Great Western Greenway shortlisted for European excellence award

Great Western Greenway shortlisted for European excellence award


Mulranny Tourism Group received a welcome boost with news that their submission for the European Destination of Excellence for Sustainable Tourism has been shortlisted along with two other locations in Ireland. This year’s theme is tourism destinations which have regenerated a physical site of local heritage and converted it into a tourism attraction to be used as a catalyst for wider local regeneration. The destination will have identified ways to promote a high quality environment, to cope with the seasonality issue and to rebalance the tourist flow towards non-traditional destinations.
The Mulranny submission related to west Mayo’s railway heritage, the former Westport to Achill Midland Great Western Railway Line and Hotel at Mulranny. This once magnificent built heritage had declined into dereliction over the last century, but in a remarkable decade the hotel was restored to its former glory, while the old railway line reemerged as the Great Western Greenway. 
Nuala Ginnelly, Chairperson of Mulranny Tourism, commented; ‘We are delighted to get this once in a lifetime opportunity to promote the Great Western Greenway and the towns and villages it serves as an international destination of note to the benefit of the entire county’. She said ‘a remarkable transformation had happened in the parish of Burrishoole on foot of huge community input and the generosity of local landowners’. She asked that the communities along the route would continue in that vein and make every effort to have the area looking at its very best for the adjudication due during the third week of April.
“Mulranny and Newport were now emerging as quality tourism destinations based on their diverse geography, accommodation, dining and recreation facilities, with the success of the new greenway providing the impetus for expansion to neighbouring Achill and Westport. The Great Western Greenway offers a unique town and country trail experience that can compete internationally,” added Ms Ginnelly.
Meanwhile, in co-operation with Failte Ireland, South West Mayo Development Company is providing a pilot walkers/cyclists welcome programme in the areas of Cong and Mulranny/Newport, April 4 and 5 respectively.