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“You want your story to be the first story every visitor tells when they get home, or even better the story they share on social media.”
- Chris McCarthy, Co-chair of the Clew Bay Tourism Network

Tourism Ireland’s US team visit Clew Bay

May 18th, 2026

Tourism Ireland’s US team, comprising 19 representatives, undertook a two-day familiarisation visit to Clew Bay and North Mayo on April 27th and 28th, providing a valuable opportunity to showcase the significant progress made in developing the region’s visitor experience in recent years.

The group stayed at the newly opened Grace Hotel in Westport and engaged with a wide range of local industry stakeholders at an evening networking event on April 27th. Attendees included representatives from Mayo County Council, Mayo Dark Sky Park, local accommodation providers as well as the co-chairs of the Clew Bay Tourism Network, Michael Lennon and Chris McCarthy. The event provided a strong platform to highlight collaborative efforts and the region’s strategic tourism priorities.

During their time in Clew Bay, the delegation experienced a curated programme of activities designed to reflect the diversity and authenticity of the Clew Bay offering. Highlights included a visit to the Old Irish Goat Centre, where they met Sean Carolan and Cheryl Coburn Brown, a guided walk through Westport Estate with Aidan O’Sullivan and the Westport Wolfhounds, and a walking tour of Westport with Stephen Clarke of Westport Walking Tours. The group also visited Ashford Castle and The Lodge at Ashford.

This visit will support Tourism Ireland’s US team in effectively communicating the distinctive strengths, high-quality experiences, and unique sense of place that define Clew Bay to the US travel trade, helping to drive continued growth in this key overseas market.