Harnessing the past for future gain
NEW COMMUNITY-LED HERITAGE STRATEGY FOR LISTOWEL LAUNCHED
A NEW strategy has been launched to provide for a brighter future for Listowel by improving its historic and natural jewels.
The Listowel Heritage and Community-Led Regeneration Strategy was launched at the Lartigue Monorail on Thursday - no better place given the project’s exemplary development of an historic curio which has supported tourism in North Kerry.
The new strategy - an 18-point roadmap for improving the town’s built and natural heritage - is now set to pave the way for funding opportunities and was launched amid a renewed commitment by Kerry County Council to the heritage and economy of the town.
“In County Kerry, our heritage is one of our greatest assets and motivates our sense of civic pride and contributes to the county’s economic success on many levels,” Kerry County Council Chief Executive Moira Murrell said at Thursday’s launch.
The new plan is all about enhancing existing attractions for tourists and residents, setting out a number of initiatives in areas such as streetscapes, marketing and online promotion of the town, the establishment of a Chamber Alliance, the improvement of walking and cycling facilities and the promotion of existing assets like the River Feale, the Seanchaí and the North Kerry Heritage Trail.
The Council has already started working on some of the projects identified under the new strategy and is looking to ‘co-funding’ mechanisms with other agencies and bodies to see other projects realised in the coming months and years.
“Our heritage reflects our values, beliefs, customs, traditions and aspirations. It enhances the local distinctiveness of our communities, landscapes and culture. I am delighted that Kerry County Council is continuing to expand its suite of policies in relation to heritage and historic town regeneration and strongly advocating the need for a strategic and co-ordinated approach to conserving, enhancing and promoting our county’s heritage,” Ms Murrell added.
She said that Kerry County Council is firmly ‘committed’ to ensuring that Listowel is full potential as a Heritage Town is realised and that it continues to operate as an economically viable centre of commercial and social activity for the north Kerry area.
Kerry County Council Heritage Officer TJ Mahony meanwhile said the strategy was fully dependant on the input of locals:
“Throughout the course of developing the strategy, the input of local people was fundamental. As each of the projects outlined by the strategy is advanced, this collaborative and partnership approach will continue, harnessing the knowledge, commitment and passion of local people at every stage.”