No tourism information point sign supplied

TUESDAY’S July meeting of Kilrush Town Council heard that the proprietors of Crotty’s public house in Kilrush have to supply identifiable outdoor signage and display units for tourism information themselves. This is despite the fact that they operate a Fáilte Ireland Tourism Information Point. Neither Kilrush or Kilkee have full-time tourism offices this year due to cutbacks.

Rebecca Brew, who runs Crotty’s with her husband, Kevin Clancy, attended the town council meeting to fill members in on the development of the Kilrush Heritage Trail.

However, she also made mention of the dearth of signage supplied by Fáilte Ireland, which would help to indicate that a tourism information point is now located in the pub.

“In terms of signage, they’ve supplied me with an A5 plastic sign, which is completely inadequate. I’m led to believe that’s all they are supplying. The stands they have made available are also completely inadequate. I will source those myself but I would have thought that the sign for the outside would be supplied,” Ms Brew said.

“We’re trying to provide a service and the staff are really happy to do it. They all have done familiarisation trips but the sad fact is that there isn’t €100 [from Fáilte Ireland] to support a sign. I would be happy to complete the sign myself but it’s a sad reflection,” she added.

“Could I volunteer that I’ll sponsor a sign?” Councillor Tom Prendeville interjected.

He also repeated a comment made at the June town council meeting, which he said the local media had not picked up on.

“Enterprise Ireland give €150,000 to the Royal Dublin Horse Show in sponsorship. I said it the last night and it was ignored. It wasn’t carried in the papers and I want to know why?” Councillor Prendeville asked.

Later in the meeting, Councillor Ian Lynch also expressed his displeasure at the absence of funding.

“It’s disgraceful. This is a national body to promote tourism,” he commented.

In May 2012, the Government decided to merge a restructured Shannon Development with the new Shannon Airport company. As part of the reorganisation, Shannon Development’s tourism remit has transferred to Fáilte Ireland’s offices in Limerick.

At the June town council meeting, Kilrush marketing and development officer Siobhán Garvey suggested that if councillors want to meet with Fáilte Ireland personnel that they write to their office in Limerick.

Earlier in her statement, Ms Garvey said that at a meeting attended by herself and Ger Dollard, with Fáilte Ireland and Shannon Development, it had been noted that tourist offices are unprofitable.

“It was reported that tourist information offices nationally are not profitable and that the numbers using these offices have been falling drastically year on year. Given the increased use of smart phones and apps, it is felt by Fáilte Ireland that the new model to provide tourism information is by way of tourist information points, which can be placed in existing businesses,” Ms Garvey explained.