West Clare Task Force conducting signage survey

IN a report to last week’s Kilrush Town Council meeting on the progress made by the West Clare Task Force committee, Kilrush and Kilkee Town Manager Nora Kaye said a survey is being conducted on how to improve signage from Killimer Car Ferry towards the Loop Head peninsula.

“A survey is currently underway of all tourist signage, which exists at present from the Killimer Car Ferry and around the entire peninsula. It is very clear that the existing signage is of mixed standard in terms of information. Some signs are in existence for a considerable time and need to be re-erected,” Nora Kaye said.
The town manager said existing maps, websites and other marketing paraphernalia would also be “examined” adding that events in West Clare need to actively marketed.
She also said a number of tourist attractions in West Clare including the Vandeleur Walled Garden and Scattery Island need to be highlighted more.
In conclusion, Nora Kaye said a working group including representatives from Kilrush Town Council, Clare County Council, Shannon Development and Clare County Council be established immediately. Their task will be to report on “actions for 2011”, actions for 2011 to 2015 and on the resources to deliver upon their plan.
In July 2010, the West Clare Task Force produced a six-point plan with a view to stimulating the West Clare economy over the next five years
Last July’s report launch undertook that some of the aims would be achieved inside 12 months.
One of the proposals was to establish a Kilrush-based West Clare Tourism Centre, which would act as a one-stop shop for tourism in the region. Kilrush Town Council was described in the report as the “lead agency” with regard to the establishment of the tourism centre.
In the report, Kilrush Town Council was also given responsibility for the provision of tourism information boards in West Clare, the provision of a telescope at Loop Head and the marketing of historical sites.
Clare County Council undertook to head up a two to five-year plan to develop Loop Head lighthouse in Kilbaha as a major tourist attraction. Areas of potential, which were to be worked on included the provision of parking and road maintenance at the Bridges of Ross, shore-based dolphin watching at Loop Head, along with designated walking, cycling and hiking options. Amongst the other proposals is to carry out an evaluation of existing business accommodation in West Clare and to market the premises to prospective entrepreneurs.
The West Clare Economic Task Force includes several agencies in Clare, including Clare County Council, Kilrush Town Council, Kilkee Town Council, Shannon Development, Kilrush Chamber of Commerce, Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, Clare Local Development Company, FÁS, Clare County Enterprise Board, Clare Vocational Education Committee and Enterprise Ireland.
The committee was chaired at the time by Councillor Christy Curtin.