Mayo beach activity centres to be completed for summer 2022

TWO centres to facilitate water activities at beaches in Mayo are expected to be completed by summer 2022.

The centres - at Keel beach in Achill and Carrowmore, outside Louisburgh - will involve an investment of €1.2 million.

Donal Newcombe, sports tourism officer, updated members of Mayo County Councill's tourism committee on the projects at a meeting today (Friday).

The centres will have toilets, showers, changing facilities, an induction space to be used by water sports providers, external terrace and equipment washdown facilities.

They will benefit the local communities and tourists, and will open up events opportunities such as the surfing intervarsities.

Achill-based Councillor Paul McNamara welcomed this investment on the Wild Atlantic Way, that it would have proper infrastructure. It was badly needed and would really enhance the tourism industry in the area, he said.

He also stressed the urgency to have these facilities open by summer 2022.

On the Carrowmore project, Councillor Christy Hyland highlighted the opportunity that exists to develop an old track that runs from it down to Ronnagh Pier.

Other areas, too, required changing facilities, such as the Point in Westport which is busy winter and summer.

Councillor Hyland admitted to getting 'scared' about how they would manage footfall at the Point come summer as it is experiencing traffic congestion already.

Not taking from Carrowmore, Councillor Peter Flynn said the surfing community will ask why Carrowniskey was not the beach of choice, while Old Head and Bertra were used by swimmers.

Similarly in north Mayo, a councillor who had been out snorkelling - Michael Loftus - was 'accosted' by swimmers in the water asking why Kilcummin was not included.

The north Mayo coastline needed things to happen there too, he said, and he'd like to see Fáilte Ireland do an awful lot more.