The suggestion from Manulla, Castlebar reader, Frank Charlton, that a cable car should be installed to ferry pilgrims to the summit of Ireland's holy mountain, Croagh Patrick, is certainly worth investigation.
The amenity would enable those less athletic to get to the top in a safe and breath-taking experience.
As the cable car assents the occupants would be treated to unrivalled views of the island-dotted Clew Bay.
The cable car link would not impede regular climbers and would be of great assistance to the emergency services that are regularly called to assist injured pilgrims on the mountain slopes.
As a tourist attraction it would prove a boom for the Murrisk area in particular and Mayo in general.
Frank suggests the cable car would be a 'must see magnet' for visitors but would, no doubt, attract the wrath of environmentalists and the 'not in my back yard' brigade.
Thousands of people visit the Reek annually. Many of them do not make the 2,510-foot climb. Others scale with difficulty and often have to quit before reaching the summit.
But the provision of a cable car would open up the Reek to everyone and could in fact be self-financing.
As a tourist attraction it would be unrivalled in this country. It would open up Croagh Patrick to family groups, guided tours and pilgrimage groups.
A link with Knock Shine and Ireland West Airport Knock would add to the visitor influx and make Mayo Ireland's must visit pilgrimage county.
In recent years the slopes of the Reek have become very dangerous and there have been demands for the erection of safety rails on the more dangerous slopes.
A cable car would be the answer to all the safety fears and would open up a new and exciting initiative.
The initial investment would be enormous and probably unlikely in these recessionary times.
Return fares to and from the summit would help the operators make it a viable proposal.
The project would attract international recognition, particularly among the
Irish diaspora wishing to follow in the footsteps of St. Patrick.
The scenic panorama from the summit is unique and not accessible to those unable to undertake the challenging hike to the mountaintop.
Maybe the cable car proposal is a wishful dream. But it would open up a unique opportunity to attract thousands of visitors to the Clew Bay area.
( 4 Votes )
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