This is a letter sent by Cronin's coaches to the Kinsale Town Council.

Dear Sirs/Madam,

We are an Incoming Tour Operator with an offices in Dublin and Cork and we are in the business of bring Tourist to Ireland for business but mainly leisure. The Cruise business is a very important part of our Incoming business – yet we have other ad hoc groups and individuals traveling with us in Ireland throughout the year.This year there are 56 Cruise ships coming in to Cork Port and we are looking after a number of the shore excursions for the passengers going ashore.

The tourist season has begun and we are in very serious difficult economic challenging times for all types of business including the tourism business as well as retail and hotel business etc. On Wednesday 21^st April we had our first cruise ship in – the Grand Princess which had come from Fort Lauderdale so passengers were at sea for 8 days and then visited Edinburgh, Dublin before arriving in Cork on Wednesday finishing up in Southampton today. On Wednesday we took 11 coaches full for cruising guests to Kinsale. Many Cruise passengers visit a place just for a short while and if they get a good impression of the country, its people or the places they visit they will return or tell friends or family about their experiences so all visitors need to be impressed by what we have to offer at all times and it will mean repeat or new business in the future – this is the way we have to think about tourism and visitors at all time.

Unfortunately the toilets were closed on Wednesday and nobody could advise why they were closed and if they would be open again. In my enquiries I came across varying versions of why they were not open. Can you advise if a permanent decision has been made to close the public toilets in Kinsale and will they remain closed for the remainder of the tourist season?

In general I would like to question if Kinsale really wants / needs or welcomes tourists coming by to visit Kinsale. Visiting Kinsale is challenging at the best of times as there is limited parking and the driver are regularly moved on from parking – as late as Wednesday (we only had two coaches there at that time) the coach was asked to move from along the sea front next to the monument. They were not blocking anything and the drivers were sitting in the buses waiting for the people who tend to be older rather than younger to return to the bus.

Was is the position about buses visiting Kinsale – We continuously get the impression that buses are not welcome in Kinsale and now the public toilet facility is not available which from a Tour Operators point of view makes Kinsale less attractive from a practical aspect. On Wednesday people had to go in to hotels and pubs in order to use a toilet facility – many people would go to a pub or coffee shop for a refreshment in any case but some people just walk around the shops or buy an ice cream and would be content to use a public toilet but the first thing people ask for is where are the toilets and guides or drivers have to direct the passengers to pubs restaurants or hotels to use the toilet facilities when really is not fair on the premises in question.

If this is the case I would like to know and we will make alternative arrangement - we also do a tour to Youghal and the tourist office make their toilets available to the guests as well as the public toilets near the tourist office – free of charge and are very happy to have the tourists stopping of in Youghal even if it is only for an hour.Kinsale has always been a challenge – we would like to continue to include Kinsale but there are basic requirement for the comfort of people to use a toilet and if this basic need is not there – then it may have to rethink the programmes – Unfortunately we have agreed the programmes with the Cruise ships for this season but we can limit the numbers to 1-2 buses to keep it in the programme but we need to know if Kinsale really want the buses to visit Kinsale.

I await to hear from you so that we can make suitable plans and arrangements for guests going forward. Thank you for your attention and I hope to hear positively from you

Margaret Cronin

Att : Miles Cattell

Kinsale Farmers Market

Dear Miles,

We are delighted to announce that the World Union of Wholesale Markets, (WUWM) and International Operators Market & Street Traders, (IOMST), are jointly hosting the 3^rd WUWM International Retail Market Conference in Dublin in the Royal College of Surgeons on June 25^th and 26^th 2010. The Conference will be opened by John Gormley, Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The conference will put public markets firmly back on the Irish political agenda and will discuss how public-private partnerships can effectively and profitably manage public markets. Some excellent speakers from Europe and the US will explain how markets have become a sizeable contributor to their countries’ economies.

The strapline of the conference “Retail Markets – Business with a Human Face” explores the comprehensive benefits that public markets bring to their localities. The conference will kickstart a campaign to redevlop Irish market culture and foresees markets become a significant contributor to our beleagured economy.

According to latest estimates, private and public markets in Ireland generate approximately €120 million per annum. However, public markets in the EU generate €35 billion per annum, with UK public markets accounting for £7.65 bllion of that figure.

Using those figures as a template, public markets in Ireland must have the potential to generate between €800 million and €1 billion per annum.

Visit the conference website www.odysseyconventionireland.ie/WUWM2010 for further information. The early bird registration fee of €250.00 is valid until April 30^th, so book early to avail of this offer and to avoid disappointment.

Kind Regards,

Alicia O’Reilly

IOMST

The Secretariat

3^rd WUWM Retail Conference

wuwm@odysseyintl.ie

Dear Miles,

Firstly may I congratulate you on your market achieving accreditation from Bord Bia. As part of an agreement with Bord Bia Good Food Ireland will only accept and promote accredited markets within our organisation.

Good Food Ireland is about discovering the best and that means having standards. All our members passionately pledge their commitment to using local Irish and artisan food produce and support farmers, fishermen and food producers. We operate as a not for profit industry driven marketing group with a voluntary steering group and passionate and dedicated members. Good Food Ireland’s goal is to grow Ireland as a food tourism destination and ensure that our members are number 1 choice for all lovers of good food both nationally and internationally.

We are now in a position to include Farmers Markets within our membership and I therefore would like to invite your market to become a member of Good Food Ireland.

We offer numerous promotional opportunities including location of your market plotted with details on our Good Food Ireland Touring Map of which 500,000 copies are distributed. Our next Touring Map is going to print in the next two weeks so I would greatly appreciate a speedy response should you feel that you might be interested.

The cost of membership is €500 per year and is based on a two year agreement. We will forward you a hard copy of this letter along with a complimentary Touring Map for your attention also. ( We would be delighted if you could forward on a contact address please)

If you need to discuss membership further please feel free to contact Susan Kerr in Good Food Ireland 053 9158693 or email skerr@goodfoodireland.ie

Yours Sincerely,

Margaret Jeffares

Managing Director