05/10/2026
Partnership and progress celebrated at Ireland West Airport regional tourism event
Ireland West Airport, local authorities and tourism agencies come together to support growth across the West and Northwest
Ireland West Airport welcomed representatives from its seven local authority partners, tourism agencies and regional stakeholders on Tuesday, 29th September, for a successful event celebrating the partnerships supporting tourism, connectivity and economic development across the West and Northwest of Ireland.
Held at the airport under the theme “Powering the West Together: Partnership and Progress”, the event brought together Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim and Donegal County Councils, Galway County Council and Galway City Council, alongside Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, to explore opportunities for further regional growth through collaboration.
Taking place in the airport’s 40th anniversary year, the gathering recognised the progress achieved through this shared regional approach and the importance of strengthening those relationships as the airport prepares for its next chapter.
The event was opened by Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and at the Department of Climate, Energy & the Environment, Alan Dillon TD and Councillor John Caulfield, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, with travel journalist Eoghan Corry moderating presentations and three panel discussions which brought together representatives from the airport, local authorities and tourism agencies to explore the airport’s economic impact, the development of regional tourism experiences and opportunities for joint overseas promotion.
The sessions highlighted the value of a coordinated regional approach to attracting visitors and supporting sustainable growth across the West and Northwest.
Commenting on the event, Martin Lydon, Chief Executive, Sligo County Council, said
“Ireland West Airport is a key gateway to Sligo and the Northwest, supporting tourism, business and regional development. The success highlighted at this event reflects the strength of collaboration between the airport, local authorities and tourism agencies. Sligo County Council is proud to be part of that partnership and remains committed to working together to grow sustainable tourism and create economic opportunities across the region.”
John Rogers of RED C Research presented consumer research and passenger insights into the airport’s contribution to economic and tourism growth highlighting in particular the increased number of visitors coming to the Sligo region for holiday purposes using the airport as the access point. Sligo is now the 3rd most popular county for overseas visitors coming to the region using Ireland West Airport as a gateway with visitors staying an average of 6 nights in Sligo when they visit the region.
Miriam Kennedy of Fáilte Ireland explored the development of a strong, sustainable regional tourism offering, while Aisling McDermott of Tourism Ireland showcased successful partnership campaigns in 2026 and outlined opportunities for the airport and its regional partners to work together on overseas promotions into the future. A central message throughout the event was that international air access, compelling visitor experiences and coordinated promotion must work together to deliver lasting benefits for communities and businesses across the region.
Welcoming guests, Arthur French, Chairman of Ireland West Airport, acknowledged the seven local authorities’ investment in the airport in 2017, describing it as “a vote of confidence in the airport, its future, and the role it could play in supporting economic development, tourism and connectivity”. He highlighted practical outcomes of the partnership, including the airport’s Visitor Discovery Centre, collaboration on the Strategic Development Zone, the Age Friendly Airport initiative with Mayo County Council, and joint trade and networking events in key overseas markets such as Germany and Italy.
With the airport expecting to welcome one million passengers in 2026 for the first time in its history, the event provided an opportunity to look ahead to the infrastructure, connectivity and partnerships needed to sustain further growth.
Mr French emphasised the importance of continued collaboration between the airport, local authorities and Central Government to support the airports plans to grow to 2 million annual passengers over the next ten years “This investment will require continued and increasing support and collaboration from the Government and our local authority partners. It is about supporting jobs.
It is about growing tourism. It is about attracting investment, and fundamentally, it is about providing strong and sustainable regional development. This spirit of collaboration is what has brought us to where we are today, and it will shape the future of tourism, transport, and regional development in our region”.
The event had strong representation from local Councillors across the 7 local authorities which contributed to a morning of positive and constructive engagement throughout the event.
Commenting on the event, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director of Ireland West Airport, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome our seven local authority partners, Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, REDC and colleagues from across the region for such a positive and engaging event. The discussions demonstrated a shared ambition for the West and Northwest and the value of working together to turn that ambition into progress.
Our local authority partners have played a vital role in the airport’s development, while our collaboration with the tourism agencies helps connect international visitors with the exceptional experiences our region offers. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary and look towards welcoming one million passengers, we have much to be proud of and an exciting future to plan for together.
By continuing to strengthen these partnerships, we can grow tourism, support local businesses and employment, and ensure the benefits of a thriving international gateway are felt throughout the region”.
