2012 Group Travel Guide launched by Isle of Man Tourism

Isle of Man Tourism has just published its latest handbook for group travel organisers, which provides a comprehensive guide to the diverse attractions of the Island for group visits. The Isle of Man Group Travel Guide Issue 2 is designed to demonstrate the tremendous value for money available to groups visiting the Isle of Man and covers travel to and transport around the Island, accommodation options, tours, attractions and eating out.

Produced in a handy perfect-bound A5 format, the 92-page guide includes useful maps that pinpoint all the key points of interest within the Isle of Man’s main towns as well as showing approach roads and group drop-off points for the main visitor attractions.

For ease of reference, the guide is divided into four sections, North, South, East and West, in each case spotlighting that region’s main towns, attractions and tours.

Cherrywood Four Star Bed & Breakfast in Ramsey Isle of Man proudly brings you news of enjoyable events taking place on the wonderful Isle of Man. Why not browse our site to find out more.

To cater for the growing interest in themed breaks, the 2012 Group Travel Guide also includes a section on the wide choice of specialist activities, tours and attractions available to group visitors. These range from wildlife tours and specialist boat trips to see basking sharks and bottlenose dolphins to ghost tours and activities that include quad biking, sea kayaking and golfing.

As a shortcut to planning group trips, the guide features three full day and five half day itineraries. Each has been designed to focus on what makes a visit to the Isle of Man quite distinct from touring in the UK and to help group travel organisers make the most of the Island’s unique heritage and cultural attractions.

For example, on one such itinerary, groups take a trip on the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas to Ramsey before rejoining their coach to go back in time at the Grove Rural Museum and Milntown. The trip continues along part of the world famous TT course to Peel and its 11th century castle before returning to Douglas.

With excellent local produce that includes award-winning Manx Queenies, smoked kippers and rare breed Loaghtan lamb, the guide also explains the Taste Isle of Man quality assurance scheme that signposts where groups will find the best home grown food on restaurant menus and supermarket shelves. Group travel organisers are encouraged to get a copy of the free Taste Isle of Man Directory, available online at www.visitisleofman.com/taste or to pick up from the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal in Douglas.

Mr Geoff Corkish, MBE, MHK, Member of the Department of Economic Development responsible for Tourism said:

"Year round visits by groups are incredibly important to tourism on the Isle of Man, which means that the new Group Travel Guide will be a valuable tool in encouraging group travel organisers to consider arranging trips to the Island in the coming year."

"In these challenging times, we are keen to send out a message to the groups’ market that the Isle of Man is a great value destination on the doorstep of the UK and Ireland."

As part of the drive to attract more groups to the Island, Isle of Man Tourism will be exhibiting on Stand E80 at Best of Britain & Ireland (BoBI), which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on 14-15 March. Copies of the Group Travel Guide will be available to stand visitors, where members of the Isle of Man Tourism team will be joined by six industry partners: Flybe, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Manx Heritage Railways, Manx National Heritage, Manx2.com and Premier Holidays.

Copies of the Guide are available on request by calling Julie Colquitt on 01624 686888 or emailing traveltrade@gov.im. It can also be downloaded from the official Isle of Man Tourism website at www.visitisleofman.com/groups.

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Isle of Man Gaelic music, song and dance weekend

THE Manx Heritage Foundation’s annual traditional music, song and dance workshop weekend is back in 2012, and while the timetable is yet to be finalised, the dates, venue and guests of honour have been revealed.

The workshops are confirmed for the weekend of March 10 and 11, to be held at Manx Heritage Foundation headquarters in the stable building and chapel at The Nunnery in Douglas and will be led by Donegal singer Noeleen Ni Cholla and Belfast-based dancer and instrumentalist Tim Flaherty.

Cherrywood Four Star Bed & Breakfast in Ramsey Isle of Man proudly brings you news of enjoyable events taking place on the wonderful Isle of Man. Why not browse our site to find out more.

Both visitors are experienced tutors as well as performers.

Noeleen is well-known in the Gaelic world and has performed around the world with some of the scene’s biggest names. She will be teaching Irish solo and choral singing to the adults, as well as a traditional music session with youngsters.

Tim dances will Belfast’s All Set, and will teach set dancing as well as sean nos – a very social, fast moving dance style – to more experienced dancers. He will also lead sessions on the whistle and teach Irish tunes to all instruments.

Manx Heritage Foundation’s Breesha Maddrell is pleased to welcome both on what will be their first visits to the island.

She said: ‘Noeleen is a fantastic Irish Gaelic singer, I saw her perform at Festival Interceltique de Lorient in Brittany in France. She brings an opportunity to learn solo and harmony vocals in Irish Gaelic.’

Breesha went on to explain: ‘We like to do these weekends once a year, and try to vary where our guests come from, and the instruments they specialise in, as it brings in new ideas and techniques.’

Noeleen and Tim needed no convincing to come over, as people heavily involved in the Celtic identity of Ireland they were both intrigued by parallels to the Isle of Man. They both speak Irish, and Noeleen is from the Donegal Gaeltacht (an area where Irish is the predominant first language) and also speaks Scottish Gaelic, so she in particular is looking forward to getting her ears around the Manx language.

Breesha added: ‘It’s very important for the island- it contextualises Manx culture and arts in the wider Gaelic context, which is why each year we try to get guests from Scotland and Ireland in particular because of the Gaelic link.’

The setting lends itself well to the workshop weekends. Aside from the inspiring landscape of The Nunnery grounds, and good parking, the converted chapel is a good sized hall for singing and dancing, and the smaller seminar rooms around the building are used for instrument workshops.

Previous weekends have culminated in concert performances, and Breesha says this year there will again likely be an opportunity for the tutors to showcase what they do.

Breesha can be contacted at mhfmusic@mhf.org.im  for more details.

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