The Mullet peninsula of north Mayo and Ceantar na n-Oileβn or "the islands" in Connemara have been selected for £100,000 pilot projects aimed at boosting coastal tourism.
Mr Cillian Fennell, director of programmes at TG4, has been appointed to chair the group which will look at Ceantar na n-Oileβn, while Mr Liam Twomey of the Galway Atlantaquaria will chair the group established for the Mullet peninsula. The areas were chosen after the Government approved a proposal from the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources for a "major interdepartmental initiative" to develop marine tourism infrastructure.
Representatives of relevant bodies and agencies, including Udarβs na Gaeltachta, the Marine Institute, Ireland West Tourism, Leader and the respective local authorities, have been selected to serve on the groups, which were announced at separate functions by the Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey. The Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands is also contributing. Objectives for both groups include "the development of quality family home accommodation"; the creation of "quality cuisine standards, based on natural and organic locally produced food"; and the development of "traditional living accommodation, tastefully assimilated into the landscape in accordance with the planning guidelines".
The groups have been asked to look at the development of "appropriate indoor health, leisure and thalassotherapy facilities; establishment of a "centre of excellence for Irish traditional music" (although the Gl≤r Irish Music Centre has already opened in Ennis, Co Clare); and the creation of "walking, cycling, horse-riding, angling and outdoor pursuit infrastructure, assimilated into the natural environment".
Both groups have been asked to produce a "tightly focused" business plan, following an audit of existing resources, and the group would then oversee an "integrated investment plan funded by various State agencies".