Waterford Sports Legends Sean Kelly and John Treacy launch www.welcomewaterford.com.

The welcomewaterford.com website is a Waterford County Council initiative and is a critical part of the Council’s innovative economic strategy for tourism development in the county. It’s all part of a major drive to spur holiday-makers to experience the sunny south east beauty spot which is fast becoming Ireland’s favourite destination for all kinds of recreational pursuits.

Waterford has enhanced its appeal over the years, developing festivals and attractions designed to encourage more home holiday-makers and international visitors. The county hosted a massively successful inaugural Waterford Festival of Food in 2008, an event which attracted in excess of  5,000 people to Dungarvan over the event weekend. The 2009 Waterford Festival of Food will take place from the 17th to 19th of April in Dungarvan and across West Waterford. The Festival has been expanded to include Dunmore East which will see food festival fever hit the village on the same dates.

The Sean Kelly Cycling Tour, which is now in its third year, attracted over 2,000 cyclists in 2008. The tour is rapidly becoming the biggest cycle sportive in the country with three different length routes offered to enthusiasts over the beautiful terrain of the Waterford countryside, including the Comeragh Mountains. Kelly remains one of the greatest names in international cycling and he currently manages the ‘An Post’ cycling team.

2009 will see a brand new addition to the Waterford Tourism Calendar when on May 17th the inaugural ‘John Treacy 10 Mile Classic and 5k Fun Run’ will take place in Villierstown. John Treacy was born in Villierstown and went on to win a silver medal in the men's marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, along with two World Cross Country titles. The John Treacy Classic will present opportunities for all - from the serious athlete to the family who wants a gentle walk or run in the beautiful vale of the River Blackwater.

The welcomewaterford.com website offers an array of information, listing all of the festivals and events that will take place in the county along with comprehensive information on Waterford towns and villages, hotels, special offers, restaurants, places to see and much, much more. The website will be updated on a daily basis; it also offers a novel end user feature whereby those who are organising activities in the county can ‘Add their Event’ to the calendar page.

Commenting at the launch of the website County Manager, Ray O Dwyer said; “We see this website as a tool for all to us tourist, local and potential industrialist alike - with the potential to evolve into a virtual encyclopaedia of what, where, when and how in Waterford.

County Waterford is already a strong performer in the tourism stakes but has the potential for so much more. We have 147kms of coastline including the stunning Copper Coast Geopark, 49 beaches, mountains, rivers and lakes. Alongside this abundance of natural riches we have some of the finest examples of built heritage in Europe.

Our towns and villages continue to perform in the Tidy Towns competitions and the county’s reputation for being clean and green, with a vibrant sense of community, is gaining further kudos for the quality of its gourmet cuisine and the abundance of top class restaurants and bars. This initiative will bring what Waterford has to offer to an even broader audience.”