Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Deputy Michelle Mulherin, has welcomed the extended opening season for the Ceide Fields. This follows the announcement by Minister of State with Special Responsibility for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes TD of opening arrangements for this year stretching from Easter until after Halloween.
Deputy Mulherin stated: “ Last year, much to the surprise of those involved in tourism and development in North Mayo, the attraction was scheduled to close prior to the busy Halloween break period. Following on from a number of representations by myself to Minister Hayes, he extended the 2011 season to allow it to open for the busy October Bank Holiday weekend and Halloween. I am delighted to confirm that this year the Minister has taken this on board and that the season will run from Thursday April 5 until Sunday November 4.
“The Céide Fields is a wonderful attraction and we have every reason to be proud of it. As well as being a top tourist venue, it is an important historical location. This has been recognised by the Government, having nominated it for consideration as a World Heritage Site. If the application is successful, the number of visitors should rocket.
“The excellent Interpretative Centre and the surrounding countryside offers something for everyone. Visitors are introduced to how our ancestors came to this part of the world and how they managed to survive in a sometimes hostile environment; it is easy to be captivated by the tales of the expert guides and to see at first-hand how an advanced civilisation grew up in North Mayo thousands of years ago. Its importance to our heritage and as a looking glass into our past cannot be emphasised enough.
“As the centrepiece of an area that has some of the most stunning views in the world, the Céide Fields offers enormous potential for tourism development. Visitors can easily find solitude away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Nature lovers can observe habitats containing a vast array of flora and fauna and it is a perfect stopping off point for walkers and cyclists.
“The announcement of the extended season is welcome news and should provide a much needed boost to the Céide Fields and to North Mayo. I would like to thank everyone involved in the Céide Fields for keeping it as one of our foremost tourist attractions. It is their hard work that makes it an attraction that continues to draw visitors from near and far. I will continue to do my bit to ensure that this region gets its fair share of the resources that are needed so that it remains an attractive destination for tourists.”
