Westport House receives major tourism award

WINNERS Minister for Tourism, Shane Ross TD, was on hand to present the Waterford Crystal trophies to the winners at a gala event in the Clayton Hotel in Dublin at the Irish Tourism Industry Awards last Friday. Over 550 people from the industry were in attendance. Award winners included Westport House (pictured) for Best Leisure Tourism Innovation. Pic: Paul Sherwood


Westport House is making headlines again, this time for receiving a prestigious tourism award. The 18th-century house and estate was named as Ireland’s Best Leisure Tourism Innovation in the county category at the Irish Tourism Industry Awards ceremony in Dublin last Friday, February 3.
The announcement came just one week after the Browne family, who had owned Westport House for generations, revealed they had sold the stately home to the Hugheses, another local family.
Minister for Tourism, Shane Ross TD, presented the award to Biddy Hughes from Westport House. “This award is recognition of the great work that has gone into Westport House in recent years,” he said. “It is a treasure to the county, and I believe some €50 million was spent in Mayo and surrounding areas by visitors to the house throughout the past year.
“I’m delighted to hear of the new investment proposed by the Hughes family, both in terms of job creation and development of the estate. This means that Westport House will continue to be one of the west’s main attractions.”
The awards are organised by the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC), the umbrella group for the tourism industry in Ireland, along with FΡilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, two of its industry members. They are designed to identify and honour those who are making major difference in the industry.  
Speaking at the event, ITIC CEO Eoghan O’Mara-Walsh, said: “This award validates all of the hard work that the team at Westport House have put in in recent years to make it a world-class attraction. We’re very excited to see what the future holds for the estate as it comes under new ownership.”