Explore Fingal: Untapped, unfiltered, unforgettable
Fingal County Council’s destination tourism brand, Explore Fingal, launched in February 2026. The new brand identity was unveiled, complete with dedicated website and social media platforms.
A two-pronged approach effectively targets both consumers and businesses through a comprehensive marketing plan. This council-led initiative fosters collaboration within the tourist industry while encouraging strategic development and expansion.
Speaking at the launch event, AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, said: “Explore Fingal showcases Fingal as a proactive, forward-looking local authority delivering on its commitments.
“We recognise the significance of the tourism and hospitality sector within the county and launching Explore Fingal is a key milestone in the implementation of the Fingal Tourism Strategy 2024-2029. We see ongoing opportunities for investment and growth and are confident that the sector will expand and thrive.”
Explore Fingal is central to governing documents: the Fingal Tourism Strategy 2024-2029 and the Fingal Food and Drink Policy 2024-2029.
Implementation commenced in December 2024 and was consolidated with development plans and feasibility studies leading up to the brand launch. Through these actions Fingal County Council has made a strong statement of ongoing commitment to tourism, food, and drink.
Through Explore Fingal, the county will enhance its distinctive, authentic destination, positioning Fingal as a premier cultural, coastal, and culinary destination.
Explore Fingal sits under the Visit Dublin brand and is aligned with the national tourism strategy through Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Together tourism, hospitality, and wider industry partners will combine to activate the next phase of Fingal’s destination growth.
The essence of the Explore Fingal brand is the surprising and rewarding nature of this familiar yet relatively unexplored area of north county Dublin.
Fingal has many competitive advantages, including an easily accessible location and a wide range of amenities and attractions making it ideally positioned to capitalise on tourism as it continues to grow across Ireland.
Dublin Airport also falls within the boundary, meaning that a huge percentage of incoming tourists already visit Fingal, albeit unwittingly.
Fingal County Council itself owns a number of significant tourist attractions including Malahide Castle and Gardens, Newbridge House and Farm, Ardgillan Castle and Gardens, Skerries Mills, Swords Castle, and the Séamus Ennis Arts Centre.
These are important attractions which fit under all three asset themes identified in the Fingal Tourism Strategy (natural amenities and heritage, arts and culture, and recreation and leisure). However, dispersed growth is a primary objective of the strategy, and this will be key to success.
Attracting visitors is also part of the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme 2019-2030, which is one of the biggest ongoing urban renewal projects in the State. The project, valued at between €54 million and €57 million, will transform the coastal town.
Stretching all the way from the Naul to the magnificent Liffey Valley and Phoenix Park and with 88km of glorious coastline from Balbriggan to Howth, Fingal is an unexpected combination of vibrant urban centres, picturesque towns and villages and a surprising amount of open country and rural areas.
Benefits of this include 2,000 hectares of parkland and open space plus the greatest concentration of golf clubs in the country with no less than 24 courses. The variety is truly outstanding.
Championship links courses like Portmarnock and the Island are world class as is Luttrellstown Castle, the incomparable parkland course in a glorious setting. These are bucket list golf courses for the experience of a lifetime drawing players from around the globe. However, it is different strokes for different folks and in Fingal, golf is genuinely for all with a wide variety of green fees to suit all pockets.
Being a year-round destination is vital, and Fingal has a well established calendar of council supported festivals and events including TradFest, Flavours of Fingal, Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival, and the popular series of Malahide Castle Concerts.
Food markets are attractive to both visitors and locals and, in 2025, Fingal County Council ran a series of popular summer and holiday markets supported by Fingal Food Circle and Fingal Farmers Group. Fingal Food Markets will continue in 2026 in venues like Swords Castle and Casino Malahide.
An active participant in Fáilte Ireland initiatives such as Winter in Dublin, Fingal was selected as one of the Ireland Home of Halloween Hubs. The Halloween tourist offering has already seen development and evolution after just one year of the initiative.
Fingal offers a refreshingly authentic and emotionally rewarding Irish experience; one that is easy to reach, rich in story, and powered by people. By building on the county’s proven assets and strengths and leading with mature, well-known products and experiences, clustered with those still developing, Fingal will consolidate its position as a tourism destination.
Fingal is quite literally hidden in plain sight. The invitation is for you to explore Fingal; you might be surprised at what you discover.
Explore Fingal is an initiative of Fingal County Council.
E: hello@explorefingal.ie
W: www.explorefingal.ie
