Failte Ireland urged to promote East and South Galway

Galway Bay fm newsroom – A number of Galway County Councillors have hit out at Fáilte Ireland for not doing enough to promote the south and east of the county. At this week's meeting, Councillor Jimmy McClearn said the tourism body has placed more of a focus on promoting the city and Connemara, rather than any other part of the county. Councillors at this week's meeting were told that 1.8 million euro has been allocated by Fáilte Ireland for the installation of 19 lay-by discovery points across Connemara. Councillor Jimmy McClearn said the east and south of the county are treated as ‘the poor relatives,' and are being left behind as a result of the focus on the Wild Atlantic Way. Councillor Joe Byrne proposed that the council make a representation to Fáilte Ireland to provide similar funding for tourism infrastructure in other areas. He says there's a need to tap into the potential for tourism in towns like Kinvara and Portumna. The council has agreed to contact Fáilte Ireland with a view to looking at other possible tourist hotspots in the county.