The Wild Atlantic Way bid by council

KILRUSH town councillor Liam Williams has urged Clare County Council to direct tourist traffic emerging from the Killimer-Tarbert ferry to drive to Kilrush via Aylevaroo and Cappa before arriving the town. Currently the vast majority of tourist traffic, which heads west from the ferry, arrives in Kilrush via Moore Street. At the September meeting of Kilrush Town Council, Councillor Williams asked that the coastal drive, which has stunning views of Scattery Island, be promoted with appropriate signage.

“This route should be developed into a West Clare Drive and incorporated into The Wild Atlantic Way Project,” he suggested.

Councillor Williams also suggested that Kilrush Town Council make “a substantial and considered submission to Fáilte Ireland before the deadline of October 12 in relation to the proposed Wild Atlantic Way Project.”
The Wild Atlantic Way is a proposed 1,400km tourist route between Donegal and West Cork.

“Kilrush is the main town in the Wild Atlantic route in Clare. As a town council it is important that we, as a major stakeholder, make submission to Fáilte Ireland outlining the importance of adhering to the route along the Atlantic coast,” he stressed.

“This development will have huge potential to develop tourism in Kilrush and West Clare and increase and sustain job opportunities in the tourism sector,” he said.

“Fáilte Ireland envisage that the overall objective of the project is to develop a driving route that is of sufficient scale and singularity to achieve greater visibility in both overseas and domestic markets. Fáilte Ireland want the Wild Atlantic Way to become synonymous with the west coast and for it to achieve the same international recognition as the Great Ocean Road in Australia or the Garden Route in South Africa,” he said.
Councillor Williams proposal was unanimously supported by his council colleagues.

“I think it’s a no brainer really. Anyone that takes the scenic drive or walk around Aylevaroo can see how attractive it is. For a long time in this council we’ve been trying to direct traffic out there. For one reason or another we’ve been told that we can’t do it but if we can do it by developing this project it would be a huge boost to tourism,” Councillor Liam O’Looney said.

Kilrush town clerk John Corry also supported the proposal but said that town engineer, Derek Troy had concerns about large buses using the route.

“With regard to Aylevaroo, the town engineer has suggested that it can be considered although he has reservations with regard to coaches using that particular route because of the width of it. He has no problem with cars or cyclists. I believe that a decision is going to be made as regards the recommended Wild Atlantic route sometime towards the end of October,” he said.  

“I think it’s vital that we maximise what we have here. A number of coaches are using it at the moment. If you’re here on a Thursday morning, two buses pull up every Thursday and they’re coming in that road from the ferry. We’re sitting idly by watching a massive asset,” Councillor Williams replied.