NEW TOURIST OFFICE OPENS IN BUNCLODY
BUNCLODY IS well and truly staking its claim as a tourist destination for the South East after officially opening the doors on a brand new tourist office in the town. The office is just part of a major push for the town, which many believe has massive potential in terms of attracting tourists from all over the world.
The tourist office came about as part of the Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) scheme which saw €100,000 granted for investment in Bunclody along with a further €25,000 from Wexford County Council.
‘One of the areas we decided to focus on was tourism,’ said local councillor Barbara Anne Murphy. ‘A sub-committee was set up and then we had great help from Tom Byrne of Enniscorthy Electrical Wholesale. Tom had a vacant shop unit here in town and he agreed to give us the use of it, free of charge, for a year. Not everyone would do that and we’re very grateful.’
What resulted is Bunclody Tourist Office which provides a central hub for any visitors to the town to get information on attractions and activities to see and do locally. The office is completely staffed by volunteers with over 20 people working on two to three hour shifts. Having received some initial training, they now offer advice to tourists on the best heritage sites, scenic drives, picturesque gardens and family activities available locally.
‘We’ve had a great reaction so far,’ said Cllr Murphy, herself a volunteer at the office. ‘It’s a real feel good thing for the town. You’d be surprised just how many visitors we have too. So far we’ve had people call in from Utah in the US, France, the Netherlands, Australia and across the UK.’
Along with all the hard work ongoing at the tourist office, a focus has also been put on the Visit Bunclody website, which is currently being updated to ensure all information is up to date. The hope is that the fruits of this labour, combined with events such as the new Streams of Bunclody Festival, will be more and more visitors flocking to Bunclody in the near future, providing a much welcomed shot in the arm for the local economy.
Bunclody Tourist Office is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. More volunteers are currently being sought. If you have a couple of hours to spare, please contact visitbunclody@gmail.com.