Carrick on Shannon in County Leitrim is celebrating a year full of activities as 2013 marks the 400th anniversary since King James 1st granted the town charter.

In tandem with Tourism Ireland’s The Gathering initiative Carrick on Shannon natives from all over the globe are being encouraged to return to the town along with tourists from within and outside of Ireland to join in the celebrations.

Leitrim is home to 30,000 people with Carrick on Shannon at its heart, but its reach is well beyond that with a Diaspora estimated at over 4 million across the globe. A dedicated website is available providing the latest information on news and events taking place through the 2013 celebrations.

Carrick on Shannon boasts an impressive array of tourist facilities focused around the river Shannon. Over the last ten years tourism, business and community groups have worked together to redevelop the town so that the river Shannon is now the centre point of Carrick on Shannon’s Tourism offering.

Top Five reasons to visit Carrick on Shannon:
1.      The marina capital of Ireland Carrick on Shannon is a great place to visit to enjoy the water.  All types of water based activities are available from pleasure cruises to boats hire to activities and adventure sports such as kayaking, raft building and river expeditions.

2.      Carrick on Shannon has a pride in its past and has preserved its finest buildings. There are attractive streetscapes and traditional shop fronts to be found as you walk around the town. You will also come across old stone buildings that have been imaginatively restored, an old church renovated, an elegant parish hall modernised and other fascinating remnants of the past including the Costello Chapel one of the smallest chapels in the world.

3.      Carrick on Shannon has an outstanding literary and artistic heritage.  John McGahern was educated here, Susan Mitchell editor and poet who counted The Yeats family, George Moore and Padraic Colum among her friends, was born here and JP McManus, former editor of the Irish Press, Poet and DeValera biographer also spent the majority of his life here. 

4.      Carrick on Shannon’s unique boardwalk allows you to literally walk out onto the Shannon.  Cruising boats and pleasure cruisers are moored here alongside charming barges.  Seating is provided which allow you to sit and tune into your surroundings and let the river cast its spell

5.   Another good reason to visit Carrick on Shannon is that it is only a short distance away.  Only two hours from Dublin, 2½ hours from Belfast and just 50 mins from Ireland West Airport Knock.  You can be here with the friendly people or having a meal in your favourite Carrick on Shannon restaurant in no time at all. 

For further information on Carrick on Shannon 400 checkout: www.carrickonshannon400.ie.