€6m spent on Lough Derg tourism projects

AN estimated €6 million has been spent by Government agencies on the provision of tourism-related developments at Lough Derg, it emerged this week.
This expenditure represents 40% of the €15m in developments that have been identified for the area by the Lough Derg Working Group.
The group, comprising Shannon Development, Failte Ireland and Waterways Ireland, is working in close co-operation with the relevant local authorities on a strategic plan to enhance visitor facilities in the Lakelands and Inland Waterways Region.
The proposed developments include improvements to harbours, marina developments and on-shore visitor facilities, such as walking and cycling trails.
Some of the projects completed include the recently opened €2m Killaloe Canal Project completed by Waterways Ireland, harbour improvements at Terryglass, Dromineer, Garrykennedy and Ballina and loop walks linked to the Lough Derg Way and East Clare Way, including a new loop walk at Ballycuggeran.
Commenting on the infrastructure developments at Lough Derg, Shannon Development tourism product development manager, Flan Quilligan, said the overall strategy is to bring the whole Lough Derg area up to the standard of an international water park.
This marketing, product and destination development initiative aims to provide a targeted and co-ordinated approach to tourism, recreation and hospitality on the Shannon and Erne catchments, together with a 30 mile corridor on either side.
It is also expected the entire Lough Derg region will benefit from the economic spin-off from Limerick City’s selection as European City of Sport in 2011.
Over the past few years, €409,840 has been spent improving tourism infrastructure in Clare, including €160,131 on Lough Derg, East Clare Angling; €67,255 on Lough Derg Driving Routes; Killaloe Historic Town €50,004; East and Mid Clare Way €45,500; Lough Derg Way €25,000; Ballcuggeran Loop Walk, Killaloe €23,000; East Clare Way €13,203; O’Briensbridge Loop Walks €15,747 and Lough Derg Cycle Route €10,000.
Additional on-shore facilities for day trippers and tourists in South-East Clare need to be developed by tourism agencies such as Fáilte Ireland and Shannon Development, according to Councillor Michael Begley.
Commenting on the launch of Shannon Development’s Lough Derg International Waterpark project in the mid-’90s, Councillor Begley claimed this would have been more successful if there was a bigger emphasis on providing more land-based amenity facilities.
Acknowledging that mooring facilities and marinas in Ballina, Mountshannon, Garrykennedy and Dromineer attract anglers and boating enthusiasts to Lough Derg, Councillor Begley proposed the emphasis of new developments could focus on on-shore recreational and amenity projects.
He cited the example of the O’Briensbridge Community Group, which has included 12 historical artefacts of Limerick navigation in a new heritage guide for the O’Briensbridge National Loop Walks.
Following years of hard work, the group has made these artefacts visible and accessible to locals and visitors alike, thanks to the provision of the loop walks.
Stating the area has plenty of hotels, Councillor Begley suggested new attractions such as more walking trails could be completed without major investment.
Subject to the approval of landowners through negotiations with Waterways Ireland, he proposed the looped walks linking O’Briensbridge to Clonlara could be extended to join up with Limerick City.
Welcoming the provision of the new €2m mooring in Killaloe, he added that when boat owners visit the lakeside town, they aren’t presented with a comprehensive package of tourism attractions in the locality.
Councillor Pat Burke said it was a pity the new moorings in Killaloe weren’t provided 10 years ago when there was a much larger volume of traffic on Lough Derg. He felt boat owners who are hiring vessels on Lough Derg are unlikely to stay four or five nights in the one place.
Despite the number of attractions, he said tourism agencies need to spend more on marketing and promotion to help accommodation providers generate more business.