Galway County Council hosted a major networking event at the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry on 30 October 2026, bringing together approximately 100 tourism stakeholders from across East Galway to explore growth opportunities and coordinate regional development efforts following significant infrastructure investment.
The Uniquely East Galway Network Event assembled tourism operators, community organisations, attractions, food producers and representatives from tourism and enterprise agencies. Organised by Loretta Raftery and Galway County Council’s Tourism Team, the gathering concentrated on strengthening collaboration between stakeholders, enhancing promotional activities and enabling local enterprises to capture economic benefits from growing visitor numbers.
Key facts
- Approximately 100 tourism operators, attractions and food producers attended the networking event in Athenry
- East Galway has received EU Just Transition Fund support coordinated by Fáilte Ireland with assistance from Galway County Council
- New promotional resources launched include an East Galway tourism video, updated visitor map and new photography
- The region forms part of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands initiative under the Galway Tourism Strategy 2023 to 2031
- Presentations covered sustainable travel, business tourism and the East Galway Destination and Experience Development Plan
Infrastructure Investment Drives Collaborative Tourism Development
East Galway has benefited from increased investment in tourism infrastructure, visitor experiences and promotional campaigns in recent years. Projects supported through the EU Just Transition Fund have been coordinated locally by Fáilte Ireland working alongside Galway County Council, providing the foundation for expanded regional tourism capacity.
Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Councillor Andrew Reddington, noted that the substantial attendance demonstrated growing momentum behind tourism development across the region. The event created an opportunity for operators to establish connections, exchange experiences and coordinate efforts to attract greater visitor numbers to East Galway.
Michael Owens, Director of Services with responsibility for Tourism Development at Galway County Council, highlighted that assembling 100 operators illustrated the strong appetite for advancing the business sector throughout the region.
New Resources and Funding Opportunities Unveiled
The programme featured presentations on sustainable travel practices, business tourism opportunities and the East Galway Destination and Experience Development Plan, which Fáilte Ireland is leading with council support. Local tourism projects including Leahy Beekeeping and The Living Bog were showcased, while the Local Enterprise Office and LEADER outlined funding opportunities and supports available to regional operators.
Several new promotional resources received their official launch, including an East Galway tourism video, an updated visitor map, new photography and the Ballinasloe Area Community Development website. These materials aim to enhance the region’s visibility and attract a broader visitor demographic.
Galway County Council Tourism Officer John Neary emphasised that collaboration would prove essential to encouraging visitors to explore more extensively across the region. Tourism development depends on strong local partnerships and on businesses having opportunities to learn from one another,” he stated.
Loretta Raftery, EU Just Transition Fund Tourism Activator with Galway County Council, confirmed that recent investment had established a robust foundation for further development. “The Just Transition Fund has helped lay strong foundations for tourism in East Galway. There has been significant work to develop tourism projects, improve the visitor offering and promote the region,” she explained.
The event concluded with business networking facilitated by Hannah Healy of Runda, providing attendees with opportunities to explore potential partnerships and identify collaboration areas. East Galway forms part of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, with the initiative supporting Galway County Council’s wider tourism development work under the Galway Tourism Strategy covering the period from 2023 to 2031.
Reporting based on original coverage by Business Plus.