Bantry tourist body wants WAW map withdrawn

BANTRY Development and Tourism Association have written to the Manager of the Wild Atlantic Way calling for the current edition of the map to be withdrawn and revised.

According to Eileen O’Shea, chairperson of the Bantry association, ‘several deficiencies’ contained in the map ‘could have a detrimental impact on our tourism business in Bantry and the surrounding area.’

She told Fiona Monaghan, who manages the Wild Atlantic Way, that ‘cluttered presentation’, ‘variation in font sizes’, and ‘references to places and locations which are not on the Wild Atlantic Way’ are causing ‘confusion.’ The fact that the voluntary-run tourist offices in Bantry, and neighbouring Skibbereen, are not mentioned on the map is a further source of irritation.

‘We don’t wish to sound negative,’ said Eileen, ‘and the Wild Atlantic Way has had a positive impact on West Cork in general, but we would like to see the map rectified to give a better reflection of the route, its attractions, and the tourist information offices.’

The map, as it stands, shows the route, marked in purple, blocking part of the word Skibbereen. And this, according to Eileen, is just one of the things that ‘makes it difficult for the reader to identify specific locations.’

The decision to exclude the tourist office in Bantry was described by Eileen as ‘a serious oversight’. ‘We believe that our presence in a strategic location along the Wild Atlantic Way is an asset for the overall initiative.’