Mention "foot-and-mouth crisis" to a tourism operator in the south-east, and they may start fondly reminiscing about the good old days.
The region took less of a battering than others last year because of its high dependence on the domestic market and relatively low reliance on business from the United States. After a bad summer in 2001, an autumn surge in domestic visitors saved the day.
It is that same dependence on Irish custom, however, that has been the biggest problem for many operators this year, with the bad weather having a devastating effect.
Mr Martin O'Dwyer, who set up the Cashel Folk Village in Co Tipperary 18 years ago, says business has never been as bad. "I hope I'm wrong, but I think it's going to be a disaster of a year," he says. "The local bed-and-breakfasts will tell you, if it wasn't for some major building work going on in the area, which is bringing workers in, they would be in big trouble."
The variety of visitors the village normally gets is reflected by its guidebook, printed in seven languages. Mr O'Dwyer has noticed a particular decline in the number of tourists from Germany, a trend which began before this year.
"I don't know what the reason is, but I think the value of the euro has a lot to do with it. They can see that they do not get as much for their euro here."
Mr Terry O'Brien, who runs the café at the Lory Meagher Homestead and Kilkenny GAA Museum in Tullaroan, says things are "ticking over" but business is certainly down on last year.
Despite the decline, South East Tourism has no plans for a mid-season promotion campaign. Mr Joe Palmer, the organisation's chief executive, says it doesn't have any additional money to invest and a campaign at this stage would not have a significant impact.
