Councillors support reinstatement of Ballycroy in national park title

THE Ballycroy community's quest to have their village name retained in the local national park's official title has received council support.

It has been dropped in favour of the title Wild Nephin National Park, which is to appear on all official signage and publications.

A local campaign is vigorously pursing a reversal of that decision and to have Ballycroy retained in the name.

Councillor Sean Carey backed them when he raised the matter at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council, saying the change was a cause of 'major concern and anger'.

“Ballycroy,” he said, “is an integral part of the national park.”

The village is home to the visitor centre, which attracts thousands of people every years.

The vast majority of the national park is in Ballycroy itself and only for Ballycroy the park would not be there at all.

He asked that all signage, media adverts and correspondence would include Ballycroy in it.

“Ballycroy is the mainstay of the national park and it has to be included going forward,” he said.

Councillor Gerry Coyle said they had fought for Ballycroy national park at the time and he couldn't see any good reason for the name to be changed.