West Mayo all-weather beach facilities to be completed in 2026

The construction of all-weather watersports facilities on Achill Island and Louisburgh are expected to go to construction at the end of the summer tourism season.

Keel beach on Achill Island and Carrowmore beach near Louisburgh were chosen by Fáilte Ireland in 2021 as the two Mayo locations to avail of national funding to develop state-of-the-art facilities for outdoor water-based activities.

Progress on the projects have been delayed in the last four years but the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District heard that both projects are to proceed and expected to be open in early 2026.

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Achill-based councillor Paul McNamara welcomed the progress on the project and said they will be used by tourists and locals alike.

“Hopefully in Keel this will solve the problem of having no public toilets in the parish [during the winter] until St Patrick's weekend. It will be a much needed facility for Keel and Carrowmore. It will be used not just by tourists but also by the local community. Most days of the year people are on the beaches and to see the facility in place which will be open 365 days a year will be welcome,” he said.

The Keel and Carramore facilities were part of a Department of Tourism and Fáilte Ireland investment of €19 million for 22 facilities across Ireland in 2021 and each were to receive €650,000 in funding.

The proposed developments form part of Fáilte Ireland's 'Platforms for Growth' capital investment programme which is designed to support and improve facilities for visitor experience throughout Ireland.

Each all-weather centre will consist of unisex toilets, indoor shower rooms and an accessible washroom, as well as external showers, a plant room, electrical rooms and cleaners’ store.

Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell said he was delighted to see the projects go ahead while Westport councillor Peter Flynn asked that when the work is completed the focus should turn to Bertra and Old Head beaches and improvement in facilities.