Wild Atlantic Way has been a master-stroke in promoting coast

SIR,

The Wild Atlantic Way is making a huge economic impact on the west of Ireland from Greencastle to Kinsale. Fáilte Ireland has revealed that the Wild Atlantic Way is generating more than €3 billion per annum in tourist revenue for businesses along the western seaboard and is now providing 125,000 jobs along Ireland’s first defined tourist route.

While Fáilte Ireland may have launched the Wild Atlantic Way, the tourist route has its origins in a spontaneous comment by Michael Ring T.D. when he was extolling the rugged beauty of the west of Ireland in one of his fiery speeches.

Deputy Ring, whom I’ve never met, was an outstanding Minister for Rural Affairs, with a passion for sustainable rural development. He deserves great credit for energising community groups and local rural entrepreneurs along the western seaboard. While the Government continues to develop the Wild Atlantic Way, Deputy Ring’s brain child of utilising the tourist and business potential of the western seaboard to create jobs and leisure facilities has reawakened the west.

Marketing the Wild Atlantic Way at home and abroad has swelled visitor numbers, particularly in aqua-tourism and coastal leisure activities. Deputy Ring’s policy of cementing new partnerships between local authorities and local communities along the western coast has worked the oracle.

Tourism in Kerry has benefited from a huge influx of active leisure enthusiasts. In my own locality, the recently opened Tralee/ Fenit Greenway, the ongoing development of the Blueway, the exciting new range of aqua leisure activities and, above all, the imminent restoration of the open water diving boards by Fenit Development Association, in conjunction with Kerry County Council, has converted the area into a thriving mecca of tourist activity.

Sincerely,

Billy Ryle’

Spa,

Tralee.