Cost benefit from Cliffs to be included in 2040 strategy

A COST benefit of the Cliffs of Moher to surrounding areas of North Clare is to be included as a specific element of a new strategy for one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, writes Páraic

McMahon

Preparation is continuing on the draft of the Cliffs of Moher Strategy 2040. It is anticipated that a draft will be adopted by the West Clare Municipal District before November.

In November 2019, Clare County Council signed contracts with Haley Sharpe Design to prepare the strategy as part of a joint initiative between the local authority and Fáilte Ireland.

The €398,000 strategy was to be completed over 15 months.

An appeal to hold public engagements and workshops on the latest draft at four town hall meetings within North Clare with a “particular focus on how the strategy will affect and benefit the host communities where it is located” was issued by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) and Cllr Liam Grant (GP) at a recent sitting of the West Clare MD.

They flagged the strategy’s importance “to the future sustainability of the host communities of North Clare”.

Two phases of “detailed consultation workshops” have already been held with stakeholders in the local community and business sector with the feedback shaping the strategy, Director of Tourism and the West Clare MD, Leonard Cleary outlined.

Cleary confirmed, “an inclusive communications plan around a third phase of public consultation is being prepared for the draft Cliffs of Moher Strategy that will allow for the public and stakeholders to engage further”.

He said facilitated focus groups and stakeholder public meetings in communities will be arranged.

“We want to give people the opportunities to direct-