It’s hoped the promotion of the new Lough Derg Blueway will mean East Clare will be able to provide some competition for the Wild Atlantic Way in attracting visitors.
Business owners and stakeholders from communities around the lake are coming together in Killaloe today to work together on putting tourism packages in place, ahead of the official launch on March 6th.
From Killaloe, Clare FM’s James Mulhall has this report:
Lough Derg’s upgrade to blueway status is the culmination of a year-long project led by the county councils in Clare, Tipperary and Galway as well as Waterways Ireland and the Lough Derg Marketing Group.
Blueways are a network of multi-activity trails based around lakes and rivers, which see canoe, bike and walking trails promoted as a tourism product.
This will mark the first one in Clare and Deirdre O’Shea of the rural development section of Clare County Council hopes a strong product will be in place for this tourist season.
Among today’s key speakers is entrepreneur Bobby Kerr, who says there’s a wealth of opportunity for local business owners.
He is encouraged by the joined up approach to promoting Lough Derg and the surrounding areas and says it puts the area in a good place to provide some healthy competition for the West coast.
The predominant message from today’s event is one of positivity for the Lough Derg Blueway – but it has also led to some concern over the economy in East Clare.
Former Ireland rugby international Keith Wood, who is a native of Killaloe, is hopeful that the project will be a success.
But he also believes that without a boost for employment and connectivity to the region, it’ll be a tough nut to crack.
And with local stakeholders now working together to promote the Blueway ahead of its official launch in a fortnight’s time, Travel Editor with the Irish Independent Pól Ó Conghaile is urging people not to let the marketing slip after the initial buzz.
