*Laura tops Cobh Tourism competition*

An essay on Spike Island written by St. Aloysius College student Laura Delaney has taken the top prize in a competition organised by Cobh Tourism. The winning entry was superbly written, well illustrated and referenced and took examples from the London Dungeons, Cork City Gaol and Bunratty to outline a vision for Spike Island. Laura was presented with a Panasonic Lumix camera by members of Cobh Tourism just before Christmas. During the autumn school term, Cobh Tourism chairman, Hendrick Verwey gave a thirty minute presentation on Tourism to the Transition year students in Cobh Community College, Colaiste Muire and St. Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill.

The presentation outlined a brief history of Cobh and the town´s former
employers, explained what tourism is, how important it is to the Irish
economy and the reasons why tourists visit Ireland, Cork and Cobh. The slide
show presentation, was colourful and entertaining and got the students
thinking about Tourism as a career choice and how tourism can be further
developed in Cobh and the surrounding areas.

Each student was asked to write an essay on one of a range of topics that
challenged them to think about developing new facilities and attractions in
both East Cork and Cobh in particular. The topics ranged from creating a New
Festival, Event or Sporting activity to the building of a new Hotel in Cobh.
Other topics included the unlocking of the Tourism potential of existing
places or buildings, the future development of Spike Island, the unearthing
of alternative tourism uses for agricultural land and the creation of themed
weekends in Cobh´s Hotels.

The essays submitted had many ideas that included a new equestrian event,
new festivals, a new hostel for the former Methodist church in Cobh, a
Titanic Hotel, a fabulously themed weekend centred on Fota House and  multiple
entries on the development of Spike Island as a Tourist attraction.
Presenting the prize, Mr. Verwey commended the students on their ideas,
literary skills and presentation and hoped that the Tourism presentation and
competition will become an integral part of the TYO programme each year.

Further information from Hendrick Verwey 087 2593850