Catherine scoops Fota safari prize

Lady luck was in town recently for the 10 millionth visitor to Fota Wildlife Park. Catherine Cullinane, who was visiting the Rebel County from Galway, walked through the gates and scooped the prize of a safari holiday for two to South Africa.

Sean McKeown, Director of Fota Wildlife Park said: “We are delighted to welcome Catherine Cullinane as the 10 millionth visitor here and present her with this magnificent prize of a safari trip to South Africa.

“We really felt that it was important to mark this occasion as it not only represents a milestone for Fota and also for the region.

He added: “As one of the biggest tourist attractions in the area, we know from the B&A surveys we regularly conduct that our visitors pay out on average €430 per holiday and contribute €190 million annually into the region on spends that include accommodation, dining and transport. We also feel that it’s very important to continually develop the Wildlife Park and during 2019 alone we have spent €900,000 on capital projects such as the Madagascan Village on Palm Walk, and a new playground near the Oasis Cafe.”

Ms Cullinane wasn't the only winner with runners-up prizes including a weekend stay at Fota, spa passes and a stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa being won by Midleton's Sadhbh O'Connor another Galway resident, Marie Pratt, while the other runner up prize of two nights at the Midleton Park Hotel was won by Dimitar Bonekov from Ballyvolane.