Launch of Inishowen iPhone App on 25th June - see our new video ‘ Inishowen - Feeling Good’ below

Inishowen iPhone App launched

Inishowen, Ireland's most northerly gem and a hidden treasure for visitors, now has its very own iPhone App. Developed by tourism and technology promotor, local man John Ward it was launched at the Colgan Hall, Carndonagh, County Donegal on Saturday 25th June 2011 at 5.30pm by the well known Derry writer, Sean McMahon.

MAY 2012 - PLEASE NOTE THIS APP HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO THE COUNTYWIDE DONEGAL APP. Developer John Ward comments, 'This free App works on Android, iPhone & all other GPS platforms such as Garmin and TomTom, making Donegal that little bit more accessible to visitors. It has nearly 300 points of interest including places to stay, things to do and hidden gems, all located on a map, together with photos and contact details. This means you can find your way to what you want easily – and spend more time enjoying yourself.'

On being invited to launch the App, writer Sean McMahon comments, 'I'm delighted to say that I narrated the introduction piece on the App, so I'm genuinely excited to see it being launched. It's generally accepted that tourism will be the corner stone of Ireland's recovery from economic disaster and I truly believe that innovations such as this App, which cleverly promotes tourism by using state-of-the-art technology, are the way forward.'

Talk on tourism & technology at Colgan Heritage Weekend

The App was launched following a talk on tourism and technology that John Ward is giving at Colgan House, entitled 'Are We There Yet?' as part of the Colgan Heritage Weekend. Ward explains, 'I've borrowed this familiar cry, heard from generations of back seat travelers, to illustrate how we are almost there in terms of using technology to harness both tourism and local heritage. A lot of people still have a blind spot when it comes to using technology for these purposes, but I'm going to show how it has unlimited potential in allowing visitors and locals alike to find out more about any area in an inexpensive, innovative and easy manner.'

At the well received talk, Ward explained his vision for how new technology can be used both to preserve an area's culture, and to act as an essential tourism marketing tool for that area. 'Every community can get involved. Firstly, I went over the technologies associated with travel these days - sat nav devices, smart phones, the Internet and Social Media. Then, I showed how to collate material for these platforms in the form of guides, websites, Facebook and Twitter accounts, to create an archive of local culture and lore. I then demonstrated how to use this material to market their area to tourists.' Ward's plan includes the need to offer free WiFi hotspots in as many places as possible, the organization and recording of regular walks by local guides, the reintroduction and recording of rambling houses and the revival and recording of such popular rural celebrations such as Bilberry Sunday.

Click here to download the free Donegal App.                       

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