Residents in North Clare claim they have been left abandoned by a new policy aiming to maximise tourist output in the region.
It comes as Fáílte Ireland and Clare County Council hosted a public consultation last night over the preliminary draft Cliffs Of Moher Strategy for 2040.
With the host community at the heart of the matter, the focus has shifted to a new technique aimed at reducing footfall at the iconic landmark and increasing the visitors stay and spend by providing slow tourism initiatives.
Some of the proposed ‘highlight experiences’ mooted under the strategy include elevated views within cliff edge structures that would enable glass-bottomed viewing opportunities.
The plan also hopes to re-wild the existing area of the eastern R478 car park, which would then be developed with a footbridge to provide an additional ecotourism option
However a Business Owner who has operated next door for the previous 24 years claims the ancillary economy will suffer as a result.
Martin Canavan from Moher Hill Farm believes tourists won’t be likely to spend elsewhere when the attraction develops.
A Fanore resident meanwhile believes his village has been forgotten in the strategy.
So far this year 13% of all busses to have arrived at the Cliffs of Moher have done so on day trip excursions from either Dublin or Galway.
However Colm O’Leary from the Fanore Development Group says the plan has completely neglected the adverse impact facing his community.
Throughout the prior consultation process, the residents of North Clare cited traffic congestion as their number one concern, with 232 submissions.
Clare County Council is due to submit a planning application in the coming months to develop a park and ride facility in Lisdoonvarna which is forecast to reduce private car traffic en-route to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren by up to 50%.
However, Sean Roche from the Kilnaboy Community Development Association believes the measure will do little to prevent tourists using local roads as rat runs, which in his view have become treacherous.
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