Tourism businesses in North Clare hit back over Facebook furore

BUSINESSES in Doolin have sought to distance themselves from a tourism website that caused anger with an ill-judged April Fools Facebook post on the topic of suicide.

A co-operative of local businesses called Doolin Tourism has stated it has nothing to do with the Visit Doolin website which caused an outcry on social media that has grown over two days.

The group also outlined how several attempts to have Facebook take the Visit Doolin site down have fallen on deaf ears.

In a statement Doolin Tourism said it was the only official organisation that promotes Doolin as a destination and has no connection with the Visit Doolin page whatsoever.

“Doolin Tourism is the only page that represents Doolin and its businesses and strongly condemns the words and actions of the imposter,” the statement read.
“It has been a long, continuous battle for Doolin Tourism and our community to get the offending page and its other associated pages removed permanently, as it is causing extreme stress to our community and now the wider public.”

The group said An Garda Síochána had been made aware of the situation on several occasions throughout the years but have advised there is nothing they can do.

They said the offending page had been reported to Facebook “many times” over several years regarding a number of its posts.

“Even though they have been taken down temporarily at times, Facebook continues to allow this page to share hate speech and disturbing content,” Doolin Tourism said.

“We hope that what happened yesterday isn’t repeated and that the offending page is removed permanently this time,” Doolin Tourism stated.
“We would like to reassure the people who love Doolin so much, at home and abroad, that Doolin will always remain the friendly and welcoming village that they know.

“Doolin Tourism is working hard at promoting Doolin and nurturing the heart and soul of the village. We would like encourage you all to engage with Doolin Tourism and watch our video “Heart of Doolin” which really shows what Doolin is about: loving and caring people.
https://www.facebook.com/DoolinTourism and https://doolin.ie/