Community consultation on future of post-bypass Macroom

FOLLOWING the announcement of the go-ahead of the N22 bypass of Macroom last month, representatives of local companies and community organisations have been invited to the first of a series of meetings to discuss the opportunities for future development in the post-bypass era.

The meeting has been called by the Macroom Municipal Council and will be held on Wednesday next, December 11, at the Macroom E- Centre from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

The aim is to open discussions about the prospects for promoting Macroom and the hinterland, which includes the Múscraí Gaeltacht, after the bypass of Macroom and Baile Mhúirne is completed in 2023.

While the N22 bypass announcement was welcomed locally as it heralds the end of lengthy traffic jams in the town centre, the prospect of much less traffic taking the option to go through the town and onward to Baile Mhúirne on the way to Kerry, ensuring people come to visit the town and hinterland, is a challenge companies and local organisations will have to face.

On the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting are talks from Macroom Municipal Senior Executive Officer for Muncipal District Operations and Rural Development, Nicola Radley. Also on is an address on the tourism potential of Macroom and its hinterland by Seamus Heaney of Visit Cork, the joint venture between Cork City and County Councils behind the ‘Pure Cork’ website and branding. Essential for the promotion of towns is a mastery of the social media, and a guide in getting the best out of Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as well as other emerging platforms such as TikTok.

And while Macroom and Múscraí are both well inland from the Wild Atlantic Way, the area is on the route, and Don Colbert from Fáilte Ireland will be speaking about the possible opportunities to attract Wild Atlantic Way holiday makers to take some time to divert to Macroom.

Wednesday’s meeting is intended to be the first in a series of meetings which will be held in the town and surrounding district in the New Year.

Work is expected to get underway on the bypass early in 2020 also.