The elected members of the Ballina Municipal District were given a presentation this week on the progress made by in the promotion of the Mayo North area as a tourist destination.
Ballina Town Council had allocated €40,000 for a promotions programme which has been run by Moy Valley Resources LTD for the area. Kevin Corcoran, from Moy Valley Resources, gave the members a presentation on the work that had been done promoting the area so far this year and where the money had been spent.
The majority of the focus had been on promoting a number of festivals in the area, such as the In Humbert’s Footsteps and the very successful Food Fleadh that were held over the summer. The elected members all agreed they were impressed with the work that had been done and that it was essential that the work was continued. The initial allocation of €40,000 will be carried on next year, the members were informed, as it had been agreed to be spent again by the town council in Ballina before it was disbanded in June.
Independent councillor Gerry Ginty said that he was particularly pleased that the plan included the promotion into areas of south and west Sligo which he said were the more natural hinterland of north Mayo compared to a lot of other areas within the county itself.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Smyth said that it was essential that the towns of Foxford and Swinford were also promoted as much as possible and that he and councillor Neil Cruise were working together to make sure that all events that would be coming up next year were promoted were well flagged and included in all promotional material. Two vacancies had come up on the committee organising the planning and promotion after the disbandment of the town council in Ballina and councillors Cruise and Michael Loftus were elected to fill those seats.
