WATERFORD’S omission from the Wild Atlantic Way will be ‘revisited’ by Deputy John Deasy (FG) if re-elected.
Fáilte Ireland attracted stinging criticism locally for failing to include Waterford’s coastline in the high profile tourism initiative which stretches from the Inishowen Peninsula to Kinsale.
Speaking at the WLRfm general election debate held at Dungarvan’s Park Hotel on Thursday last, Deputy Deasy agreed that Waterford’s omission from the Wild Atlantic Way was wrong.
He has already campaigned strongly for Waterford’s addition to the popular tourism initiative and stated he would “go at it again and give it another shot” if re-elected.
Last year, Fáilte Ireland unveiled Ireland’s Ancient East as an alternative offering to the Wild Atlantic Way.
However, the strength of this new offering has been questioned. “I’m not warming to Ireland’s Ancient East,” said Deputy Deasy.
Green Party candidate Grace O’Sullivan agreed and said Ireland’s Ancient East was “already bypassing Waterford”.
She said Waterford had “really lost out” by not being including in the Wild Atlantic Way.
“We’ve lost out, not only from a tourism perspective, but also in terms of food production and all of the small businesses which have enjoyed spin-offs from the Wild Atlantic Way,” she said.
Deputy John Halligan (Ind) said it was “beyond belief” that Waterford had been omitted from the Wild Atlantic Way.
