The possibility of a unique underwater museum located in Killala Bay moved a step closer this week with the confirmation of funding for a feasibility study into the project.
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership and Moy Valley Resources IRD welcomed the recent announcement of LEADER funding (through Mayo LAG ) for the River Moy Search and Rescue group to conduct the study that examines the development of the attraction.
The first of its kind in Ireland, the underwater museum proposes the use of Irish maritime themed statues as a diving attraction with the main dive site based off the coast of Mayo.
The underwater museum would be a unique and unusual tourist attraction that utilises the often under marketed North Mayo Coastline and would offer a brand-new tourism product to attract a larger audience to the region. A similar underwater museum/dive site ‘Museo Atlantico’ was developed in Lanzarote and has proven to be very beneficial to local divers and a popular tourist attraction.
LEADER Development Officer at Moy Valley Resources IRD, Kim Merrifield said, “We worked with River Moy Search and Rescue on a previous successful LEADER project that secured equipment for them to tackle water-based litter on the river Moy. We are delighted to work with them and MNELP again to secure LEADER funding for this intriguing study.”
Mayo North East LEADER Manager, James Golden said: “This study is hopefully just the starting point for bringing this project to fruition. The development of an underwater museum will not only have significant environment and water conservation benefits but will also draw tourists to the area”.
