Tá pacáiste maoinithe suntasach mar aon le tacaíocht don gcéad Oifigeach Turasóireachta Poiblí dírithe ar chur chun cinn Ghaeltacht Mhúscraí i measc na mbeartas i bPlean Gnímh Turasóireachta Mhuscraí a sheol Méara an Chontae, an Comhairleoir Gillian Coughlan, ag Feirm Bhuabhaill Mhaigh Chromtha, i gCill na Martra, Dé Máirt an 3ú Bealtaine 2022.
Tá tacaíocht curtha in iúl ag Údarás na Gaeltachta, Comhairle Contae Chorcaí agus Fáilte Éireann don phlean forbartha turasóireachta, a dhréachtaigh ‘meitheal’, Meitheal Turasóireachta Mhúscraí, de pháirtithe leasmhara turasóireachta áitiúla, óstáin, bialanna agus soláthróirí lóistín agus seirbhíse, le cúnamh ó chomharchumann Gaeltachta áitiúil, Comharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí. Is ionadaithe poiblí áitiúla iad tacaíocht an tionscadail freisin, rud a léiríonn an tacaíocht fhorleathan don phlean i measc na bpríomhpháirtithe.
Dúirt Méara Chontae Chorcaí, an Clr Gillian Coughlan, agus Plean Gníomhaíochta Turasóireachta Mhuscraí Gaeltachta á sheoladh aige, “Is ceantar uathúil ó thaobh cultúir de é ceantar Gaeltachta Mhúscraí agus ceann den líon beag ceantar Gaeilge atá fágtha in Éirinn. Cuirfidh na cuspóirí eacnamaíocha, turasóireachta agus cultúrtha atá sa phlean le feasacht an réigiúin agus spreagfaidh siad cuairteoirí chun a gcuid laethanta saoire a phleanáil chuig an gceann scríbe iontach seo áit ar féidir taithí a fháil ar cheol traidisiúnta, amhránaíocht, damhsa, litríocht, siúlóidí agus go leor eile.”
Dúirt Anne-Maire Nic Gearailt, Feidhmeannach Forbartha Pobal & Fiontar, Údarás na Gaeltachta, go raibh an áthas ar Údarás na Gaeltachta bheith rannpháirtíocht sa phlean. “Beidh an Údará s páirteach, i gcomhairle leis an páirtithe leasmhara eile, ag cur i bhfeidhm an plean chomh maith. Beidh gach tacaíocht gur féidir a chur ar fáil ag teacht ón Údarás chun na bearthaithe a bhaint amach’.
Tá an Mheitheal Turasóireachta ag obair le hOllscoil Teicneolaíochta na Mumhan (MTU), atá ina chomhordaitheoir áitiúil ar an gclár Interreg, Atlantic Culturescape, chomh maith. Tá Gaeltacht Mhúscraí ar cheann de sheacht réigiún a roghnaíodh as Éireann, as an mBreatain, as an Spáinn agus as an bPortaingéil chun páirt a ghlacadh sa chlár seo a fhaigheann tacaíocht ón Aontas Eorpach, a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aige oidhreacht chultúrtha dholáimhsithe a chur chun cinn.
Tá tionscnamh margaíochta idirnáisiúnta á ullmhú ag clár Atlantic CultureScape chomh maith le líonraí a fheabhsú agus oiliúint ábhartha a chur ar fáil sna réigiúin roghnaithe. Cé gurb é MTU an ghníomhaireacht chomhordaithe áitiúil de chuid Atlantic Culturescape, is í Comhairle an Iúir, Mhúrn agus an Dúin an phríomhghníomhaireacht idirnáisiúnta, agus beidh toscaireacht ón gceantar i láthair ag an seoladh.
Tá sé mar aidhm ag an bPlean Gníomhaíochta Turasóireachta bearta turasóireachta a fhorbairt go háitiúil ar bhealach inbhuanaithe agus is toradh é ar phlé agus ar chomhairliúcháin atá ar siúl ó bunaíodh Meitheal Turasóireachta in 2020. Tá gnólachtaí áitiúla, grúpaí pobail agus príomhpháirtithe leasmhara eile ag glacadh páirte sa Mheitheal agus tá Údarás na Gaeltachta, Comhairle Contae Chorcaí agus Fáilte Éireann ag cur tacaíochta ar fáil freisin. Tá ár n-ionadaithe poiblí áitiúla ag tacú leis an tionscnamh freisin, agus táimid thar a bheith buíoch as sin.
Dúirt Caroline Ní Nualláin, bainisteoir Chomharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí, go raibh ríméad ar an Meitheal a fhógairt go bhfuil maoiniú EUR 60,000 ceadaithe ag Údarás na Gaeltachta an tseachtain seo go dtacódh sé le hearcú an chéad Oifigeach Turasóireachta Pobail, faoi Scéim Forbartha Bainistíochta Turasóireachta, sa cheantar, do théarma dhá bhliain agus tá buiséad iomlán margaíochta de EUR 25,000 geallta ag Comhairle Contae Chorcaí thar an tréimhse céanna. Tá maoiniú eile faighte chomh maith a bheidh dírithe ar chur le láithreacht ar líne Ghaeltacht Mhúscraí.
“Tá an-áthas orm go bhfuil an plean ar fáil agus seolta anois,” a dúirt Caroline.
“Próiseas taitneamhach agus dearfach a bhí ann, i ndáiríre, ag obair le daoine ar mian leo forbairt na turasóireachta a fheiceáil go háitiúil. Bíonn baol ann i gcónaí má luaitear an iomarca beart nach mbainfear amach iad ach is cruthúnas é ar éifeachtacht ár bplean go bhfuil cuid de na bearta a luaitear ar na leathanaigh curtha i bhfeidhm cheana féin.”
Ullmhaíodh an Plean Gníomhaíochta ar son Chomharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí Teoranta le cúnamh deontais ón Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus ó Chiste Talmhaíochta na hEorpa den Fhorbairt Tuaithe: Infheistiú á dhéanamh ag an Eoraip i gCEantair Tuaithe – LEADER 2014-2020. Tá tacú faighte ag an tionscal seo ó Choiste Forbartha Chorcaí Theas (CFPÁ) agus Údarás na Gaeltachta.
A significant funding package to support the recruitment of Gaeltacht Mhúscraí’s first dedicated Tourism Development Officer as well as a marketing budget was announced as County Cork Mayor, Cllr Gillian Coughlan, launched Gaeltacht Múscraí’s tourism development plan at the Macroom Buffalo Farm in Cill na Martra. Údarás na Gaeltachta, Cork County Council and Fáilte Ireland have all signalled their support for the tourism development plan, drawn up by a ‘meitheal’ of local tourism stakeholders, hoteliers, restauranteurs and accommodation and service providers, coordinated by the local Gaeltacht co-operative, Comharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí. Also backing the project are local public representatives, indicating the widespread support for the plan among key parties.
The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan, in launching the Gaeltacht Mhuscraí Tourism Action Plan highlighted how, “The Gaeltacht Mhúscraí area is a culturally unique region and one of the few remaining Irish speaking areas in Ireland. The economic, tourism and cultural objectives contained within the plan will increase awareness of the region and encourage visitors to plan their holidays to this incredible destination where traditional music, song, dance, literature, walking trails and much more can all be experienced.”
Anne Marie Nic Gearailt, Executive Officer for Community and Business Development said,
“ Údarás na Gaeltachta were delighted to be part of the planning process, and we will continue to support the implementation of the plan, in conjunction with the other key stakeholders. We will provide whatever assistance we can make available to ensure that the key actions of this plan are implemented.”
The Tourism Meitheal is also working with the Munster Technological University which is the local co-ordinator of the European wide Interreg programme, Atlantic Culturescape. Gaeltacht Mhúscraí is one of seven regions selected from Northern Ireland, Britain, Spain and Portugal to participate in this European Union supported programme, the aim of which is to promote intangible cultural heritage.
The Atlantic Culturescape programme is preparing an international marketing initiative as well as improving networks and providing relevant training in the selected regions. While MTU is the local co-ordinating agency of Atlantic Culturescape, the lead agency internationally is the Newry, Mourne and Down Council, which sent a delegation to be present at this week’s launch.
The Tourism Development Action Plan aims to develop tourism measures locally in a way which is sustainable and it’s a result of discussions and consultations which have been ongoing since the establishment of the Tourism Meitheal in 2020. Local businesses, community groups and other key stakeholders are participating in the Meitheal while Údarás na Gaeltachta, Cork County Council and Fáilte Ireland are also providing much needed and appreciated support. Our local public representatives are also supporting the initiative, for which we’re extremely grateful.
Comharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí manager Caroline Ní Nualláin said the Meitheal was delighted to announce that Údarás na Gaeltachta granted funding of EUR60,000 this week to support the recruitment of Gaeltacht Mhúscraí’s first ever dedicated Community Tourism Officer for a two year term, under their Tourism Mangement Development Scheme, while Cork County Council has pledged a total marketing budget of €25,000 over the same period. Other funding has also been secured which will be aimed at further enhancing the online presence of Gaeltacht Mhúscraí.
“I’m delighted that the plan is now available and launched,” said Caroline.
“It was a pleasant and positive process drawing up the plan with people who genuinely want to see the development of tourism locally.
“Our experience tells us that there’s always a risk if there are too many measures mentioned that they won’t be achieved but a proof of the effectiveness of our plan is that some of the measures mentioned in its pages have already been implemented.”
The Tourism Action Plan for Comharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí was funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development; Europe investing in rural area – LEADER 2014- 2020. This project is supported by the South Cork LAG and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
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PRESS CONTACT DETAILS:
Caroline Ní Nualláin, Comharchumann Forbartha Mhúscraí
Teil: 083 191 5432 eolas@muscrai.org
Barraí Hennebry, Atlantic CultureScape Project, MTU
Tel: 085 122 7634 barrai.hennebry@.mtu.ie
The Executive Summary of the Plan is available: https://www.canva.com/design/DAE-4tQNLhI/8YjZ0QTOyIHGEM4s7vi-7Q/view
Further details on the work of the Interreg Programme, Atlantic CultureScape is available: https://atlanticculturescape.eu/
