Solas centre in north Mayo welcomes over 30,000 visitors in first year

THE Solas centre on the Erris Peninsula has welcomed over 37,000 visitors since opening last year.

To mark their award-winning achievement, the most recent Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting was held in Ionad Deirbhile in Aughleam, where councillors heard how tourism is developing in the area.

Fergus Sweeney commented on the visitor numbers over the past month and a half alone, saying it's not just about the Solas centre but broader Mayo, which has exploded with tourists.

Links with other areas were another area he highlighted, between Achill and Blacksod for example, with businesses there referring people over while visiting that area.

And there is a connection also with the Ceide Fields and if that whole loop gets known and developed, the whole county will benefit, he said.

To push the Solas centre further, improved signage in the county is needed to really put it on the map and draw people in, councillors were told.

Councillors commented on the wonderful success the Solas centre has been, with Councillor Paul McNamara saying he previously had raised the need for signage for his area, Achill. Millions were spent on a new road, but there wasn't a sign on it for Achill or Solas.

The links to Blacksod Lighthouse in Blacksod was another area that should be highlighted, said Councillor Peter Flynn, who commented on the promotional work of Timmy Mallett recently and his links with the lighthouse.

And with Canadian PM Mark Carney having three grandparents from the MD, the Solas centre and other locations around the county should be exploring their links with Canada.

More about the SOLAS here.