Welcome for ‘world class’ facilities for two beaches
THE selection of Enniscrone and Rosses Point as two out of 22 locations that will share in a new €19 million Fáilte Ireland investment to provide new facilities for outdoor water-based activities at both beaches has been welcomed locally.
Each new centre will provide hot showers, changing and toilet facilities, secure storage, induction spaces, equipment washdown and orientation points and Failte Ireland say they are intended to “improve the user experience to a whole new level”.
The new centres will be fully wheelchair accessible and built using sustainable materials such as solar heating panels to meet ‘nearly zero energy building standards’.
The new facilities are also to be provided at Tullan Strand in Bundoran and Acres Lake, Drumshanbo.
Launching the new plan,
Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin said the significant increase in people enjoying outdoor water-based activities such as kayaking, surfing, paddle-boarding and open water swimming is expected to continue to grow year on year, and not just during the summer months. This means all-weather changing facilities, secure storage and bathrooms at beaches and inland water spots will be in huge demand.
Welcoming the centres for Rosses Point and Enniscrone, Minister for State at the Department of Health and local Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan said: “It is clear for all who visit County Sligo’s two leading beaches to swim and to do other outdoor water activity that the facilities in the area are just not up to scratch and that they have needed investment for some time.
“I am delighted to learn that and Fáilte Ireland are announcing a major new investment scheme that will be used to build world-class facility centres at Rosses Point and Enniscrone.”
Dr Bláithín Gallagher, local constituency spokesperson the Green Party described it as “absolutely fantastic news” and said the new facilities “will benefit local people and tourists alike” and the enhanced facilities “will also be greatly valued by local businesses “as this provision will increase footfall to these beautiful areas”.
“The restrictions applied during the Covid-19 pandemic have taught us all the value of outdoor activities. There has been a great increase in water-based activities with sea swimming on a year round basis becoming an extremely popular activity.” Dr Gallagher said that the enhancement of outdoor recreation facilities “has been a dream of many of us in the green movement and it is wonderful to see our dreams come true”.
Also welcoming the new centres, cathaoirleach of Sligo Drumcliffe Municipal District, Cllr Thomas Walsh said: “The current facility at Rosses Point is not fit for purpose nor is it wheelchair friendly. I raised the issue of the condition of the Rosses Point toilet facilities back in September 2020 through a notice of motion and had asked Sligo County Council to make application to modernise the facility.
“Indeed, in order for Rosses Point to keep its blue flag status the toilet facilities needed to become wheelchair friendly. Earlier this year I again raised the issues with the toilet facility.”