Athenry News & Views Spring 2026

Spring 2026

ITW4 visit to Ahascragh Distillery

ITW2 in Murcia, Spain

are embedded into the county’s long-term development strategy. Clodagh Qualter and Emilia Furey are the Project Managers for the BIA Innovator Campus, leading the effort to connect our food producers with these new, sustainable tourism opportunities. By embracing Slow Tourism, we are not just protecting our beautiful landscape; we are building a sustainable future where the unique heritage and people of East Galway can thrive for generations to come. To learn more about the project, visit the official website at https://www.interregeurope.eu/ slowdown

The Galway Hiking Place: A one-year experimental prototype focused on digitising and promoting 10 existing trails in East Galway. This project will test innovative tools like QR codes and a “Hiker’s Passport” to increase trail visibility and encourage visitors to explore our rural landscapes during the off-season, if successfully approved. Leading the Way This project is driven by dedicated local leadership. John Neary serves as the Project Manager for Galway County Council, ensuring that these European lessons

Current Work: Shaping Our Policy

The work is now moving into a critical implementation phase. During a Regional Stakeholder Group meeting on February 19, 2026, several major initiatives for our region were detailed: New Tools for Local Operators: The Galway region is developing a “Signposts Module” and a “Slow Food Tourism Operators Manual”. These resources are designed to help residents and businesses navigate regulations and establish their own slow tourism offerings, such as foraging experiences and niche food trails.

Daffodil Road - Athenry!

Caheroyan Road - March 2026

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