Clare’s Oireachtas members are being urged to step up efforts to secure funding required to bring the redevelopment of Holy Island over the line.
Tourism providers claim that this month has been the worst July in memory for the sector in parts of East clare, with visitors numbers on a downward spiral.
In 2015, Inis Cealtra on Lough Derg was brought into public ownership when Clare County Council purchased the former monastic settlement.
At that time, ambitious plans were outlined to develop it as “the jewel in the crown” for East Clare, with a visitor centre to be built, and the capacity for around 44,000 visitors a year to come see the island.
Clare County Council has assured that work is ongoing behind the scenes, after €920,000 in funding was awarded under the Rural Regeneration Scheme last February.
Whitegate Fine Gael Councillor Pat Burke says it may be some time before the work is completed, but he insists that plans are progressing.
Despite this update, though, tourism providers are concerned.
Holy Island is near the Scarriff, Mountshannon and Tuamgraney banks of Lough Derg and those living in these villages were hopeful of a significant boost.
But Vera O’Rourke, who runs the Sunrise B&B in Mountshannon, says 2019 is in fact the worst year they can remember in terms of visitor numbers.
Though the plans have yet to come to fruition, Ursula Hogan of the Hawthorn Lodge B&B says it’s important to send out a clear message that Holy Island is still taking visitors.
Now, Clare’s Oireachtas members are being urged to come on board and help out those in the area who are struggling to make ends meet.
Teresa Browne, who runs the Clareville House B&B in nearby Tuamgraney says it’s high time they got the rest of the funding needed to begin promoting Holy Island once and for all.