Following similar proposals in Ballina and then Westport, Castlebar is to look to obtain Purple Flag status. Sinn Fein councillor Therese Ruane was to propose a motion calling for the town to apply for Purple Flag status at last night’s meeting of Castlebar Town Council (Thursday, February 20 ).
The Purple Flag recognises towns as a safe, clean, and friendly place to socialise in. Cllr Ruane said: “This would be of great benefit to Castlebar, putting ourselves out there as a clean welcoming town with a variety of entertainment and activities to offer visitors to the our town. To date, Dublin and Ennis have achieved this Purple Flag status. Many other towns and cities are in the process of achieving this including Ballina, Westport, Galway here in the west. There are many benefits to being awarded the Purple Flag. It raises the profile of the town, increases tourist activity, lowers anti-social behaviour and generates revenue at local level.”
She continued: “Castlebar has so much to offer visitors, Turlough House Museum, Lough Lannagh, the Greenway to Turlough and Westport will soon be finished, Rehins Woods together with the many festivals including the Connacht Fleadh Cheoil which will take place in July. I would hope that the chamber of commerce, the town council, together with the gardaí, service providers in the tourism sector would work together to achieve a Purple Flag for the town. I am very hopeful for the support of the councillors for this proposal at this week’s town council meeting.”
