Posted on March 18, 2011 by Fiona Hilliard

Smiling: Irish eyes

Ireland’s biggest party of the year may be winding down, but the country’s official tourist board doesn’t look like it is ready to hang up its dancing shoes just yet.

This year, Tourism Ireland has come out with all guns blazing to ensure that Ireland is writ large in the travel plans of tourists everywhere over the next 12 months.

For St Patrick’s Day alone, Tourism Ireland spent a large chunk of its 28 million euro spring budget on illuminating iconic landmarks around the world with green lighting.

The London Eye, The Empire State Building, South Africa’s Table Mountain and Brussels’ Mannekin Pis all worked the Kelly green look yesterday – the Mannekin Pis even donned a Donegal tweed suit for the occasion.

Tourism’s Ireland’s attention seeking projects don’t end there…

On Tuesday, Discover Ireland (Tourism Ireland’s accommodation and events arm) surprised all by unleashing a high-energy troupe of Irish dancers on a bunch of weary passengers at Sydney’s Central Station.

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YouTube Direkt

The video of the flash mob has already been viewed by over 200,000 people on YouTube.

Today, Tourism Ireland launched its new Facebook game “Ireland Town”.

The game is based on the same premise as popular Facebook apps Farmville and Cityville.  The tourism board hopes to leverage a following from the 24% of people on the internet in the US and Great Britain who play social games at least once a week.

In Ireland Town, Facebook fans are free to set up their own idyllic town in Ireland, assisted by a helpful tour guide called Sally.  As part of the game, players can explore iconic sites and visitor attractions all over the island. They must also complete a range of challenges in order to progress to the next level of the game.  The challenges illustrate the wealth of things to see and do while on holiday in Ireland.  Gamers can explore 32 destinations and an assortment of nine tasks during each challenge.

Tourism Ireland has even included an incentive to encourage extra fans.  Basically, fans may only progress faster in the game if they sign-up their Facebook friends to join them.  Those who manage to make it through all of the tasks are entered into a competition to win a ‘real world’ trip to Ireland.

What do you think?  Do Facebook games, flash mobs and green lights make you want to visit Ireland? If not, what does? Leave us a comment and let us know!