Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, this week welcomed the news that a letter of offer from Fáilte Ireland has been approved for the Wild Atlantic Way discovery point at Keem Bay.
The letter of offer to Mayo County Council outlines €150,000 in technical assistance for the design of the Wild Atlantic Way discovery point and associate works at Keem Bay.
Minister Ring said: “This is exciting news for Achill. This letter of offer will enable Mayo County Council to begin the design phase of the Wild Atlantic Way discovery point at Keem Bay. This is important in helping to realise the discovery point at Keem Bay which would help attract more people to Achill and would bring more visitors to Keel and Dooagh which are on the route to Keem Bay.”
The letter of offer is based on a 75 per cent contribution from Fáilte Ireland and a 25 per cent contribution on the part of Mayo County Council, for a total potential investment of €200,000. The works are subject to planning and all environmental considerations.
The Minister said: “As Minister for Sport and Tourism, I was responsible for the rollout and promotion of the Wild Atlantic Way and I’m proud of the economic and social impact it has had, not just in Mayo, but all along the western seaboard.
"The Government has strongly supported initiatives such as the Wild Atlantic Way and the Great Western Greenway, which have helped create jobs locally and improve people’s quality of life.
The Discovery Point at Keem Bay was first announced in 2015 and over the past few years local Fianna Fáil councillor Paul McNamara has questioned on a number of occasions the status of the project at local Municipal District meetings of the West Mayo area and at county council level. A public information day was held in 2015, where 200 people attended. The plan for the discovery point is to construct a glass viewing platform overhanging the Atlantic Ocean near the old Coastguard station at Keem Bay.
