Ireland's Tourism Body has published it's survey of visitors:

"Activities: Hiking/cross country walking is the premier product, mentioned by one in every four as an activity they have taken part in during their holiday, rising to one in every three among Mainland Europeans. Satisfaction with the quality and price of this activity is generally high. Reported participation in other activities, such as golf and cycling, is quite low (6% for each)..."

Surprising result if you heed the usual perception of golfers making up the biggest group.

I'm trying to promote various walking activities here in Carlow, SE Ireland for a self-catering accommodation client and would welcome any feedback & pics from those who have ventured up the Blackstairs mountains in particular.

Great site BTW

We're publishing a feature on Ireland's mountains in the next issue. Hope it helps get people across to your fantastic country. Great hillwalking, great traditional music and Guinness - it's a winning combination!

Friends of mine have just come back from Ireland saying that it was a disaster for walking! They spent two weeks on the west coast revisiting places they'd last been to 15-20 years ago. But everywhere they went they found paths they'd previously walked blocked - with barbed wire wrapped around gates and stiles and often with signs saying the path is closed because of landowner's liability issues. I had a quick look on t'interweb to check out the situation and it seems that Ireland is one of the most restricted countries in the EU for walking and has no public rights of way (check out www.keepirelandopen.org). I've been wanting to visit Ireland for so long now I'm almost embarrassed to admit I haven't been yet. But after hearing about my friends' experience I must admit I'm a lot less enthusiastic. If there are unrestricted walks available in the area you are trying to promote then that sounds great (and it might even be a major selling point - 'come to one of the few areas of Ireland where you can go walking'). But bear in mind that visitors from the UK will be used to having an extensive rights of way network and open access in a lot of areas and may be expecting something similar in Eire.

P.S. Survey results should be read with a certain amount of caution - people will publish survey results to support just about anything. Without looking in detail at how many people were surveyed, who they were, how the data was gathered etc it is very difficult to know how valid the results are.

Looking forward to seeing that feature Cameron. Would be even better if it included something on the mountains north of the border as well ;) I still love grabbing my tent and going "down south" though, but I must confess I haven't explored the mountains all that thoroughly. Soon to be rectified though, no doubt with a few Guinness afterwards :)