Ecoescape Ireland

50 Of Ireland’s Best Ecoescapes - New Guidebook launch June 4th 2008

Click here for the Ecoescape Ireland website

24 listed are current members of the Greenbox Network

The Northwest of Ireland clearly stands out and has achieved recognition in Ireland’s first ecotravel guide book. The all island publication is the first recognition that a growing consumer market is choosing a holiday with a difference.
The following properties in the Northwest are included in the book, The Greenbox, the Kingfisher Cycle Trail, the Leitrim Sculpture Centre, the Organic Centre and many more services and organisations are also listed in the comprehensive directory.
Greenbox welcome this publication of many of its members which is a reward for much investment in training and product development over the past number of years.
Mary Mulvey, CEO, The Greenbox commenting on the launch “There is now recognition of the fact that the products and services are in demand by tourists. We now need all the agencies in tourism, agriculture and rural development to capitalise on these achievements and deliver on what it is in strategic plans if we are serious about developing ecotourism on the island of Ireland.The majority of funding that the Greenbox has received to date has been from cross border sources, very little core funding support for training, capital development and marketing has been received to date.”

Co. Cavan (2)
• The Old Schoolhouse, Meenaslive, Co. Cavan www.theoldschoolhousecavan.com
• Trinity Island Lodge, Killenashandra, Co. Cavan www.trinityisland.com

Co. Donegal (3)
• The Breesy Centre, Cashelard, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal www.breesycentre.com
• Ard Na Breatha , Donegal Town, Co. Donegal www.ardnabreatha.com
• Creevy Coop- Creevy, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal www.creevyexperience.com

Co. Fermanagh (8)
• Ireland’s Eco Tours, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh www.irelandecotours.com
• Blaney Spa & Yoga Centre www.blaneyspaandyogacentre.com
• The Share Centre www.sharevillage.org
• Belle Isle Estate www.belleisle-estate.org
• Corralea Activity Centre www.activityireland.com

Co Leitrim (4)
• Ard Nahoo, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim www.ardnahoo.com
• Tawnlusty Lodge, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim www.tawnylustlodge.com
• The Old Rectory, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim www.theoldrectoryireland.com
• Lough Allen Adventure Centre, Ballinaglearagh, Co. Leitrim www.loughallenadventure.com

Co Sligo (4)
• The Benwiskin Centre, Ballintrillick, Co. Sligo www.benwiskincentre.com
• Voya Seaweed Baths, Strandhill, Co. Sligo www.voya.ie
• The Gyreum EcoLodge, Riverstown, Co Sligo www.gyreum.com
• Coopershill House, Co Sligo www.coopershill.com
(Member of Ireland’s Blue Book and Responsible Tourism Skillnet, promoted by Greenbox)

Greenbox profile

Greenbox Profile news

Network members have been popping up in key places:

Here are some in the Guardian; This month’s Food and Wine Magazine features Ard na Breatha and Lissadell gardens as regional hot spots for food; the Irish Tatlier featured the Organic Centre

So have we:

At home: have a look here: why not leave a comment on the Co2.ie blog? The Irish Times have featured us in their new ethical traveller column - no weblink I'm afraid!

Further afield:

National Geographic’s adventure magazine and website features us this month (mag’s circulation is over ½ million);

The region's EU flowers have this great document to promote themselves

EU flower

Hi guys

Here is the link for the EU flower tourism document for Ireland: click!

This is a great document to promote the EU flower with! Really, we couldn't have asked for a better document to promote the EU flower accomodation in the region with. If you are an EU flowered accomodation, I'd recommend putting a link to it onto your sites.

Ollie

greenbox news: focus on profile

We've been busy publicizing our members, and here is some info on that guys:

EU flower news: A special publication has just been produced by EU Commission. The focus is the island of Ireland, the Greenbox, Kingfisher trail and the regional EU flowers are the main features of this publication. This new publication was promoted at ITB Berlin - the biggest Tourism Fair in Europe.
We'll put a link on this blog and on our site soon. For now, you can see an earlier EU Flower publication, focusing on the whole EU here: Flowers in Ireland are on page four and five.

Mary Mulvey (CEO) and Jerome O'Loughlin of Ireland Ecotours were on Dave Fanning's drivetime radio show on RTE1 on Thursday. They did a great job representing the Greenbox. Don't worry, if you missed it, you can listen here

We've also featured in other places: A French edition of the Greenbox times, which focused specifically on the Greenbox ecolabel packages has been produced. Already, it has been featured at French tourism trade shows.

We regularly get mentioned on various tourism and consumer websites. Here's an example: go!

greenbox photography competition: another medal winner

This picture, taken by Dickon Whitehead, received the bronze medal. It's very clear, striking and strong: it does exactly what it says on the tin.
No, it's not a projection of Ayres Rock 2025 in global warming, its Aroo mountain.
Perfectly seasonal, taken at the right time of the day to really bring out the brightness of the sky, there isn't a lot more that can be said about this picture - it speaks for itself.
Dickon can be contacted at 087 2359879 or dickon@eircom.net

AN INTRODUCTION TO WINE COURSE.

STARTING SOON

At Clancys of Glenfarne

THIS 4 WEEK COURSE WILL GIVE PEOPLE WHO LIKE WINE AN IDEA OF HOW AND WHERE WINE IS MADE AND WHY THEY ARE SO DIFFERENT.

YOU WILL ALSO LEARN HOW TO PROPERLY TASTE WINE AND HOW TO MATCH WINE AND FOOD IN AN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE WAY.

THE COURSE WILL START ON TUESDAY 12th FEBRUARY FROM 7 TO 9 PM.
COURSE NOTES, WINES FOR TASTING, AND “NIBBLES” WILL BE PROVIDED.

PETER CUMISKY, WHO CURRENTLY LECTURES FOR THE WINE BOARD OF IRELAND, WILL PRESENT THIS COURSE.

What some Greenbox network members are up to

Great article in The Daily Telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk about a walk Martin McGuigan took Christopher Somerville in the Sperrins .Worth a look. Look under Travel and then Activity & Adventure

The Organic Centre

Rossinvers' Organic Centre bids farewell to successful students from 2007

The twelve full-time students came together last Friday to celebrate their very successful completion of the FETAC-Level 5 accredited course in organic horticulture supported by FAS. While St.Brigid was ringing in the the new season with snowflakes and bitterly cold temperatures the students where looking back on their achievements and experiences of the last year and ahead into their future career in organic horticulture.

Most part of the training took place at The Organic Centre, using the horticultural facilities, such as the polytunnels and a large outdoor vegetable production area as well as the orchard and softfruit area to demonstrate hands-on horticultural methods to successfully grow fruit and vegetable organically. During the summer students trained and worked closely together with the experienced gardenteam from The Organic Centre.

The students also received classroom teachings and lectures delivered by Organic Centre staff and guest speakers to back up the practical training.

The combination of the two ways of learning proofed very successful for the students and their trainers showing in high grades achieved in botany, organic crop protection, organic food crops and organic soil management exams and projects.

During the winter month a "Start your own Business" course plus four weeks of work experience outside The Organic Centre rounded off the diverse course in Organic Horticulture.

On the 18th of February 2008 The Organic Centre will welcome a new group of students to train in organic horticulture in an exciting eight module FETAC-course.

For more information on this course ring The Organic Centre at 071-9854338 or FAS in Sligo

greenbox photo competition

Hi guys
Our photo competition produced some spectacular shots of the region. We'll start presenting them on this blog, as well as on the main Greenbox site and of course on the postcards, which we'll be distributing soon.

Here is the winning pic, taken by Tim McEvitt, of a boat ready to head over to Inishrath. The early morning mist, the prayer bag hanging from the tree, the authenticity of the scene, the framing of the key images all contributed to its placing in gold medal position.

Ollie