Deputy Daly ‘confident' Seven Heads will be added to Wild Atlantic Way

A SMALL community’s powerful campaign to have its area included in the Wild Atlantic Way touring route looks set to bear fruit.

As reported in this paper last week, and earlier in 2014, the people of the Seven Heads peninsula, between Timoleague and Clonakilty, are angry that their picturesque peninsula is perfectly bypassed on the official Wild Atlantic Way maps. 

But this week Clonakilty-based Fine Gael TD Jim Daly told The Southern Star that he was optimistic that it would be included.

‘The Minister with responsibility for Tourism, Patrick O’Donovan has, at my request, met this week with the chief executive of Fáilte Ireland to make the case for the inclusion of the Seven Heads in the Wild Atlantic Way,’ said Deputy Daly.

Speaking after the meeting between the Minister and Fáilte Ireland boss Paul Kelly, Deputy Daly said he was ‘confident’ that the matter would be resolved. 

‘The Minister has informed me that he has requested the chief executive of Fáilte Ireland to get back to him within the next ten days regarding how they can have this matter rectified,’ he said this week. ‘I am hopeful of an early and positive outcome to this issue which will continue to enhance the offering available to tourists on the Wild Atlantic Way and further grow visitor numbers to the area.’

Deputy Daly went on to point out that this campaign, led by locals, was testament to the huge success of the Wild Atlantic Way as an initiative to draw tourists to this country. He paid tribute to the local community who highlighted the issue.

 ‘I am particularly grateful to my colleague Cllr John O’Sullivan who has raised this important issue with me on a number of occasions, and the other members of the committee,’ he added. ‘I sincerely hope we can ensure that this unique area can be included without delay.’