Cavan Monaghan Rural Development ran a marketing workshop for recently qualified National Angling Guides and Cavan Fermanagh Monaghan Local Tour Guides’ which was delivered in Fermanagh House in Enniskillen to an audience of just over 40, including all the main agencies involved in the sector north & south present.

It was a very practical workshop with all those present encouraged to interact and network with all present. The speakers included Mark Corp from the Central Fisheries Board who provided a very good overview of their role in marketing the angling tourism product in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland. Mark also provided useful information on the latest national plans for the development Angling Centres of Excellence throughout Ireland.

The following three speakers were all individuals whom have developed successful guiding businesses in Cavan, Fermanagh and Meath. Each of the presentations provided the newly qualified guides with an insight in to the pitfalls of developing your own tourism guiding business, marketing contact details and marketing tips. The speakers also provided details on insurance and pointed them towards organisations that they should consider becoming members of; including Erne Heritage Tour Guides . It is also worth visiting the following speakers websites to see what Annemarie Carolan offers as a National Tour Guide and/or as Marc O’Regan offers as a National Angling Guide.

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 16 new Cavan Fermanagh Monaghan Local Tour Guides and 18 new National Angling Guides on the island of Ireland.

Please follow the links for contact details for the National Angling Guides and Local Tour Guides. There is also an online discussion ongoing between some of the participants of the workshop which can be found here which links you to our discussion forum website www.talktourism.ie