Cailín Óir welcomes establishment of new Group to Promote West Cork Tourism

Séamus Ó Drisceoil representing Cailin Óir joined a large group of businesspeople and community representatives at a meeting in O’Donovans Hotel in Clonakilty on Monday 17 November last to launch a new Tourism Group for West Cork.  A Steering Group was established to develop a structure for the organisation and Councillor Alan Coleman, Mayor of Cork who was present agreed to facilitate early meetings between the Group and the newly established County Council Tourism Strategy Group.

A number of very clear principals were enunciated and broadly agreed that will ensure that the new group will be as effective as possible'

These are - Not to duplication the work of others but to seek instead to cooperate with other groups and state actors.

To have clear goals and to focus on the first instance on improved online presence for the area.

To promote a professionalism and consistency in its efforts by having work, especially SEO, web building and similar work done by paid staff.

To develop a new ‘brand’ for the area

To work with Cork County Council to improve signage and also to see far more lay by’s and other  viewing points where visitors can better enjoy our spectacular scenery.

More walks, better presentation and promotion of same.

To adopt models of best practise that has worked well elsewhere.

To promote networking and greater practical cooperation between members.

All those present enthusiastically welcomed the proposal to host a ‘Meet and greet’ event in January for all West Cork Tourism  Enterprise to be given an opportunity to present themselves to each other and ideally that this would be in an interesting and ‘non-traditional’ venue.

The members of the Steering Groups are

Gráinne Dwyer(Skibbereen), Dr Síobhan Burke;(Sheep’sHeadWay), JimCrowley(MichaelCollinsCafé), Finbarr Harrington,(Cork Community and Voluntary Forum), Kela Hodgins (Dunowen House), Geoff Wycherley (Smugglers Cove and Adventure Centre), Michael O’Neill (Fernhill House Hotel), Joe Sweetnam (Killcatten Lodge B&B)

Photo shows the Steering Group around the Mayor of Cork Allan Coleman with other representatives including Séamus of Cailin Óir in the background.