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At the F\u00e1ilte Ireland Tourism Learning Network Programme graduation event (which is part of EU Just Transition) at Burtown House & Gardens, Athy, Kildare, were, from left, D\u00e9irdre Orme, Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre, Granard; Aidan Leavy, Eden Lodges; Michael Brady, Ireland\u2019s Hidden Heartlands Officer, F\u00e1ilte Ireland; Helen de Lacy, EU Just Transition Tourism Activator, Westmeath County Council and Barry Leonard, Foxglove Farm, Castletown Geoghegan.. Photograph: Patrick Browne.<\/p>\n
\n Published:
\n Sat 4 Jul 2026, 11:00 AM\n <\/p>\n
Tourism businesses and stakeholders from Westmeath were among more than 70 participants to graduate from F\u00e1ilte Ireland\u2019s Tourism Learning Network Programme, designed to support the sustainable development of tourism across the midlands.<\/p>\n
The graduates were recognised at an event in Burtown House in Athy, marking the completion of the first programme delivered under F\u00e1ilte Ireland\u2019s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme.<\/p>\n
The initiative was co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund and aimed to help tourism businesses develop the skills needed to grow and future-proof their operations.<\/p>\n
Among those from this area at the graduation event were D\u00e9irdre Orme of Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre, Aidan Leavy of Eden Lodges, Helen de Lacy, EU Just Transition tourism activator with Westmeath County Council, and Barry Leonard of Foxglove Farm, Castletown Geoghegan.<\/p>\n
Over a two-year period, participants undertook a fully funded programme of professional development focusing on strategic planning, digital development, sustainability, accessibility and enhancing the visitor experience.<\/p>\n
The programme also sought to support the transition from employment in peat production and peat-fired electricity generation towards opportunities within the tourism sector.<\/p>\n
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said the programme represented a practical investment in local communities and tourism businesses in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to congratulate everyone involved in the Tourism Learning Network Programme. This practical investment has been provided as part of the EU Just Transition Fund, supporting tourism businesses, building local skills and creating real opportunities for communities across the midlands,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Chief executive of F\u00e1ilte Ireland Caroline Bocquel said: \u201cWhile investment in tourism infrastructure is critical, it is the people behind these businesses and their skills, ambition and commitment that will determine long-term success.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Bocquel said participants had developed practical capabilities in strategic planning, digital development, sustainability and accessibility, helping them remain competitive and meet changing visitor expectations.<\/p>\n
The Tourism Learning Network Programme forms part of a package of supports being delivered through the EU Just Transition Fund, designed to assist midlands communities affected by the closure of peat production and peat-fired power generation facilities.<\/p>\n
The fund is supporting a range of projects aimed at diversifying local economies, creating employment opportunities and strengthening the long-term sustainability of communities across the region.<\/p>\n
\n Published:
\n Sat 4 Jul 2026, 11:00 AM\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At the F\u00e1ilte Ireland Tourism Learning Network Programme graduation event (which is part of EU Just Transition) at…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":532612,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[61,60,43],"class_list":["post-532611","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=532611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532611\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/532612"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=532611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=532611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=532611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}