Eight travel agents from across Australia and New Zealand were chosen for the famil after achieving gold or silver status on Tourism Ireland’s online specialist training programme earlier this year. The group spent time in Dublin, as well as Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Northern Ireland. A key focus for the tour was to ‘Taste the Island’, agents were introduced to the food culture of the destination through interactive farm-to-table culinary experiences. Sharon Hall from World Travellers says the six days were jam packed with stops at historic homes and gardens, Monastic sites, caves and coal mines.

‘It was great to travel a different route through the Hidden Heartlands and Northern Ireland. I loved Belfast, there was so much there to see and do. ‘The food offered was outstanding and prepared with local produce and (various) themes in mind.’ trade.ireland.com/en-ie/training/ireland-specialist