Calls for more road signage for Céide Fields

Calls for more road signage for Céide Fields


NRA and Mayo County Council accused of neglecting prehistoric site

Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

Ballina Town Council has called for greater prominence to be given on road signs to the Céide Fields, after accusing the NRA and Mayo County Council of neglecting the prehistoric site.
Fianna FΡil councillor Johnny O’Malley raised the issue at last week’s monthly meeting of Ballina Town Council, arguing there were signs for other tourism attractions at various locations but none for the Céide Fields.
“When you come into Mayo along the N5 there is a sign for the Museum of Country Life and again at the junction of the N5 and N17 at Charlestown. There are signs for the Foxford Woollen Mills, but there is not a sign for the Céide Fields. They [the Céide Fields] are 5,700 years old, they are older than the Pyramids and are on the list for a World Heritage Site, which is the same status as the Giant’s Causeway and Newgrange. But we don’t have a sign in the county,” said Cllr O’Malley.
He continued, “The only signs for the Céide Fields are along the road from Sligo into Ballina and on the Foxford Road. That is an absolute disgrace.”
Cllr O’Malley said the Céide Fields are important for the area and they would not succeed in attracting tourism without proper signage. He called on the Minister of State for Tourism, Michael Ring to influence Mayo County Council and the NRA to increase signage for the Céide Fields.
He was supported by Cllr Gerry Ginty, who claimed there was a bias against Ballina and believed there was a deliberate intention to keep tourists away from north Mayo.
Fine Gael councillor Mark Winters said there had been no investment into the Céide Fields in the last 20 years and felt that it is becoming irrelevant to visitors without interactive displays.
Town Manager, Paul Benson pointed out to the councillors that the Céide Fields were the responsibility of the OPW and that Minister Ring was not the appropriate minister to contact.
He added that signage was not the responsibility of Mayo County Council and they could not put up signage without the NRA’s permission.
Mr Benson added that he agreed that numbers going to the Céide Fields have fallen and that the attraction needed support, and he said that contact should be made with the minister responsible for the OPW.

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