Tourism Ireland marks 50 years of marketing Ireland at "Meitheal"

Tourism Ireland this week celebrated the 50th anniversary of ‘Meitheal’, Ireland’s tourism trade event. ‘Meitheal’ - pronounced meh-hill - is the Irish word for gathering.

The annual industry showcase connects the Irish tourism sector with international buyers. Delegates from over 20 countries were in Killarney in Co. Kerry for the two-day event on April 1 and 2, with operators delivering strong Canadian business to Ireland including Air Canada Vacations, G Adventures, Goway, Executive Global Tours, EF Go Ahead and Royal Irish Tours all in attendance.

The event follows the annual Meet the Buyer conference which took place in Northern Ireland last week, with both events offering a showcase of the best tourism offerings across the island of Ireland, 1:1 appointments with industry partners and pre/post familiarization trips for attendees.

Led by Ireland’s the national tourism development authority Fáilte Ireland, in partnership with Tourism Ireland, Meitheal has grown in tandem with Ireland’s tourism industry.

In 1975, the sector generated £165 million in revenue – equivalent to €1.19 billion today when adjusted for inflation. In 2024, overseas tourism to Ireland reached €7 billion, marking a +10 per cent increase on 2023.

To mark this milestone, Tourism Ireland has released a promotional video featuring Irish archival footage from advertising campaigns over the years.

The video includes music by The Cranberries, the County Limerick rock band who achieved global success in the ‘90s.

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