The authors of the Lonely Planet Ireland Guide 2010 have at last discovered what the people of Westmeath have known for years - that midland beauty reigns supreme and offers an unrivalled taste of ‘genuine Ireland’.
Senator Nicky McFadden has expressed her delight at the praise heaped on Westmeath in the latest edition of the Lonely Planet guide, published last week.
“It is with a soaring sense of pride that Westmeath has finally been given the recognition it so rightly deserves,” said the senator.
“Despite the Lonely Planet Ireland’s assertion in its latest volume that ‘traditional Ireland’ is fast disappearing, the authors have astutely pin-pointed Westmeath, along with other midland counties, as an idyllic retreat and a must-see for visitors from Ireland and abroad.
“Westmeath is positively bursting with things to see and do and boasts such attractions as cruising and fishing on Lough Rea, the majestic River Shannon, racing in Mullingar and Locke’s Distillery and horse racing in wonderful Kilbeggan.”
Senator McFadden added that the fact that the Midlands has been acknowledged as the ‘unspoiled corner’ of Ireland will only further compound what people in Westmeath have been telling the rest of the country for years.
“The ninth edition of the world-renowned travel guide states that the major draw for overseas visitors is still our rich ‘traditional cultural history’, and with Westmeath listed as one of Ireland’s ‘quieter idylls’, the magic of the Midlands has this year won out over the more traditional ‘scenic superstars’ such as Connemara and Kerry,” she concluded.
