Masterplan for lands in south Mayo ‘should include permanent marina’

A MASTERPLAN should be prepared for lands recently purchased by Mayo County Council at Lisloughrey in Cong.

A permanent marina to serve all water craft on Lough Corrib was suggested by Councillor Damien Ryan for the area, who requested the masterplan by way of a motion at a Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting.

The council intend to develop car and bus parking facilities to serve users of the pier, subject to planning permission being approved.

The current intention, he was told, is to provide 41 car parking spaces and four spaces for buses, plus vehicular and pedestrian access.

A planning application is due to be made in quarter three of this year, with construction of the facility dependent on funding being approved.

Councillor Ryan said they needed to look at the bigger picture at Lisloughrey, not just infrastructure such as parking and access to the pier, but what it can deliver as the only gateway to the Corrib at this end.

Working with Lough Corrib Navigation Trustees, they needed to look at an application for a permanent marina that would serve all the water craft on Lough Corrib.

A bigger masterplan could be done here with a massive investment in tourism and infrastructure and it could become a pilot scheme for what could be done right around the county.

He asked that a discussion would begin in relation to this.

Councillor Patsy O'Brien was supportive of anything that can enhance tourism in the area.

It is an important area for the south Mayo region, agreed Councillor Michael Burke, who said any opportunity there is should be grabbed to make it an attractive place for people to visit.

On a separate issue, Councillor Burke said he received a call last Thursday about a boat parked on the water that meant the rescue boat could not get out onto the lake if there was a call-out.

He asked that people would leave access for the emergency services.