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RUGBY STAR RONAN O’Gara will front a new campaign for Tourism Ireland to promote trips to county Cork in France, during the autumn this year ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
The Corkman, who moved to Bishopstown when he was six months old, will feature in a new campaign that will advertise Cork to French nationals in hopes that holidaymakers will fly or sail directly to the county during the off-season months.
The tourism board say O’Gara, who is the head coach of French rugby team La Rochelle, is a “popular and respected figure in France”, which it hopes can help with their new campaign.
O’Gara played rugby for Ireland, winning his first international cap in 1999, and competed in sixteen seasons with Munster Rugby until he retired in May of 2013 with a total of 128 caps for the boys in green and 240 provincial appearances.
Since his retirement, the San-Diego born Leesider has started an extensive coaching career in France, with a year as an assistant coach with New Zealand’s Crusaders.
Tourism Ireland’s Southern Europe Manager Monica MacLaverty said that it’s a “great opportunity to capitalise on the excitement in the run-up to, and during, the Rugby World Cup”.
“Our aim is to highlight the many great experiences and attractions in Cork city and county, as well as the ease of access from France to Cork and the warm welcome that awaits our French visitors,” MacLeverty said.
A video featuring O’Gara visiting various locations in Kinsale and Cork city will be a part of the campaign as well as a showcase of “great things to see and do on a holiday” in the locations.
A separate video of the rugby coach giving his La Rochelle side a pep-talk, was shared among many in the rugby world as, while he has spent almost a decade in and out of France, O’Gara still hasn’t let the Cork accent fade – even when speaking French.
The campaign will run on Tourism Ireland’s social channels in France from early September.
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There goes Cork again. Thinking it’s a country
@Mark Hearne: there goes another muppet with a jealous comment trying to put the place down.
@Mark Hearne: more like you jumping to your own insular personal conclusions mate… RTFA – Tourism Ireland..
@Fr. Todd Uncious: If it wasn’t for Collins, yiz wudda been turfed out. Pirates I tells ya!
Dear Tourists,
Don’t come here, it’s very bad for your wallet or purse!
@Rob Ryan: And yet they keep on coming
Come to Ireland and get ripped off!
Brian O’Driscoll will be encouraging upmarket tourists to visit “The Stillorgan Road Environs” home to Leinster Supporters.
@Patrick Presley: Yeah and ripping people off to stay in the Kip while being seriously assaulted walking the street of Dublin.
@Fr. Todd Uncious: something like 4 million tourists visit Dublin every year, how many of them are assaulted?
@eoin fitzpatrick: it only takes 1! Unfortunately a lot more go unreported.
@Fr. Todd Uncious: Thats right nobody get mugged in Linerick or Cork.
I can think of prettier faces. He’s like, what, you’re giving me money for this?
@Dan Dare: Monsieur, don’t be une langeur!
@Dan Dare: Why jump to pretty men’s faces? He wasn’t chosen for his looks but whatever floats your boat, Dan!
Sure, there’s no Irish left in cork.
@Brendan O’Connell: Its always been a pirate’s den. A basket of thieves, cutthroats and alcohol.
“A popular and respected figure”… Yes, well, until he blows a fuse and gets a few games’ suspension for his infuriating touchline antics.
Otherwise a respected coach indeed, doing very well and bringing success to his adopted Stade.
The face of middle class Ireland
@Tommy Haze: he’s done better than you! I don’t even see your face on your profile pic!
@Tommy Haze: the 99% (in Ireland anyway)
Good article on the Guardian about his Cork/French locker room speech, pretty funny in fairness.
@Thesaltyurchin: les discussions sur je préfère Lyon ou Bordeaux, m’en feuquing fous! L’opportunité c’est feuquing énorme!
@Thesaltyurchin: is fearr Fraincís briste ná Béarla clíste.
Yeah, they’ll arrive over in their Camper vans and not spend a cent. Just clog up our roads. The money is in hens and stags from the UK. Hell yeah.
O’Gara is a 33rd degree mason and has a shrine to moloch in his back yard
@Chief Of police Retired – Truther MAGA Trump 2024: Yeah he is mad into all that Cork pirate stuff… Conquering and pillaging all over the world. Don’t go through his drawers chest…
Check out the Guardian sport section today Fabulous article on Ronan’s pep talks to La Rochelle.
Bonjour , allez a phucing Cork yis Langer’s .
Les rives de ma propre belle lee
Sleazy Gara… Broken many a heart (its a Cork thing). He was great for boxed tissue sales though. And fine wine.
Hmmm…maybe we could get the famed poet and raconteur, Ian Baily to advertise West Cork to the French. Oh.. hang on a minute.
I don’t think cursing in French is a great ambassador to irish tourism
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