“Third world connectivity” to Co Clare is putting tourists off staying in the county, Cllr Pat Daly has claimed.

Tourism was listed as a key asset to the Mid West in the draft regional spatial and economic strategy (RSES) produced by the Southern Regional Assembly. The document referred to the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartland’s, Ireland’s Lakelands, the Shannon Estuary, greenways, blueways, effective place making, Munster Vales, the Burren, Cliffs of Moher, West Clare NST tourism route, Loop Head, Bunratty, Holy Island, Lough Derg and St. Johns Castle as attractions for visitors to the area.

Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Daly stated that Munster has some of the best tourist attractions to offer but lamented “the third world connectivity and road infrastructure from Clare to Cork”. He stressed the need for a motorway from Cork to Limerick to encourage visitors to West Cork to come to Clare. The document does support the M20 which would provide this connection, the RSES is also in favour of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road, senior planner with Clare County Council, Brian McCarthy stated, “these linkages are important”.

At a meeting of the Rural Development SPC, Cllr Pat Hayes said, “We are the fourth highest visited county yet we have one of the lowest tourism spends. We need to grow our tourism base, they are not staying in Clare”. Fine Gael’s John Crowe claimed “forty buses took off from the Port and none of them visited us” to which Cllr Bill Chambers responded, “They are not flying into Shannon which is the big problem”.

“Tourism is a growth area but it won’t grow if we’re not keeping people here,” Hayes added. The East Clare councillor recalled a conversation he had “with a prominent tourism operator” who said the tourism product in the county is being abused.

Related News

Lunch Time Lifestyle with the Clare Echo Contributers (8)
Welcome July: time to deadhead & bloom on
bus éireann shannon 343 ennis
NTA to announce launch details of Ennis town bus service
tuam national play day 1-2
Tuam to host National Play Day event
Photograph by Eamon Ward
NPWS Discovery van to serve as mobile visitor centre in The Burren

Advertisement

Latest News
1 DSC_9129
Clare will have 'one hell of a shot' in quarter-final with Waterford - Carmody
Lunch Time Lifestyle with the Clare Echo Contributers (8)
Welcome July: time to deadhead & bloom on
inagh kilnamona v clonlara 05-09-21 30 kevin hehir paraic o'loughlin
Inagh/Kilnamona chase first senior title & Clonlara aim to regain silverware
bus éireann shannon 343 ennis
NTA to announce launch details of Ennis town bus service
tuam national play day 1-2
Tuam to host National Play Day event
Premium
1 DSC_9388
'If he wants to stay he will' - seventh season likely for Lohan
ballymacaula 1
Plans lodged for Ennis' largest single-housing development
01052025_Council_Cliffs_of_Moher_0059
Rita represented West Clare 'with integrity & dignity' during term as Cathaoirleach
Éire Óg v ballyea 07-09-24 1 aaron griffin liam corry 1
Finding new players & promotion was primary focus for Ballyea & Éire Óg
waterford v clare minor 28-06-25 tommy kennedy ian o'brien ger o'connell 1
All-Ireland final defeat won't overshadow year for Clare minors

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement