The opening of the new Shackleton Centre in Athy and hosting the Irish Open in both men’s and women’s golf were the key development for tourism in county Kildare in 2025, Áine Mangan told the Into Kildare annual general meeting held at Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park.
Ms Mangan noted the fitting location given Lullymore’s success in securing €300,000 Just Transition funding from Fáilte Ireland for a new electric train set for operation next year. She thanked the venue management team led by Johnny Judge and Ray Stapleton for hosting the event and acknowledged Hank C Marie as Just Transition Tourism Activator for support.
Ms Mangan detailed tourism network events including one at Naas courthouse with strong turnout another at Kildare Castle in collaboration with the equestrian sector featuring 60 attendees and guest speaker Tino O’Dwyer and a third at Glen Royal Hotel with local produce lunch timed before Taste of Kildare.
Ms Mangan shared her election as chairperson of the Tourism Officer Network for Ireland which facilitated meetings across councils including a cross-border event early in the year. She listed trade show attendance at Bord Bia Bloom where members promoted wares and noted member requests for such participation with high footfall.
Ms Mangan described how golf tourism valued at over €300m annually to the Irish economy with higher spend from participants and highlighted Kildare’s hosting of the Women’s Irish Open and Irish Open at the K Club alongside the Ladies Irish Open at Carton House. She recalled returning to Kildare in 2006 for the Ryder Cup at the K Club and praised Kildare County Council stands at events allowing tourism providers access.
Ms Mangan mentioned sponsorship of the Irish Golf Tour Operators Association conference at the K Club which brought buyers and trade from Ireland to the county and stressed Kildare’s proximity to Dublin Airport and city centre for promotion.
Ms Mangan described other activities including prize presentations at Newbridge Silverware with marketing traction and international sales missions such as one to Canada with Royal Irish Tours yielding quick new business. She detailed a Canadian mission leading to a familiarisation trip bringing clients to Kildare and noted growing relations with the Irish Embassy in London introduced by chairman David Mongey.
Ms Mangan reported development of St Brigid’s Day activities in collaboration with St Brigid’s group including London visits to St Brigid’s Church Fleet Street and speaking spots at the Irish Embassy with plans for council involvement. She recounted the St Brigid’s Day pause for peace at noon on 1 February originating in Covid with annual lighting up of Kildare which grew membership through zoom facilitation and stock funding support.
Ms Mangan outlined marketing and PR efforts treating funds as personal business for value and confirmed Just Transition funding for a new website launching early 2026 driven by Chloe Kimmins allowing members to upload content.
She mentioned TBEX travel exchange conference where Kildare Town and Athy featured with Shackleton Experience preview for bloggers creating authentic experiences through local welcomes. Ms Mangan recapped Taste of Kildare at the Curragh Racecourse supported by Kildare County Council sponsors including the K Club with board assistance from Ted Robinson going out to paint lorries for signage and volunteer chefs like Gary O’Hanlon and Rachel Allen planning return in August 2026.
She covered Shackleton Experience involvement over seven years with €7.5 million investment from Kildare County Council including Emily Square completion inviting members as guests for first quarter meeting and promotion alongside National Stud and Racecourse Experience. Ms Mangan previewed 2026 initiatives including Christmas and St Brigid’s Day campaigns Spirit of Brigid promotion St Patrick’s Day MICE mission Athy video with Tourism Ireland and Kildare County Council US sales mission Bloom return K Club Irish Open Taste of Kildare and UAE e-racing for Brigid stays seeking member feedback via questionnaires.
Ms Mangan welcomed new board member Jackie McNab from the Local Enterprise Office Kildare to replace Paula O’Brien who moved on after promotion.
Ms Mangan explained that all actions aligned with the county tourism plan due for revision in 2026 for the 2027 period and identified key pillars with associated key performance indicators. She recalled her emphasis eight years prior on tourism’s role in employing people from cleaners to shopkeepers with incremental spend benefits. Ms Mangan presented recent statistics showing tourism’s contribution to Ireland and Kildare economies and described Into Kildare’s network encompassing national and local authorities press media and members. She grouped 2025 highlights into member events trade shows festivals and sales missions and announced a Kildare sales mission in association with Tourism Ireland for 2026 to deliver business inquiries.
Áine Mangan shared “Golf and tourism is worth over €300 million a year to the Irish economy. We may not be links courses, but we’re a stone’s throw from the international airport and city centre. That’s my line that I sell to Kildare-ites. It’s amazing when I’m abroad, people know about it more nearly than here at home, so there’s a big piece of work to be done on that. To see it come to life is fantastic. David, thank you so much.”
