What President of Ireland worked as a travel agent? Erskine Childers worked as a travel agent in Paris from 1928 to 1931 before moving to Ireland as founding advertising manager for the Irish Press in 1931 hired by Mr De Valera.
As a long-time Fianna Fáil TD and minister, Childers established eight regional tourism organisations funded by An Bord Fáilte in 1962 to address Dublin-centred service deficiencies leading to a countrywide network of tourist offices.
He promoted tourism innovations including farmhouse accommodation, medieval banquets in restored castles, artistic festivals, and the summer school movement after opening the first Yeats Summer School in Sligo in August 1960.
Childers took a special interest in the development of the Irish youth hostel organisation An Óige.
Elected president in 1973, Childers died of a heart attack in 1974 after working for a period for a tourism board in Paris.
