Published Friday 25th September 2026
As the 2026 cruise season comes to a close, the arrival of cruise ships into Greencastle has provided a welcome boost to the local economy, with passengers taking the opportunity to explore the village and discover attractions across Inishowen.
For Go Visit Inishowen, this summer also marked an important first, with the tourism organisation invited onboard several cruise liners visiting Greencastle to operate an Inishowen visitor information desk. The initiative allowed Go Visit Inishowen to engage directly with passengers before they disembarked, providing information on attractions, activities and places to visit. The new Inishowen Visitor Map Guide, along with information on Greencastle and the surrounding area, proved particularly popular.
Staff from Go Visit Inishowen meeting cruise ship personnel in Greencastle
Go Visit Inishowen Manager Niall McCaughan said the experience demonstrated the potential of cruise tourism to bring additional visitors and economic activity to the peninsula:
“We were genuinely delighted with the response from cruise passengers. There was a real appetite to find out more about Inishowen, and the face-to-face information we provided proved an excellent resource in helping passengers decide what they could see and do during their visit.
What was particularly encouraging was seeing passengers who may not originally have planned to leave the ship deciding to venture into Greencastle. Some explored the village, visited the Inishowen Maritime Museum, called into local shops and cafés, or walked to the Castle and onwards to Moville or Shrove. Others travelled further afield, with passengers visiting attractions such as Doagh Famine Village. Many also took pre-booked excursions across Inishowen, Derry and the Causeway Coast. We have been working with Visit Derry to explore how we can fully realise the potential of these cruise visits for the North West. It was particularly pleasing to see local businesses and attractions, including the Inishowen Maritime Museum, Greencastle Golf Club, Elsie Tweeds and The Jetty, benefiting from the increased visitor interest.
We are already looking forward to 2027, when the upgraded Inishowen Maritime Museum is expected to reopen. This will undoubtedly provide another major attraction for cruise passengers and visitors to the area.”
The Explora III ship docked in Greencastle in September.
The 2026 season represents an important first step for Go Visit Inishowen in engaging directly with the cruise tourism market and showcasing the peninsula’s scenery, heritage, culture, attractions and local welcome. Go Visit Inishowen will continue working with local tourism businesses and partners, including Donegal County Council, Londonderry Port & Harbour, Fáilte Ireland and Excursion Ireland, to maximise the opportunities presented by cruise tourism and encourage passengers to spend more time exploring Inishowen.
