Home Page > News > American billionaire gives Irish tourism a boost

Blogs

13 Comments

Larger Text

E-mail

American billionaire gives Irish tourism a boost

JAYNE WALSHE

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Sunday, December 13, 2009, 2:48 PM

Updated Monday, December 14, 2009, 7:30 AM

Tourism in Ireland is down 12 percent this year

An Irish-American philanthropist is pitching in to save the flagging Irish tourism industry.

Chuck Feeney has offered to support a scheme giving $100 vouchers to American tourists who visit Ireland, the London Times reported today.

Tourism minister Martin Cullen said the 78-year-old Feeney got in touch after the Farmleigh conference, where business luminaries from Ireland and the diaspora joined politicians to discuss the economy.

Feeney said he wanted to help Ireland’s tourism industry directly, Minister Cullen told the Times.

Feeney grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the son of an insurance underwriter and a nurse. In his youth he travelled to Japan and Korea as a GI and he later studied at Cornell University in Ithaca. He made his money through duty free products and has often donated funds to philanthropic schemes in the U.S., Ireland and elsewhere.

In 1982 he set up Atlantic Philanthropies, a foundation that gives money to initiatives in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as South Africa, the United States, Bermuda and other countries.

Feeney, who has both Irish and American citizenship, lives an abstemious lifestyle himself, according to an article on the Atlantic Philanthropies website. He wears $9 reading glasses and a $15 watch.

The billionaire only gives money to causes of his choosing – his foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for cash. In the past he has made contributions to the Northern Irish peace process and he paid for Sinn Fein’s Washington office for three years. He has also given billions to Irish higher education.

Ireland’s tourism industry slumped by 12 percent in 2009, and Feeney hopes the vouchers, which will go towards discount flights and accommodation, will help Ireland’s visitor numbers climb by about 50,000 next year.

Vote now - Buzz this story up!

E-mail

Most recent of 13 comments - See all comments

It may take several minutes for your comment to appear.

Report abuse

Posted by ginger1 on Jan 01, 2010, 10:49 AM EST

My family, 6 of us, will be going to Ireland in the spring. I would also love to know how to get the voucher... it would be a great boon to our shoestring budget!

Report abuse

Posted by Liamkeyes on Dec 22, 2009, 10:47 AM EST

Well, What do you know, I wear $10 reading glasses and literally a "Mickey Mouse" Watch. I would appreciate it if some good soul would give me directions on how to obtain a travel pass when I'm there.Back in September, I shelled out 68 Euro and change for thew train down to Tralee(that equals $100. When I got to Tralee, the Bus over to Ballybunion cost another 10 Euro. Please don't tell me to hire a car, I can't get used to the other side of the road plus the "Round-a-bouts", Forget about it.

Report abuse

Posted by dan Breen on Dec 21, 2009, 09:49 PM EST

Where would Sinn Fein Be without him ? A GOOD MAN !!

Report abuse

Posted by Shawn10 on Dec 18, 2009, 12:38 PM EST

Fantastic and it is really kind and nice of him.Always wanted to go to Ireland.That is were my blood is from along with my heritage.Let me know how we can do this and I will be eternally grateful and Irish eyes will be smiling. Shawn Nevin(=: You made my day by just thinking about it.Have a Merry Xmas and let Saint Nicholas treat you well.

Report abuse

Posted by jacersisityourself on Dec 16, 2009, 03:03 PM EST

... and there's more, there's more! People over 65 yrs of age in Ireland get free travel passes for buses, trains etc. In the killer-budget delivered the other day, one bright bit was that Visitors to Ireland over 65yrs will also get these free passes for the duration of their stay. Probably collected on arrival at the air or ferry port and after filling in all dose forms!

Report abuse

Posted by francesmargaretmary on Dec 14, 2009, 08:33 PM EST

can your newspaper let us know how to obtain these vouchers ? as i will be in ireland during the month of june !!!!

See all of 13 comments.

Click to learn more from DiscoverIreland.com.

MEET SOMEONE SPECIAL!

FREE TO JOIN: IrishCentralPersonals.com now offers the best place to find the lad or lass of your dreams! Meet your Irish love today! RIGHT HERE! >

MOST READ
MOST E-MAILED

Most Recent Blog Posts

See All Blogs

Join us - follow IrishCentral.com

Click here to read more about IrishCentral.com.

About Us

IrishCentral is the website about everything Irish for everyone Irish -- the 70 million people around the world who trace their roots to the Emerald Isle.

You'll find the most-fascinating stories from the United States, Ireland and the global Irish world, including the latest in news, entertainment, celebrity gossip, travel and vacations, sports, food and drink, Irish ancestry and genealogy, immigration, religion, business and opinion. (close)