Údarás na Gaeltachta announce €120,000 funding boost for tourism development in Corca Dhuibhne

The €120,000 funding boost announced by Údarás na Gaeltachta today (8/5/18) for the development of strategic tourism projects on the Corca Dhuibhne Peninsula will add to the effect of the tourism industry on every village in the peninsula. Under the Tourism Management Development Scheme approved by the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta in June 2017 support has been granted for two tourism initiatives in Corca Dhuibhne – Comhaontas Turasóireachta Chorca Dhuibhne and Coiste Shlí Chorca Dhuibhne.

The grant support of €60,000 over a two year period approved for each of these strategic tourism projects will assist them in creating a post so as to enhance their project development, marketing and operational management capabilities. These two tourism posts that are being created will help in ensuring that the cultural and natural resources of the area are developed for the maximum benefit possible including festivals such as this weekend’s very successful Féile na Bealtaine and ‘May the Fourth’ Festival.

Support under the scheme has been approved for two individual projects in Corca Dhuibhne:

Coiste Shlí Chorca Dhuibhne:
To support the development and sustainable management of the Slí Chorca Dhuibhne walking route, building on the valuable natural resource that is available in this Gaeltacht area. Slí Chorca Dhuibhne is a national way-signed walking route 178km in length which is to be developed as a central part of the tourism industry in the region. It is intended that the Tourism Officer would be employed to assist the committee and stakeholders in managing and upgrading Slí Chorca Dhuibhne to a world standard and to identify new walking routes in conjunction with local groups.

Comhaontas Turasóireachta Chorca Dhuibhne:
To support the Comhaontas in developing new tourism packages, tours and experiences referencing strong Gaeltacht, linguistic and cultural themes as well as the Wild Atlantic Way throughout the Corca Dhuibhne peninsula. Among the Comhaontas’ main aims is the development of the tourism sector outside of the Summer season to attract tourists to the peninsula throughout the year and therefore to create fulltime posts in the industry. They hope to attract visitors to spend longer periods in the area and especially in small villages outside of Daingean Uí Chúis.

An open call towards the end of 2017 invited applications from strategic Gaeltacht tourism initiatives for the Tourism Management Development Scheme. The successful initiatives may use this support in relation to development, marketing and operational management capabilities according to the project’s requirements and development stage. A formal training programme will also be established in conjunction with third level institutes.

Údarás na Gaeltachta’s CEO Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh said “Following the excellent weekend for tourism that has just passed in Corca Dhuibhne, we are delighted to be in a position to provide funding support for two strategic Gaeltacht tourism initiatives today under our Tourism Management Development Scheme. We are very grateful also of the cooperation we have with Kerry County Council, Fáilte Ireland and other stakeholders in developing tourism in West Kerry. Working hand in hand we hope to develop this management resource and to ensure that the appropriate essential skills for the management of tourism projects are developed and available in Gaeltacht areas.”