The Wild Atlantic Way – which was launched this week at Ireland’s largest tourism fair stretches from Donegal to Cork, and incorporates North & West Clare.
The Wild Atlantic Way is a 2,500km final route and includes 156 strategically placed discovery points for tourists along the way. A series of looped itineraries off the spine are also planned to further develop the experience for and there exists further opportunities in this development for County Clare.
The Wild Atlantic Way is an effort to collaboratively highlight the strengths of the western seaboard and already there was been fantastic engagement from tourism operators, local authorities, business people and residents to this project.
This week, overseas tour operators were given an advance briefing of the route, with a video trailer launched. What we are looking to create here is an international driving route to rival the best in the world
Stretching from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork, and including areas of North & West County Clare, the route will offer visitors an opportunity to discover the west coast. At this point, and following extensive consultation, the 2,500km route has been finalised.
Over the next year, as I understand it, the main focus will be on putting a signage plan in place for the route and ensuring all discovery points are ready for visitors.
I am fully confident that we in County Clare will play our part to ensure the County as a whole capitalises fully from what could potentially be a world class tourist route.