Funding for a number of new community improvement schemes for the Cill Chomain area was announced this week by Minister for Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, and the Minister for Communications, Energy, and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan. It is estimated that these projects will cost up to €750,000, which will be provided by several state bodies, including the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Fáilte Ireland and Mayo County Council.
The projects include a number of tourism projects such as extending the existing North Mayo Coastal Trail, comprising an 80 km coastal linear trail from Belmullet to Ballycastle and linking loop walks at Ceathrú Thaidhg, Ceann Iorrais, Slí na Sláinte and Glinsce. Also included is the development of a linear cycle route from Belmullet to Ballycastle, with associated cycle loops, as part of the proposed National Cycle Network through North Mayo, and the provision of bilingual information boards at a number of tourist sites in the area and providing improved visitor facilities at six strategic nature watch points in the Cill Chomáin area, including signage, car parking and hide/watch locations. In addition, beach facilities at Trá Phort an Chlóidh (Portacloy Beach ), will include improvements to car park, provision of information area, seating, and toilet facilities.
They also announced a number of village enhancement schemes for several villages in the area: An tInbhear, Poll an tSómais, Ros Dumhach, An Corrán Buí, Ceathrú Thaidhg. The works will involve footpaths, landscaping, lighting, and related improvements. Also, which will come as a major boost to the people in the area, there will be money for planning work for the development of the R312 Belmullet to Castlebar road, which is a priority for the wider Erris area.
