The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Blueways key to Dingle Peninsula as Ireland’s first maritime tourism strategy is launched
THE development of village blueways is among the key actions highlighted in a marine tourism strategy launched, described as the first of its kind for Ireland, for the Dingle Peninsula in recent days.
The strategy has zoned in on a number of areas such as developing blueway trails at the peninsula’s coastal villages, water-based activities, and promoting the peninsula as a destination for marine-based activities. It also hopes to develop onshore activities such as greenways, heritage trails, seafood trails, and art and culture-related matters in conjunction with its marine strategies.
Also among potential opportunities identified is the development of holiday and activity packages, and encouraging experiences highlighting the Gaeltacht-links of the region.
The strategy was developed over the course of a six-week consultation process and takes in all of the peninsula’s communities.
It is hoped village blueways will highlight the characters of these communities and achieve a number of objectives such as increasing the number of bed nights in these villages, extending the tourism season locally, and spreading tourism throughout the peninsula and beyond the region’s main hub, Dingle town.
It has placed particular attention on some of the re- gion’s smaller communities in identifying eight locations. “Blueways would basically be a loop trail with a starting point and a finish point. We’ve identified eight locations. We’d be looking to pilot some in Castlegregory, the Maharees, and Dingle Marina,” Tom O’Leary explained.
“We’re going to pilot them where there’s already infrastructure in place such as piers, car-parking facilities, and providers for activities such as kayaking, as there is in Dingle and Castlegregory. In Inch, you’d already have a lot of surfing in place. Basically, it’s where there is infrastructure, shelter and service providers in place.
“A blue way trail is a kayaking or stand up paddle board trail on the water and is usually a looped trail.”
It is subject to national guidelines. The blueways, which also include locations such as Cé Bhréanainn, Feothanach, Wine Strand, Cuan Pier, and Minn Áird Castle.
FLAG (fisheries local action groups) South West supported Dingle Peninsula Tourism in developing the marine tourism strategy ahead of its recent launch by Minister Brendan Griffin TD.
FLAG is a community-led local development initiative for fisheries and aquaculture-dependent communities, run in conjunction with Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), with funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. Grant aid of almost €23,750, bringing total investments to just shy of €30,000.
As well as seeking out new opportunities to stimulate the local economies, the DPTA hopes to support existing businesses and help them develop.
“The Dingle Peninsula has some of the best beaches in the country if not Europe for water based activities,” a Dingle Peninsula Tourism Alliance’s [DPTA] Caroline Boland said.
“The coastline has spectacular scenery and is enriched with heritage, culture, the Irish language and history. There is a long tradition of fishing and maritime culture on the peninsula and this will be showcased in a more connected way as the strategy is implemented.”