Parts of Co Clare not traditionally associated with tourism have received more attention because of the Wild Atlantic Way’s high profile.
Director of Economic Development with Clare County Council, Gerard Dollard recently spoke of the tourist attraction’s impact on the Banner County. “The Wild Atlantic Way has proven to be a major success in relation to the promotion of tourism and the growth of tourist activity along its route. The original intent of the project had been to develop routes or loops off the main Wild Atlantic Way so as to encourage visitors to explore and visit locations not forming part of the main route”.
A new pilot scheme was recently announced with the development of the Shannon Estuary Drive and Burren Loop off the route, both are at the early stages of implementation and it is planned that the routes will be progressed and put in place during 2017.
Dollard added “The proposed routes explore some of the most scenic areas of the county and open up parts of the county not traditionally seen as tourist routes but areas which have huge potential and a huge amount to offer to visitors”.
He was speaking in response to a motion from Cllr Clare Colleran-Molloy at the January meeting of the Council. The Fianna Fáil councillor asked for “an update on progress respecting developing WAW loops such as an Estuary Loop and progress respecting WAW signage on the motorway upon exiting Shannon Airport.”
Signage of the Wild Atlantic Way from Shannon Airport has previously been highlighted with Fáilte Ireland according to Dollard. “A sign has been erected as one departs the Airport to indicate the Wild Atlantic Way to the North and to the South as one emerges from the Airport. It is hoped that the issue of signage can be further revisited as the implementation of the Shannon Estuary Loop in particular will require a further assessment to be undertaken on this particular issue”.