Tuam: Top 4 Attracting Things

Tuam is a town in County Galway, on the west coast of Ireland. It's not incredibly big by any means and one would get incredibly annoyed by how much time seems to slow down in a town that has the reputation as the "fastest town in Ireland". For many, it doesn't come across as a tourist destination, and I can sort of agree with that statement to an extent. Tuam is my hometown, for those wondering where these posts are coming from, after the cool Madrid trip. Studying tourism, you notice an implied standard that towns and cities have to have before tourists even consider going there, and the reason why people don't stop in Tuam as tourists is due to it not having met the implied standard, not looking at other towns for inspiration and not having a clue how to fix it.

Being that it is my hometown, I will try to do it justice in my posts to show that it can be a place people could visit, both domestically and internationally.
People in Tuam, myself included, would benefit greatly from a boost in tourism and this isn't ignoring all the other towns in Ireland or the world that lack tourists, it's just an opinion based on my own experience. I've grown up in Tuam and see "Up and coming" businesses start off well. Then between the 6 and 12 month mark, just flounder and end up closing show. And the main reason? Not enough people stopping in the town
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Here are my top reasons to travel to and for stopping in Tuam:

1) History: Tuam has a lot of history around it. If you walk through the town, you will see monuments, old buildings and historic objects i.e John Wayne stopped in Tuam during the filming of "The Quiet Man" to buy a cap and a plaque outside the store still exists. Tuam is one of the Irish towns to have two Cathedrals, one catholic and one protestant. Tuam, as rumors suggest, was build through religious means by St. Jarlath, who still has a significant name in Tuam with one of the largest schools, St. Jarlaths College, is one of the oldest schools in the country, built around 1800.

Many buildings and monuments in Tuam are dated back to previous centuries, like within the doors of the St, Mary's Cathedral stands the High Cross of Tuam which dates back to 1152 and stands within a building which began its construction in the 9th Century. As well as this, as stated in the previous post, is the Knockma peak that, legend says, Queen Maeve of Connaught is buried, For a small town, a lot seemed to happen!

2) Base for Travel: Tuam is on many bus companies stops. With direct links to Derry, Sligo, Galway and Mayo. Tuam has good road access also with upgrades being made regularly to increase number of cars and people coming through Tuam with hopes of bring those people to stop in the town. Roads directly

reach Sligo, Galway, Dublin, Limerick, the Wild Atlantic Way and other places around Ireland. Tuam has two hotels, the Correlea Court Hotel that offers Mid-Week and Weekend deals, ideal for couples and families for a getaway. The other hotel, The Ard-Ri House Hotel, which offers a B&B rate deal. Both hotels are recommended for those on a weekend getaway or mid-week getaway.

3) Sport: Sport features heavily in Tuam within Tuam. Local GAA teams, soccer, Rugby, Golf and Swimming teams bring sport glory to Tuam on a regular basis. An 18-hour golf course and a number of sports pitches exist within the town. What has become popularized in the last year or two, according to local tourist offices across Ireland is Fishing as a recreational activity. More and more people are taking up fishing as a way of relaxing. Tuam, according to avid fishers, sports rivers with good catch and nice banks that provide for a therapeutic day out. Everytime I travel home, I see more people out running, walking and cycling. Worldwide, the idea to get fit has become an epidemic and Tuam hasn't missed out. Boasting 2 gyms, a leisure centre and many fitness businesses. Now, a lot of charitable events involving marathons and half-marathons come through and/or start in Tuam, which could provide a base for Soft Adventure Tourism.

4) Festivals and Events: Four second-level schools exist in Tuam and every year, each school performs an Amateur Operatic performance of a classic musical i.e Oliver, Carousel and Grease. These shows receive annual critical acclaim and sell-out fast. I would recommend seeing one of these shows! A new Festival that has sprung up in Tuam is the Sugarbeat Music Festival. Each summer, the Festival sees talent like the Original Rudeboys, Hometown and The Stunning. The Tuam Arts Festival attracts a crowd to see the usually unusual display. A variety of live music plays in the bars across town, creating an inviting atmosphere.

To get more people to stop in Tuam means more places like Tuam, small towns can see it as a model to shape up and boost tourism. Tuam has quite a bit to offer, for small town but a lot more can be done for it to improve.

And this is just my opinion!
What do you guys think?