Programme

Mo 28th October Travel day
16:00 – 18:00 Registration  at Westport Woods Hotel. Get directions here.
Tue 29th October Day 1 : Westport Woods Hotel + Connemara National Park
8:00 – 9:00 Registration at Westport Woods Hotel. Get directions here.
9:00 – 9:30 Formal opening
9:30 – 10:30 Keynote speeches
  • Mary Mulvey- Board of Directors, Tourism Ireland

Is Ireland finally moving into the fast lane of Sustainability at national, regional and local level after years of no joint up policies and alignment in relation to sustainability?

  • Beth Cobo – Trescàlia travel agency

Enriching the Garrotxa Natural Park: A collaborative journey of the ECST working groups to create a guided ecotourism programme to promote natural areas values.
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 12:10
  • Orla Carroll – Director of Product Development, Fáilte Ireland -The Irish National Tourism Development Authority

Ireland’s Tourism Authority and Sustainable Destination Development

  • Michèle O’Dea,  Senior Conservation Architect for the  Irish Office of Public Works.

Sustainable conservation and visitor management at Scattery Island

  •  Intro to Wild Nephin National Park and Connemara National Park.  What to Expect?
12:10 – 12:40 Interactive activity
12:40 – 13:00 Pack lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Travel to Connemara National Park
14:00 – 17:00 Field workshops – See details here.
17:00- 17:30  Coffee break at visitor center
17:30 – 18:00 Drive to Clifden Station House
18:00- 19:00 Open Mic session
19:00 – 21:30 Dinner at Clifden Station House
21:30 – 22:30 Back to Westport
Wed 30th October Day 2 : Wild Nephin National Park
8:00-9:00 Bus ride to Wild Nephin NPMeeting point: Westport Woods Hotel. Get directions here.

Time: 8:00
9:00 – 12:00 Field workshops session 1 – See details hereField workshops will take place in two sites: around Ballycroy Visitor Centre and Letterkeen
12:00 – 13:00  Pack lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Workshop session shift. Bus ride.
14:00 – 17:00 Field workshops session 2 – See details hereField workshops will take place in two sites: around Ballycroy Visitor Centre and Letterkeen
17:00 –  17:30 Bus ride to Nevin’s
18:00 – 19:00 Open Mic session
19:00 – 21:30 Dinner at Nevin’s
21:30 – 22:30 Back to Westport Potential Drive to Dark Sky location for those interested according to weather forecast.
   
Thu 31st October Day 3 : Westport Woods Hotel
   
9:00 – 9:30  Welcome to Day 3  
9:30 -10:30 Presentation of workshops solutions
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee break
11:00 – 12:30 World Café 
12:30 – 13:30  Lunch break
13:30 – 14:30 Open Mic session
14:30 – 15:00 Wrap -up and conclusions
15:00 – 17:00 Guided Tour in Westport  / Parallel meetings
18:30  Final Dinner & Cultural Exchange
   
Fri 1st November Mayo Dark Sky Festival (Fri to Sun)
  For those staying over the week-end.Information: www.MayoDarkSkyFestival.ie