Failte Ireland have today announced the towns shortlisted for the Tourism Towns Awards 2015.
 
The Top Ten Tourism Towns shortlisted for 2015 in the best small town category include Adare (Co Limerick), Ardmore (Co Waterford), Clonakilty (Co Cork), Kenmare (Co Kerry), Lismore (Co Waterford) and Sneem (Co Kerry).

The top towns in the best large town category include Cobh (Co. Cork), Killarney (Co Kerry), Kilkenny (Co Kilkenny) and Tralee (Co Kerry).                
                                         
The overall winners will be announced at a ceremony in The Morrison Hotel on Wednesday 25th November where two overall winners will ultimately share the accolade of Ireland’s top Tourism Town – for the Best Large Town and the Best Small Town.                               
                                         
The shortlisted towns have already been subject to a series of unannounced inspections from a team of independent ‘secret shoppers’ who visited each location and assessed the quality of their visitor experience.

The independent judges are now examining all aspects of each town’s appeal and will be deliberating over the coming weeks to decide which towns are Ireland’s ‘Best Large Tourism Town’ and ‘Best Small Tourism Town’.                                    

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring commented, "It is great to see so many new towns shortlisted for the Tourism Towns Award this year, in particular those located along and around the Wild Atlantic Way and within Ireland’s Ancient East.

"The effort that these towns are making in the presentation of their local surroundings, as well as in the experience of their visitors, is to be commended and they should all be proud to be included in this shortlist."

Fáilte Ireland’s Paddy Mathews added, "This award was designed by Fáilte Ireland and is all about recognising those Irish towns and villages where the local community goes the extra mile to enhance their appeal to tourists.

"Over the last few years we have been impressed with the interest in the awards and even more so with the effort local communities and businesses put into developing their towns’ visitor experience." 

Source: www.businessworld.ie