Fáilte Ireland launches plan to drive tourism in West Cork

A FÁILTE IRELAND plan to drive tourism in West Cork from Mizen Head to the Múscraí Gaeltacht over the next five years was launched in Rosscarbery’s Celtic Ross Hotel on Thursday.

The West Cork and Kenmare Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) aims to create a sustainable tourism destination by extending the tourism season and spreading business across all parts of the region.

The plan builds on a number of existing destination development projects including improved facilities for walking, hiking, and water activities, the implementation of the Beara Breifne Way Masterplan, and the Kinsale start/end of the Wild Atlantic Way.

The Food in Tourism Action Plan aims to position West Cork and Kenmare as a premier national and international artisan food and drink destination. The DEDP also has plans to develop an integrated transport system and all-weather experiences to help extend the length of the season.

At the plan’s launch, Fáilte Ireland director of regional development Paul Keeley said the document featured key priority projects that would secure the tourism offering across the region, including the Béara Breifne Way Masterplan, the Food in Tourism Action Plan, and the development of outdoor and al-weather experiences in the region.

“We are confident this DEDP has the potential to significantly increase West Cork and Kenmare’s domestic and international appeal, and grow the economy to create sustainable, high-quality jobs in the sector that will serve to support and strengthen local communities,” said Mr Keeley.

For the first time, the Gaeltacht community of Múscraí, which includes one of Ireland’s most visited attractions, Gougane Barra, has been included in a Fáilte Ireland plan. The document incorporates a plan developed by a local tourism ‘meitheal’ which was established under the auspices of the Múscraí Gaeltacht development co-operative, Comharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí. Under the plan routes through the Gaeltacht villages of Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh and Baile Mhúirne will be promoted as ‘a gateway’ to West Cork.

Gougane Barra Hotel proprietor Niall Lucey is the joint chairman of the West Cork/Kenmare DEDP group alongside Des O’Dowd of the Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa. In a joint statement, they said they were committed to the successful completion of the plan, which they said aimed to grow the “year-round economic value of tourism in West Cork and Kenmare”.