of the UK Strongest man event and Europe ‘s Strongest Man 2004, Glenn Ross, it will bring together a team of competitors that will make even the biggest guys out there look small!

The show that will see feats of strength in six different categories including the dumbbell push, car dead lift, stone carry, barrel lift, log lift and the pole push. For nearly four hours visitors will be entertained by Ireland ‘s top strongmen in what is a first for this part of Ireland . The winning Giant will be awarded the Fionn mac Cumhaill trophy.
Another huge attraction will be medieval jousters and professional stunt teams on horseback in full costume sword fighting. The will include screen heroes who featured in the Robin Hood TV series and the movie First Knight, which starred Richard Gere.

A professional falconer from Scotland , UK sharp shooter, Michael Yardley, and Britain ’s strongest man, Glenn Ross, will also be putting on displays.

Visitors will also get to try their hand at clay-pigeon shooting, archery, falconry and fishing, as well as enjoying equestrian and gundog events, horses and hounds, birds of prey displays and children’s pet shows.

There will be legendary Borris lamb to enjoy at the artisan food festival with cookery demonstrations and food tasting as well as over 150 trade stalls selling foods, country clothing, fishing and shooting accessories, crafts and antiques.

Borris House is one of the country’s most beautiful, historic and centrally located country houses, just over an hour from Dublin and Cork and close to the Wexford and Kilkenny borders. Its owners, Morgan and Sara Kavanagh, look forward to welcoming visitors to their home and feel it’s the perfect venue for the family-focused, country lifestyles event.

In a bid to raise awareness about the estate the Kavanaghs are holding Borris House Open Day on Bank Holiday Monday, August 6th with carriage driving through the woods, historic tours of the house and stunning woodland walks along the River Barrow.

“The National Country Fair features a unique range of events, competitions, products and services reflecting all aspects of country life in Ireland and we’re thrilled to host it for the first time,” Morgan Kavanagh said. “Lots of people drive past and wonder what goes on behind our high walls. This is a unique opportunity to discover our hidden gem and the events we host here.

“We host concerts, civil ceremonies, weddings, historical house tours, runs, walks and corporate events. We also have self catering accommodation and recently hosted Mundy and Mary Coughlan in concert. We have great acoustics in our concert area.

Borris House has a busy calendar of events planned for the next 12 months, including special exhibition immortalising the famous Borris Lace collection.

A BBC television crew filming an antiques rescue programme to be screened in the autumn is featuring Borris House, and will be finishing filming over the bank holiday weekend, adding further excitement and buzz to the event.

The fair is family-friendly, with children under 16 going free. The entrance fee for adults is just €15.

Well known chef Rozanne Stevens who will feature in this year's programme of events

Calling all foodies! The Savour Kilkenny Food Festival committee is delighted to confirm that the 6th annual Savour Kilkenny Food Festival takes place in the City from October 25th to 29th 2012.

Food lovers will be invited to taste “50 Shades of Flavour at Savour” at the festival, which will feature a saucy line-up of food experts, chefs, cooks and artisan producers! The theme is “Homegrown and Wholesome”.

The programme for this year’s event – which has established itself as one of Irelands top gourmet weekends – is the best and most ambitious to date with lots of new elements including Kilkenny Food Heroes, a Tasty Tweet-Up, a Nutritional Seminar, Foodcamp and Savour Buds focussing on young producers.

According to festival director, Marian Flannery, application forms are available online from www.savourkilkenny.com for food producers wishing to take part in the Food Village on the parade plaza. Hotels, restaurants and eateries around the city are also asked to contact Marian to discuss possible event in their businesses.

“We are very excited about this year’s festival and believe it will be best to date. We have a lot of new features this year which will go down a treat with food lovers.”

Some of Ireland ’s top cooks will join local celebrity chefs Anne Neary and Ed Hayden for live cookery demonstrations, including Rozanne Stevens, food contributor to the Pat Kenny Radio Show and food writer with the Irish Independent and author of cookbook Delish. More chefs who will work under the direction of Anne and Ed will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

RTE’s John Murray is confirmed as MC for the “Yummy Mummy Cook-off”, guaranteed to get some laughs as well produce some interesting dishes!

Once again the Parade in front of Kilkenny Castle will be transformed into an enormous, buzzing food village with up to 100 artisan food producers offering free tastings and showcasing delicious food.

Local restaurants will be putting on special events, with a return of the popular Sensory Dining Experience in the Club House Hotel where guests eat blindfold and let their taste buds act as their eyes! The Pembroke Hotel in Patrick Street is featuring Back to Food all weekend with a dinner based around foraging of foods designed to awaken people’s sense of nature. Other restaurants, including the Kilkenny Design Restaurant, will be announcing special events soon.

Other highlights this year include:

· Kilkenny Food Heroes – Award-winning Kilkenny food producers including Goatsbridge Trout and Knockdrinna Cheese will take reveal the secrets of their success.

· A Tasty Tweet-Up – Get to meet, greet, tweet and eat with tweeters, food bloggers and food lovers at Ireland ’s first National Food Tweet-Up in the special Tweeting Tent on The Parade. With special guests.

· Final of Kilkenny’s Young Foodie of the Year – organised by Kilkenny’s LEADER Partnership

· An exciting Food Art competition through secondary schools

· Nutrition Seminar: “Food for Growth – How to ensure our kids are getting the right nutrition!” With a focus on nutrition for children and young people, and how to get the best from all foods

Edward Scally new manager of Gowran Park Racecourse

THE Board of Gowran Park Golf Club and Grade 1 Racecourse in Co. Kilkenny have announced the appointment of Mr Edward Scally to the position of General Manager.

Edward (32) is coming to Gowran Park with a strong background in hospitality management, having worked in a number of 3 and 4 star hotels in Ireland over the last decade. For the last six years he has worked with the Carlton Hotel Group and most recently was General Manager at The Carlton Mill Race Hotel in Bunclody, Co. Wexford.

A native of Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Edward is a keen fan of national hunt and flat racing and is a passionate sportsman. He is manager of the Duffry Rovers Senior GAA Football Team in Wexford, holders of several All Ireland titles.

Gowran Park is the only Grade 1 racecourse in the South East, and one of the best known courses in the country. It holds 16 top quality national hunt and flat meetings all year round including the Thyestes Handicap Chase in January. One of Irelands most picturesque courses, it provides modern facilities in the heart of Irelands premier horseracing country.

Gowran Park also has a mature, 71 par parkland golf course. Three of the holes are central to the racecourse, while the remaining 15 meander through the 130 acres of mature woodlands and lakes of the Annaly Estate in Co. Kilkenny.

Edward will be charged with building on the already high standards offered at Gowran Park to racing fans and golfers alike. It is also hoped to grow on the top class wedding and conferencing facilities.

In making the announcement of the new appointment, the board of Gowran Park wished Edward all the best in his new role.

Mr Joe Connolly, Chairman of Gowran Park, said: “We are delighted to welcome Edward Scally to the position of General Manager. Gowran Park Golf Club and Racecourse is preparing for the economic recovery and intends to be the venue of choice for racing and golfing fans locally, nationally and indeed internationally. I believe Edward, with his energy, expertise and vision, is the man for the job and wish him well in the position.”

Mr Edward Scally, General Manager of Gowran Park grade 1 Horsecourse and Golf Club, said: “I am very excited to be coming to Gowran Park and to help build on what is already a great offering for racing and golf fans. I look forward to working with the board and the entire team to position Gowran Park as the premier racing and golfing venue in Ireland , and to marketing it as an ideal venue for conferences. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and I believe the outlook for Gowran Park is very bright.”