Failte Ireland paid influencers or high profile social media stars over €11,000 to promote sites and areas in the Shannonside region in the last 12 months.
During the twelve months up to August 2021, Fáilte Ireland paid €114,000 to 25 social media influencers to promote various tourist destinations according to details released under Freedom of Information
In August of last year, an influencer, who is unnamed, was paid €3124 to promote Athlone as part of Ireland's Hidden heartlands during the 'make a break for it' campaign.
Also last autumn, another influencer was paid €3,885 to promote Leitrim, with a second influencer visiting Leitrim in June of 2021 to promote the county as part of the Hidden Heartlands brand.
Stories and static posts from this influencer cost Fáilte Ireland a total of €4139.
Most of the payments nationally were between €1,000 and €10,000.
The greatest payment was made to an influencer, who was paid over €11,700 to promote Sligo and Mayo on the Wild Atlantic Way in July of this year.
