Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how thechosenlandchronicles (thechosenlandchronicles Limited) collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you visit our website and use our services. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and handling your data with transparency and care. Your trust is important to us, and we take our responsibility seriously.

Who We Are and What We Do

We operate heritage walking tours and guided experiences in Kilkenny, including the Medieval Mile and visits to the historic Rothe House gardens. Our services are designed for visitors of all ages, with particular attention to senior participants. When you interact with us—whether booking a tour, contacting us for information, or visiting our website—we may collect certain personal information.

Information We Collect

We collect information in several ways:

• Contact Information: When you contact us via email or phone, we collect your name, email address, phone number, and message content.
• Booking Information: If you book a tour, we collect details such as your name, contact information, date of visit, group size, and any accessibility requirements.
• Website Usage Data: We collect information about how you interact with our website, including pages visited, time spent, and referring sources.
• Device Information: We may collect information about the device you use to access our site, including browser type and operating system.
• Cookies: We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and understand site usage patterns.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you provide information through contact forms or booking requests, you consent to our processing of that data.
• Legitimate Interest: We have a legitimate interest in understanding how visitors use our website to improve our services and security.
• Contract Performance: When you book a tour, we process your information to fulfil the booking agreement and provide the services you've requested.
• Legal Obligation: We may process data to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

• To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• To process and manage tour bookings and reservations
• To send confirmation emails and tour details
• To improve our website, tours, and services based on usage patterns
• To enhance accessibility for participants with specific needs
• To maintain website security and prevent fraud
• To comply with legal obligations

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy. Here are our specific retention periods:

• Contact Form Enquiries: We retain messages for up to 24 months after your last interaction with us, to maintain a record of communications and respond to follow-up questions.
• Tour Booking Information: We keep booking records for up to 36 months for accounting, tax, and customer service purposes.
• Website Analytics and Cookie Data: Analytics information is retained for up to 12 months to monitor website performance and user behaviour trends.
• Server Logs: Technical logs are retained for up to 12 months for security and troubleshooting purposes.

After these periods, we securely delete or anonymise your information. If you request deletion of your data earlier, we will comply unless legal obligations require us to retain it.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and track website usage. We use both essential cookies (required for site functionality) and analytical cookies (to understand visitor behaviour). You can control cookie settings through your browser, though disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality. For detailed information about our cookie practices, please see our Cookie Policy.

Your Rights

Under data protection laws, you have the following rights:

• Right of Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal requirements.
• Right to Data Portability: You can request your information in a structured, commonly used format.
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can ask us to limit how we use your information in certain circumstances.
• Right to Object: You can object to certain types of processing, including marketing communications.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include encrypted data transmission, secure storage systems, and restricted access to personal information. However, no method of transmission over the internet is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. We encourage you to protect your passwords and report any security concerns to us immediately.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites and services that are not operated by us. This Privacy Policy applies only to our website and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites before providing your personal information.

Children's Privacy

Our services are designed for visitors of all ages. If we learn that we have collected personal information from children under 13 without parental consent, we will delete such information promptly. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided information to us should contact us immediately.

Your Rights and Complaints

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority for data protection in Ireland, the Data Protection Commission (DPC), if you believe we have violated your privacy rights. The DPC can be contacted at www.dataprotection.ie or through your local office. We encourage you to contact us first to resolve any concerns, but you always have the right to lodge a formal complaint with the authority.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Last updated" date. Your continued use of our website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy. We recommend reviewing this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.