Tennessee Tourism is preparing to roll out the red carpet to Irish visitors in search of authentic active adventures, music tours and culinary experiences following the launch of Aer Lingus’ new non-stop Dublin to Nashville service on April 12 – this Saturday.
From self-proclaimed ‘Music City’ Nashville to music mecca Memphis, home to Sun Studios, Beale Street and the Stax Museum, the new service will be music to Irish fans’ ears. And with the two cities respectively celebrating the 90th anniversary of the birth of Elvis and the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry this year, visitors can expect celebratory events galore in each.
Plus, there’s the added incentive of joining in the fun and festivities at Dollywood, country music star Dolly Parton’s acclaimed theme park near Pigeon Forge, in the Smoky Mountains, currently celebrating its 40th season.
To help mark the launch of the new Nashville route, a delegation from Tennessee Tourism will be in Dublin on a sales mission from April 30-May 1, led by Margaret Fuqua and Jill Kilgore from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
Accompanying them will be representatives from Memphis Travel, Visit Franklin, Sevierville, and the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, with a packed programme of meetings and events in store for the Irish media and travel trade, including a VIP culinary event on May 1st. (To request a meeting with the Tennessee delegation please message karl@ttmworld.co.uk).
Ahead of their visit, Jessica Jackson, Senior Account Manager at Travel and Tourism Marketing (TTM) Ltd,said: “We are beyond excited about the launch of the new Dublin to Nashville[KD1] service, bringing Tennessee’s myriad charms ever closer to our cherished Irish audience, from The Civil Rights Trail to our world-class food and music attractions, while offering yet another convenient gateway to both Tennessee and the Deep South region of the US.”
Ms Jackson added: “From the anniversary celebrations for Elvis, the Grand Ole Opry and Dollywood to big draw events such as Bonnaroo, over in Manchester, a party packed summer awaits Irish visitors across the state. And don’t forget the food. After all, as they say in Tennessee – come hungry; leave satisfied!”Food festivals are an increasingly big draw with international visitors, lauding Tennessee staples such as MoonPies, Banana Pudding and BBQ, supported by popular routes such as the Tennessee Whiskey Trail and Tennessee Wine Trail. Plus, Tennessee is set to star in the Michelin Guide American South later this year.
Ms Jackson said: “Music and food aside, head outdoors and you’ll discover adventure playgrounds such as Ruby Falls, in Chattanooga, and Tennessee’s big draw card, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This as bodies such as Bike Tennessee tempt visitors to take in some of the more ‘off-the-beaten track’ outdoor gems, and hot new hotels invite you to cosy up indoors.”
Standout properties among the latest openings include The Gilmore, in Nashville; Hotel Pontotoc, in Memphis; Hotel Chalet at the Choo Choo, in Chattanooga; and The Timber at Holly Branch, a homely, whole-log boutique hotel in Gatlinburg, in the Smoky Mountains.
How to do it:
Consumers are spoilt for choice, with a wide range of fly-drives taking in the state’s expansive network of Trails and Byways. For example, Tour America offers a nine-night Tennessee Road Trip, departing 14 October 2025, from €1,899pp, based on two adults sharing, including flights. The package features two nights in Knoxville; one night in Chattanooga; three nights in Nashville; and three nights in Memphis. (Call 01 817 3535 and quote ref number 727763).
Escorted tours are plentiful too, with Nashville and Memphis featuring on a wide range of themed music tours in the Deep South. For example, American Holidays’ nine-night Tastes & Sounds of the South is priced from €5,099pp, based on two adults sharing, with dates available from April through October. (Call 01 673 3800 and quote reference number 53382105).
Motorhomes offer another classic way to explore Tennessee, taking advantage of well-appointed spaces such as the new Broken Banjo RV Park, in Manchester.
Meanwhile, non-drivers can take advantage of Vonlane’s plans to extend its luxury coach network, connecting cities such as Nashville and Memphis, with services to Knoxville set to launch by the summer, with the likes of Uber proving handy for short hops such as Nashville to Franklin.
