Ireland's Association for Adventure Tourism

🙏🏽 We've had a phenomenally positive response to our recent annual conference in Killarney. A massive thank you to everyone who made it such an enjoyable few days... 🟢 DAY 1 Adventure Activities courtesy of Maurice Whelan (Ireland Walk Hike Bike), Ann Curran, Pat Falvey - Explorer, Richard Morrison, Donie O sullivan (Killarney Riding Stables), Jay Scully (Trail Bike Adventures), Nathan Kingerlee (Outdoors Ireland), Noel O'Leary (Irish Adventures) and our transport partners EI Travel Group (Keith & Edel) and Vagabond Tours Ltd (Rob, Russ & Brian) 🟢 B2B Networking facilitated by our marketing partners at Brouder Marketing (Marie Brouder & Lesley Emerson) 🟢 Local Tourism & IAAT Partner Showcase, supported by Patricia Greaney at Kerry County Council 🟢 DAY 2 Presentations & Panel Discussions with Alice Mansergh, Eimear Callaghan, Colin Wolfe, Miriam Kennedy, Pól Ó Conghaile, Tina O'Dwyer, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, Chris Scott, Clare Wheatley, Jamie Flannery (Ó Flannúra), Pat O'Leary, Mayor Breandán Fitzgerald, Eoghan McCarthy, Barry Flanagan, Prof Mary Cawley, Lorcan McBride, Fionn Kidney, Bryan Fennell, Brian Hanley and Ciaran Connolly. And of course an inspiring keynote from the brilliant Dermot Whelan! 🟢 All the support from the M People - Marie Brouder, Maurice Whelan and IAAT Community Manager Mairéad McCallion 🟢 The IAAT Board - Colin Wolfe (Chair), Eimear Flanagan (Treasurer), Carina Conyngham (Secretary), Shane Young, David O'Donnell, Derek Binchy, Lorcan McBride, Martin McMullan, Maurice Whelan, Richard O'Hara, Rob Rankin. See https://lnkd.in/dU_MqQap The 2024 Conference was delivered with the kind support of our main sponsor Kerry County Council, and in conjunction with WorkLiveVisitKerry (discoverkerry.com), Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way. Thanks also to Kerry Convention Bureau and Kerry Tourism Industry Federation. 📸 Photo & Video: Lucas Machowski & Jackie Cahill 🖼️ Graphic Design: Dave Barry, Studio45 🎤 AV: Denis Lovett @ INEC 🤔 And thanks to anyone we may have forgotten! 🗓️ Save the 2025 date in your diaries! 26th, 27th and 28th of November (location TBC)

Reflections from the IAAT Conference 🤔✨ There’s something special about a conference with its own distinctive personality—and yesterday’s IAAT Conference in Killarney certainly delivered. Apart from my detailed notes, I came away with some standout reflections as well: 🌄 Outdoor Adventure Sets the Tone I missed out on the outdoor activities on Day 1, but I didn’t miss the buzz. The exhilaration, excitement, and that satisfying fatigue were evident in everyone who took part. It carried right through the evening networking and into the Day 2 conference. 🌟 Hungry, Thirsty, Tired: A Perfect Fit in Tourism As IAAT Chair Colin Wolfe said in his opening address, this sector’s role is to create experiences that leave people hungry, thirsty, and tired. It’s such a simple yet perfect description of how adventure tourism fits into the wider tourism ecosystem. 🔗 Tourism: A True Connector Across the Island This event had a genuine All-Island feel—reflected in the IAAT Board, the range of speakers, and the choice of themes. Tourism is such a powerful connector—within counties, between counties, across borders, and among visitors, businesses, and state agencies. Few industries bring Ireland’s people, places, and purpose together quite like this one. 🌿  Better Together Collaboration was a recurring theme throughout the day. As the Chair so rightly pointed out at the outset “The bigger our constituency, the greater our voice.” The membership and influence of the IAAT is clearly growing—and I expect we’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the years to come. 🧩 Authenticity vs. AI: A Tourism Conundrum Tourism thrives on Authenticity, yet Artificial Intelligence is becoming more central. The tension between these two is fascinating—and unresolved for me. Thanks to Ciaran Connolly for sparking such thought-provoking ideas, both on and off the stage. 💚 Tourism and the many Dimensions of Care The idea of care ran through so many conversations: government care for the sector; business and visitor care for communities and ecology; industry care for visitors, helping them find escape, adventure, and wellbeing; and, crucially, self-care for the passionate people driving this sector forward. Pól Ó Conghaile O’Conghaile reminded us that wellbeing isn’t all about spas and luxury pampering, and Dermot Whelan wrapped up the day with his uplifting message about finding joy and balance in simple, actionable ways that truly work for you. Great to get to chat with so many people from across the sector - too many to tag here! A huge congratulations to Brendan Kenny, CEO of Ireland's Association for Adventure Tourism and his entire support team for a fantastic event that seems to go from strength to strength each year. Mark your calendars for 26–28 November 2025—it’s one not to miss! #TourismLeadership #AdventureTourism #CollaborativeTourism #AuthenticityAndAI #WellbeingInTourism #TheTourismSpace #TourismConference

Last week I attended Ireland's Association for Adventure Tourism (IAAT) Conference 2024 in Killarney and was privileged to be invited to talk about Erne Water Taxi in a panel discussion. On day one we had the amazing opportunity to take part in some adventure tourism first hand in Killarney National Park. Cycling with our guides Jay and Leaf at Trailflow Biking Adventures and learning about the Flora and Fauna of the national park was a pleasure. In the afternoon we joined guides Nathan and William from Outdoors Ireland on a flat calm Lough Leanne for a paddle out to Innisfallen and heard about the fascinating history. The evening was a chance to network with public bodies and private businesses across the Island and every conversation was worthwhile. Day two was the conference itself where delegates were treated to informative talks from Colin Wolfe Chair of IAAT, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh on State of Tourism, Bryan Fennell on Coillte access, Ciaran Connolly on AI for tourism, Brian Hanley on Insurance, Chris Scott on Blueways and the very entertaining Dermot Whelan on Meditation. I was honored to join the opening panel discussion moderated by Pól Ó Conghaile on NOTES FROM THE SECTOR. Jamie Flannery (Ó Flannúra) of Dingle Sea Safari, Clare Wheatley from Real Adventures Connemara and Eoghan McCarthy from Ballyhass Adventure Group, joined me to discuss the season, challenges and opportunities for the sector. The panel on COMMUNITY, ECOLOGY AND CULTURE was fascinating with Lorcan McBride of Far and Wild , Fionn Kidney of Common Knowledge and Prof Mary Cawley of University of Galway and moderated by Tina O'Dwyer of The Tourism Space®. I was particularly interested in the talk of indigenous language and food, native species and local wisdom. The final panel on OUR ADVENTURE ISLAND with Alice Mansergh of Tourism Ireland Eimear Callaghan of Tourism Northern Ireland, Miriam Kennedy of Fáilte Ireland and Colin Wolfe of Ireland Wild Escapes emphasised the importance of human connection, local knowledge and sustainable practices in shaping the future of adventure tourism in Ireland. Congratulations to Brendan Kenny and the IAAT team for delivering such a successful and inspiring event. It’s exciting to see the momentum in Ireland’s adventure tourism sector and signs of a bright future for our adventure island! #AdventureTourism #IAATconf24

Last week I attended Ireland's Association for Adventure Tourism (IAAT) Conference 2024 in Killarney and was privileged to be invited to talk about Erne Water Taxi in a panel discussion. On day one we had the amazing opportunity to take part in some adventure tourism first hand in Killarney National Park. Cycling with our guides Jay and Leaf at Trailflow Biking Adventures and learning about the Flora and Fauna of the national park was a pleasure. In the afternoon we joined guides Nathan and William from Outdoors Ireland on a flat calm Lough Leanne for a paddle out to Innisfallen and heard about the fascinating history. The evening was a chance to network with public bodies and private businesses across the Island and every conversation was worthwhile. Day two was the conference itself where delegates were treated to informative talks from Colin Wolfe Chair of IAAT, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh on State of Tourism, Bryan Fennell on Coillte access, Ciaran Connolly on AI for tourism, Brian Hanley on Insurance, Chris Scott on Blueways and the very entertaining Dermot Whelan on Meditation. I was honored to join the opening panel discussion moderated by Pól Ó Conghaile on NOTES FROM THE SECTOR. Jamie Flannery (Ó Flannúra) of Dingle Sea Safari, Clare Wheatley from Real Adventures Connemara and Eoghan McCarthy from Ballyhass Adventure Group, joined me to discuss the season, challenges and opportunities for the sector. The panel on COMMUNITY, ECOLOGY AND CULTURE was fascinating with Lorcan McBride of Far and Wild , Fionn Kidney of Common Knowledge and Prof Mary Cawley of University of Galway and moderated by Tina O'Dwyer of The Tourism Space®. I was particularly interested in the talk of indigenous language and food, native species and local wisdom. The final panel on OUR ADVENTURE ISLAND with Alice Mansergh of Tourism Ireland Eimear Callaghan of Tourism Northern Ireland, Miriam Kennedy of Fáilte Ireland and Colin Wolfe of Ireland Wild Escapes emphasised the importance of human connection, local knowledge and sustainable practices in shaping the future of adventure tourism in Ireland. Congratulations to Brendan Kenny and the IAAT team for delivering such a successful and inspiring event. It’s exciting to see the momentum in Ireland’s adventure tourism sector and signs of a bright future for our adventure island! #AdventureTourism #IAATconf24

Reflections from the IAAT Conference 🤔✨ There’s something special about a conference with its own distinctive personality—and yesterday’s IAAT Conference in Killarney certainly delivered. Apart from my detailed notes, I came away with some standout reflections as well: 🌄 Outdoor Adventure Sets the Tone I missed out on the outdoor activities on Day 1, but I didn’t miss the buzz. The exhilaration, excitement, and that satisfying fatigue were evident in everyone who took part. It carried right through the evening networking and into the Day 2 conference. 🌟 Hungry, Thirsty, Tired: A Perfect Fit in Tourism As IAAT Chair Colin Wolfe said in his opening address, this sector’s role is to create experiences that leave people hungry, thirsty, and tired. It’s such a simple yet perfect description of how adventure tourism fits into the wider tourism ecosystem. 🔗 Tourism: A True Connector Across the Island This event had a genuine All-Island feel—reflected in the IAAT Board, the range of speakers, and the choice of themes. Tourism is such a powerful connector—within counties, between counties, across borders, and among visitors, businesses, and state agencies. Few industries bring Ireland’s people, places, and purpose together quite like this one. 🌿  Better Together Collaboration was a recurring theme throughout the day. As the Chair so rightly pointed out at the outset “The bigger our constituency, the greater our voice.” The membership and influence of the IAAT is clearly growing—and I expect we’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the years to come. 🧩 Authenticity vs. AI: A Tourism Conundrum Tourism thrives on Authenticity, yet Artificial Intelligence is becoming more central. The tension between these two is fascinating—and unresolved for me. Thanks to Ciaran Connolly for sparking such thought-provoking ideas, both on and off the stage. 💚 Tourism and the many Dimensions of Care The idea of care ran through so many conversations: government care for the sector; business and visitor care for communities and ecology; industry care for visitors, helping them find escape, adventure, and wellbeing; and, crucially, self-care for the passionate people driving this sector forward. Pól Ó Conghaile O’Conghaile reminded us that wellbeing isn’t all about spas and luxury pampering, and Dermot Whelan wrapped up the day with his uplifting message about finding joy and balance in simple, actionable ways that truly work for you. Great to get to chat with so many people from across the sector - too many to tag here! A huge congratulations to Brendan Kenny, CEO of Ireland's Association for Adventure Tourism and his entire support team for a fantastic event that seems to go from strength to strength each year. Mark your calendars for 26–28 November 2025—it’s one not to miss! #TourismLeadership #AdventureTourism #CollaborativeTourism #AuthenticityAndAI #WellbeingInTourism #TheTourismSpace #TourismConference

We had a fantastic evening at the Ireland's Association for Adventure Tourism Business Networking and Supplier Showcase in Killarney. Delighted to introduce our Kerry Brand to local and regional suppliers. Looking forward to day 2 of the conference tomorrow. The growth in Adventure Tourism is testament to the passionate suppliers who continue to thrive and strive for more services. #IAATconf24 #adventuretourism #adventureireland #discoverkerry

Beautiful Killarney. Its great to get a few days out of the office to support our client Ireland's Association for Adventure Tourism at their annual conference. This years conference is focused on People, Process and Place. 💡 I look forward to some networking this evening and the main conference tomorrow. Thanks to Brendan Kenny for the invite and congrats on such a terrific event! #IAATConf24 #peoplehq #hqforhr

Excited to be attending the IAAT Conference in Killarney! We're here to discuss everything water safety, from our lifeguard training courses to specialized programs for the adventure industry, like the RLSS National Water Safety Management Programme. Stop by and say hello – we’d love to show you how we can support your team! Royal Life Saving Society UK - RLSS UK Ireland's Association for Adventure Tourism Red Rescue

Good way to start Ireland's Association for Adventure Tourism Conference.

📣 Day2 IAAT Conference 2024 A day of inspiration, insightful thoughts and ideas for the future of adventure tourism across the island. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘People. Process. Place’, reflecting our role in proudly delivering responsible access to outdoor adventure, as custodians of our stunning natural landscape. Industry leaders and activity providers will provide context on the sector, with our keynote from Dermot Whelan, Broadcaster, Comedian and Meditation Expert. Speakers and panellists include: Brendan Kenny, Colin Wolfe, Mayor Kerry County Council Cllr Breandán Fitzgerald, Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, Pól Ó Conghaile, Chris Scott, Ciaran Connolly, Barry Flanagan, Clare Wheatley, Jamie Flannery, Eoghan McCarthy, Bryan Fennell, Brian Hanley, Pat O'Leary, Alice Mansergh, Miriam Kennedy, Eimear Callaghan, Tina O’Dwyer, Professor Mary Cawley, Lawrence McBride and Fionn Kidney. #AdventureTourism #IAATconf24