Guinness Storehouse has been named Ireland's number one tourist attraction in its first year of operation by Tourism Development International (TDI).

TDI's independent research shows that the four-acre, six-storey visitor attraction, which centres around a huge pint glass atrium, will attract 570,000 overseas visitors in 2001. This is well ahead of other tourist attractions such as Bunratty Castle and the Book of Kells at Trinity College in Ireland.

Situated in the centre of Dublin, the Guinness Storehouse offers visitors a chance to hear the history of Guinness on an interactive tour, find out about the 50 countries where Guinness is brewed and experience a pint in the Gravity Bar in the sky.

'This is a great achievement in what has been a difficult year for tourism,' said head of sales and marketing at Guinness Storehouse, Mary Clark. 'In addition we have had close to 100,000 visitors who have used the Learning Centre and corporate entertainment facilities throughout the year.'