EXCITING opportunities to showcase the racing and breeding industry are coming to fruition. This week the Curragh Racecourse was the setting for a special thoroughbred industry workshop hosted by Fáilte Ireland to kick-start Fáilte Ireland’s Thoroughbred Country Destination Experience Development Plan (DEDP).

Members of the tourism and thoroughbred industries in Kildare and Tipperary including trainers’ yards, stud farms and jockey schools gathered to kick off the implementation of the plan, the first in a series of workshops and events to drive the plan throughout 2022.

The Thoroughbred Country DEDP, launched in partnership with Kildare and Tipperary county councils, is a new five-year development experience plan for the region that will bring to life the extraordinary thoroughbred horse tradition, the world-renowned horse people, their crafts and the breeding heritage that is synonymous with Ireland. The aim is to develop new tourism experiences within existing thoroughbred businesses in the region.

The visitor experiences, which will include behind-the-scenes tours, will be developed by Fáilte Ireland in partnership with industry stakeholders over eight months. Industry members will be offered mentorship to develop saleable tourism experiences for their businesses, driving visitor numbers and enhancing the unique thoroughbred tourism offering in the area.

Brian O’Flynn, Head of Ireland’s Ancient East at Fáilte Ireland said: “It is great to kick-off the implementation of the Thoroughbred Country DEDP with this workshop, attended by many key stakeholders from the tourism and thoroughbred industries in Tipperary and Kildare. The heritage and legacy of the thoroughbred is a hugely significant part of the tourism offering for Kildare and Tipperary and the country as a whole.

“We look forward to working with industry in the region to develop a suite of unique and exciting tourism products that will increase visitor numbers, dwell time and visitor revenue to Kildare and Tipperary.”

The plan includes some innovative and ambitious initiatives: the new International Thoroughbred Trail, the Irish National Stud Experience, the Coolmore Experience, the mingle with the Stars Stallion Trail, the Curragh Behind the Scenes Tour and trainers’ yards’ visits.

For more information on the Thoroughbred Country Development Plan for Kildare and Tipperary, visit www.failteireland.ie.