*to access details of the guides please click on the "marketing workshop for tourism/anlging guides" link below*

Positive Outlook for Tourism in Border Counties

Cavan Monaghan Rural Development has been busy of late with a rural tourism conference, a marketing workshop for tourism/angling guides and a graduation ceremony all taking place within a week. Cavan Monaghan Rural Development (CMRD) have been proactive over the years in working to develop the skills and networking of tourism entrepreneurs from Cavan, Monaghan and neighbouring counties in Northern Ireland. CMRD have been able to deliver these measures through their ‘Tourism without Borders’ initiative which has been funded through Border Action.

Their rural tourism conference entitled ‘Adding Value to Rural Tourism in the Border Counties’ was held in the Four Seasons Hotel in Monaghan attracted an audience of about 70 tourism businesses from throughout the border counties. They had an interesting line up speakers, as all were successful tourism entrepreneurs from Cavan, Monaghan, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Austria! The day was capably chaired by Ms. Sammy Leslie from Castle Leslie Estate and the day was filled with opportunities for everyone to network.

CMRD also ran a workshop for recently qualified National Angling Guides and Local Tour Guides who are qualified to cover Cavan, Fermanagh & Monaghan. This workshop was delivered in Fermanagh House in Enniskillen with an audience of just over 40, including all the main agencies involved in the sector north & south present. Following the workshop the candidates were awarded their certificates at a ceremony which included speakers from The Loughs Agency, Fáilte Ireland, Border Action and it was chaired by Derek McCabe Chairperson CMRD. Certificates were awarded to those whom completed the National Angling Guiding programme, the Cavan, Fermanagh, Monaghan Local Tour Guide programme and the Train the Trainer award.

The certificates were awarded by Mr. Donald McDonald of Border Action whom wished all the candidates success in the future and he was delighted by linkages that had been clearly established between all the participants from North and South of the Island of Ireland. As a result of the training organised by the ‘Tourism without Borders’ initiative, there are now 6 new Local Tour Guides and 2 National Angling Guides in Co Monaghan. Details on all the guides and indeed further training opportunities for anyone interested in tourism development can be found on www.cmrd.ie .

The ‘Tourism without Borders’ initiative is part-financed by the European Union’s Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, and managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Border Action.


For further details contact John Toland on +353 (0)49 4338477 or email tourism@cmrd.ie .



‘LTG Group’
Included in the picture are all the ‘Cavan, Fermanagh, Monaghan Local Tour Guides’ that received their certificates at a ceremony in Fermanagh House, Enniskillen recently.
Front Row Left to Right: Mary Burke – Derrylin, Mary Cunningham – Virginia, Patricia Cavanagh – Monaghan, Mary Nicholson – Clones, Gerard Brady – Cootehill, John Toland – Tourism Officer, CMRD.
Back Row Left to Right: Frank Higgins – Fáilte Ireland Course Tutor, Kathleen Cassidy – Clones, June Brown – Rockcorry, Pamela Woods – Emyvale, Oliver Brady – Bawnboy, Ian McCucheon – Lakeland Tours, Tempo, Charles Barker – Ballybay and Charlotte Wilson – Florencecourt. (Missing from the photograph is Jerome O’Loughlin – Belleek).




Individual picture of
Mr Malcolm McLeod, Carrickmacross receiving his National Angling Guiding Programme certificate from Donald McDonald, Border Action at recent graduation ceremony organised by Cavan Monaghan Rural Development.



Individual picture of
Mrs Pamela Woods, Emyvale receiving her Fáilte Ireland Local Tour Guide certificate from Donald McDonald, Border Action at recent graduation ceremony organised by Cavan Monaghan Rural Development.