Festivals are big hit for Ballina

Festivals are big hit for Ballina


Ciara Galvin

Tourism is on the up in Mayo, and the benefits are being felt in the salmon capital. The county is now the sixth most-visited in the country, and Ballina has carved itself a good slice of the tourism action. According to Kevin Corrigan of Moy Valley Resources Mayo North Tourism Promotion Office, 150,000 people attended festivals in the nine months of December 2013 to August 2014.
Corrigan revealed the figures in a presentation at the Ballina Municipal District meeting recently and said that tourism-related businesses were feeling the benefit.
The year-long calendar of festivals in Ballina brought in over €3 million to the local economy, Corrigan said, adding that the North Mayo website set up by the tourism office had received over 70,000 views in 14 months.
Director of Services Paul Benson told the meeting that the Mayo North Tourism Promotion Office was set up after members of the now-defunct Ballina Town Council called for an integrated approach for marketing Ballina to tourists.
Mr Benson said the office received €40,000 from the town council last year and that it would require another €40,000 for the upcoming year.
Independent councillor Gerry Ginty said the funding must be continued and told his colleagues that ‘pressure’ would have to be applied at council level in order get it.
Fine Gael councillor Jarlath Munnelly praised the ‘coordinated approach’, but said that funding could not be expected without a ‘long-term plan’.
Meanwhile, Neil Cruise was elected to the board of Mayo North Destination Tourism Streering Group having been nominated by Cllr Munnelly, while Cllr Michael Loftus was elected following his nomination by Cllr Annie May Reape.