Regional drive to boost Longford's Lough Ree tourism
Participants in the tourism showcase experienced some of the region's key attractions
More than 50 tourism businesses, community groups and local leaders gathered recently to highlight the tourism potential of the Lough Ree region and to strengthen links across Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath and East Galway.
The tourism showcase was organised by the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) Tourism Activators under Fáilte Ireland's Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.
Twelve Longford tourism businesses took part in the event, the third showcase organised by the Lough Ree tourism cluster since its launch in May 2025.
Participants experienced some of the region's key attractions, including an accessible "Access for All" boat tour on Lough Ree featuring a virtual reality element, a visit to Lough Ree Distillery, a guided walking tour of Ballyleague and Lanesboro, and a stop at the Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre.
A networking lunch at St Faithleach's GAA Clubhouse provided an opportunity for businesses and community groups to exchange ideas and build new partnerships.
The afternoon session featured a presentation by Edel McWeeney Moran on the future tourism potential of the National Famine Way, followed by an interactive mapping session aimed at strengthening collaboration and contributing to the development of a Lough Ree tourism directory.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Cllr Gerry Hagan, said the Lough Ree area was one of the county's greatest tourism assets.
"The Lough Ree area is a key asset for County Longford,” he said. “Events like this help local businesses to work together and present a strong, joined-up visitor experience. I welcome the support through the Just Transition Fund and encourage visitors to explore all that this region has to offer.”
Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon said the initiative demonstrated how targeted investment and local leadership could support tourism growth while strengthening businesses and rural communities.
“This initiative shows how targeted investment and local leadership can support tourism growth in a practical way,” he said. “By strengthening links between businesses and developing shared experiences, we are improving the visitor offer while supporting rural communities and jobs across the county.”
Head of Tourism and Economic Development Michael Nevin welcomed the strong turnout and praised the level of co-operation between businesses and communities.
“It was encouraging to see such a strong turnout and a clear shared focus on the future of tourism in the Lough Ree region,” he said. “The level of co-operation between businesses and communities shows what can be achieved when we work together. I want to acknowledge the work of the Tourism Activators in building this network.”
The showcase marked another step in the development of sustainable tourism across the Lough Ree region, with organisers aiming to build stronger partnerships and enhance the visitor experience throughout the area.
Funded by the local democracy reporting scheme