Funding secured for exciting north Mayo underwater museum study

Mayo North East LEADER Partnership and Moy Valley Resources IRD have welcomed the recent announcement of LEADER funding (through Mayo LAG) for the River Moy Search & Rescue group to conduct an exciting study that examines the development of an underwater museum in Killala Bay.

The first of its kind in Ireland, the underwater museum proposes the use of Irish maritime-themed statues as a diving attraction, with the main dive site based off the coast of Mayo.

The underwater museum would be a unique and unusual tourist attraction that utilises the often under marketed north Mayo coastline and would offer a brand-new tourism product to attract a larger audience to the region.

A similar underwater museum/dive site, Museo Atlantico, was developed in Lanzarote and has proven to be very beneficial to local divers and a popular tourist attraction.

LEADER development officer at Moy Valley Resources IRD, Kim Merrifield, commented: “We worked with River Moy Search & Rescue on a previous successful LEADER project that secured equipment for them to tackle water-based litter on the River Moy. We are delighted to work with them and MNELP again to secure LEADER funding for this intriguing study.”

Mayo North East LEADER manager James Golden added: “This study is hopefully just the starting point for bringing this project to fruition. The development of an underwater museum will not only have significant environment and water conservation benefits, but will also draw tourists to the area.”

Anyone interested in applying for LEADER funding should contact the North Mayo LEADER team by emailing jamesgolden@mayonortheast.com or leader@moyvalley.ie, or calling (094) 9256745 or (096) 70905.