Listening to Louth’s Heritage: The Role of Local Culture and Traditions in Enhancing the Tourist Experience

Pessina, Leandro (2026) Listening to Louth’s Heritage: The Role of Local Culture and Traditions in Enhancing the Tourist Experience. Doctoral thesis, Dundalk Institute of Technology.

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Abstract

The geographical focus of research on (Irish traditional) music and tourism in Ireland has typically been on the west of Ireland or Dublin city. Tourism statistics from Fáilte Ireland demonstrate a similar geographical bias, which is reinforced through marketing campaigns which emphasize all the natural and wild sceneries of the Atlantic coast and the cultural and entertaining relevance the Irish capital still maintain within the European context. This creates an imbalance in how regions are perceived by both locals and visitors. Musical activities can enhance cultural awareness and provide advanced tourism experiences for visitors while simultaneously shaping the sense of place for people living in a destination. The aim of this study is to critically examine how Irish traditional music can contribute to the development of tourism in the north-east of Ireland, with a specific emphasis placed on Co. Louth. Influenced by the development of the Ireland’s Ancient East tourism strategy, which includes Louth within its regional focus, this study engages with the tourism experience for local and visiting stakeholders. Ethnography and participant observation underpin the methodology, which involves attending and musicking at several relevant events and activities. The research aims to identify people engaged in music and local heritage (including musicians, festivals, schools, cultural associations, museums) and gain insights into their perspectives on the potential for tourism development in the region. It also engages with a business perspective from the point of view of hotel/accommodation facilities, transport and accessibility, and marketing. This research identifies current – and potential – activities, trying to imagine how local actors and their music events could act within a collaborative partnership for music tourism promotion in Co. Louth, comparing this with international models. It will inform tourism promotion organisations that exist already, such as Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and Visit Louth but also aims to empower local stakeholders engaged in musicking and cultural activities. This study ultimately assesses the impact of tourism on cultural and identity awareness, activated by the understanding of living within a region with a rich local heritage.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	music tourism, Irish traditional music
Subjects:	Arts and Humanities Social Sciences > Geography Arts and Humanities > Music
Research Centres:	UNSPECIFIED
Depositing User:	David Kearney
Date Deposited:	11 Aug 2026 08:27
Last Modified:	11 Aug 2026 08:27
License:	Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0
URI:	https://eprints.dkit.ie/id/eprint/1058

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