Heritage towns such as Athenry will be hampered from their ability to attract tourists in a post Covid-19 environment as Transport Infrastructure Ireland policy does not include signage promoting such towns on the national road network.
This is the view of Galway East Sinn Féin representative Louis O'Hara, who secured 16.7 per cent of first preference votes at the February General Election, and who lasted until the eighth and final count.
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TII has confirmed to Mr O'Hara that its Tourist and Leisure Signage policy does not provide for signage identifying towns as heritage towns on the national road network. As a result, he is calling on the Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and TII to review this policy.
"It would raise awareness of heritage towns such as Athenry and attract tourists to the town who otherwise would have been unaware of Athenry’s rich history," he said. "The current policy puts Athnery at a disadvantage. There is huge frustration among local people that Athenry is not reaching its tourism potential."
