Viewing platform in Keem

21-02-2015 11:33am #1

There was a story in the local media during the week about attracting tourists to Mayo, one story is that Mayo Co. Co plan to build a viewing platform in Keem. I had a discussion with a number of people about this, I advise Mayo Co.Co. to proceed with caution, we will not sit by and let Keem an outstanding place of beauty be destroyed by shortsightedness. It is possible the story is just kite flying.

TopTec · 22-02-2015 10:36am

Can you link to the story please?

TT

Niall_daaS · 22-02-2015 10:57am

TopTec wrote: »

Can you link to the story please?

TT

I just found this: http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21423:keem-through-the-looking-glass&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

The Mayo News has learned that ambitious plans have been proposed for Keem Bay which will include a viewing platform on the hill overlooking the bay near the old Coastguard station. This will incorporate a glass walkway which people will be able to stand on, with the waves crashing against the rocks underneath them. (...) “There will be a viewing platform at the top and depending on our budget it could be a really exciting project for Achill,” he (Peter Hynes from MCC) told The Mayo News.

I was at this very place in january and it was truely wonderful. Can't see a reason for improvement of natures beauty by something artificial like the proposed.

irishgeo · 23-02-2015 10:52am

if its going to be be at the top of the cliffs it wont be viewable from the beach anyway.

Mantis Toboggan · 23-02-2015 11:07am

Sounds like a great idea.

muddle84 · 25-03-2015 11:10pm

Ive seen an artists impression of the proposed walkway and dont think it will add anything to the area. I also cant see how it would be constructed without seriously altering the surrounding area. The cliffs there are not that high so i dont think it would draw anymore people than keem already does.

nuac · 26-03-2015 10:51am

When basking sharks were being harpooned off Keem Bay they had lookouts on the cliffs there.

It would be a great observation point if it can be built without too much damage to the landscape

muddle84 · 26-03-2015 11:43am

nuac wrote: »

When basking sharks were being harpooned off Keem Bay they had lookouts on the cliffs there.

It would be a great observation point if it can be built without too much damage to the landscape

There was no look out buildings though were there? The only building up there is the world war 2 look out post. I agree it would be a great thin gif it could be built without any damage.

It is amazing the amount of history in that small bay.

irishgeo · 26-03-2015 6:32pm

nuac wrote: »

When basking sharks were being harpooned off Keem Bay they had lookouts on the cliffs there.

It would be a great observation point if it can be built without too much damage to the landscape

The lookout building is on the beach.

Dudda · 26-03-2015 6:51pm

Think it's a great idea. When you are building on a cliff with something lightweight like a viewing deck you can pretty much bolt it to the existing stone and have tiny pad foundations. The impact will be minimum presuming its designed right and built right. The problem is cost. Glass you can walk on is ridiculously expensive compared to regular glass and all the structure will have to be high grade stainless steel that will stand up to the wild atlantic. Any regular galvanised steel would rust in 3-4 years in an exposed location like that and become a danger to users. They have €257,000 for 35 locations (as mentioned in the article) so that's only a little over 7k each if distributed evenly. Anyone have a link to the artist sketch to get an idea of how big it is as it could cost 50-100k depending on it's size. What will be built will probably have a steel mesh floor not glass due to cost or be a lot smaller than planned.

Still think it's a great idea if it's done right.

irishgeo · 26-03-2015 7:02pm

Dudda wrote: »

Think it's a great idea. When you are building on a cliff with something lightweight like a viewing deck you can pretty much bolt it to the existing stone and have tiny pad foundations. The impact will be minimum presuming its designed right and built right. The problem is cost. Glass you can walk on is ridiculously expensive compared to regular glass and all the structure will have to be high grade stainless steel that will stand up to the wild atlantic. Any regular galvanised steel would rust in 3-4 years in an exposed location like that and become a danger to users. They have €257,000 for 35 locations (as mentioned in the article) so that's only a little over 7k each if distributed evenly. Anyone have a link to the artist sketch to get an idea of how big it is as it could cost 50-100k depending on it's size. What will be built will probably have a steel mesh floor not glass due to cost or be a lot smaller than planned.

Still think it's a great idea if it's done right.

A steel mesh floor over the sea? Surely it has to be glass.

muddle84 · 26-03-2015 10:11pm

Dudda wrote: »

Think it's a great idea. When you are building on a cliff with something lightweight like a viewing deck you can pretty much bolt it to the existing stone and have tiny pad foundations. The impact will be minimum presuming its designed right and built right. The problem is cost. Glass you can walk on is ridiculously expensive compared to regular glass and all the structure will have to be high grade stainless steel that will stand up to the wild atlantic. Any regular galvanised steel would rust in 3-4 years in an exposed location like that and become a danger to users. They have €257,000 for 35 locations (as mentioned in the article) so that's only a little over 7k each if distributed evenly. Anyone have a link to the artist sketch to get an idea of how big it is as it could cost 50-100k depending on it's size. What will be built will probably have a steel mesh floor not glass due to cost or be a lot smaller than planned.

Still think it's a great idea if it's done right.

Regardless of what its made of they will have to get the materials there in the first place and a crane to lift it all into place. They would have to make a road up there to do that or lift it all in with a helicopter. I have attached one of the artists inpressions i seen on facebook looks to be all glass. the glass would take alot to maintained/ cleaned aswell. it will be interesting to see what happens. Apparently they wont be making the area any more accesible than it already is. If you want to get up to platform you would still have to climb!

muddle84 · 26-03-2015 10:12pm

irishgeo wrote: »

A steel mesh floor over the sea? Surely it has to be glass.

Why?

irishgeo · 26-03-2015 10:25pm

muddle84 wrote: »

Why?

Your going to be looking out the floor over the edge of the cliff.

muddle84 · 26-03-2015 10:30pm

irishgeo wrote: »

Your going to be looking out the floor over the edge of the cliff.

I see what your saying but considering that you have to hike through a bog to get to it. The glass wouldnt be clean enough to see through for too long. Where as with mesh all the much falls through!

irishgeo · 26-03-2015 10:59pm

muddle84 wrote: »

I see what your saying but considering that you have to hike through a bog to get to it. The glass wouldnt be clean enough to see through for too long. Where as with mesh all the much falls through!

no one is going to going to want to walk on mesh over the edge of a cliff man. its by the sea the mesh will have rusted in a few years.

its clearly glass on picture posted above.

nuac · 26-03-2015 11:10pm

muddle84 wrote: »

There was no look out buildings though were there? The only building up there is the world war 2 look out post. I agree it would be a great thin gif it could be built without any damage.

It is amazing the amount of history in that small bay.

No, there was no lookout building there. A man stood high on the cliff and signalled it he saw the basking shark

In reply to Irishgeo I think the building down at the shore was to store some equipment

A German company made a film on catching basking sharks there in the fifties. I think it was called Shark Island.

Joe Sweeney Achill Sound exported the products including shark oil. The business is still there. They may know where a copy of the film can be got

irishgeo · 26-03-2015 11:45pm

nuac wrote: »

No, there was no lookout building there. A man stood high on the cliff and signalled it he saw the basking shark

In reply to Irishgeo I think the building down at the shore was to store some equipment

A German company made a film on catching basking sharks there in the fifties. I think it was called Shark Island.

Joe Sweeney Achill Sound exported the products including shark oil. The business is still there. They may know where a copy of the film can be got

alan gielty snr was on nationwide or some program like that on about basking shark and he said he used to stand in the house door on the beach waiting for the shark too come in.

muddle84 · 27-03-2015 11:48am

irishgeo wrote: »

no one is going to going to want to walk on mesh over the edge of a cliff man. its by the sea the mesh will have rusted in a few years.

its clearly glass on picture posted above.

Like I said , I see what you are saying. But I think mesh would be a better option. Neither of us are the design team so it doesn't really matter. Just my opinion! Glass would look better, but would be alot higher maintenance. If the mesh was made out of the right grade of stainless steel, it would never rust.

nuac wrote: »

No, there was no lookout building there. A man stood high on the cliff and signalled it he saw the basking shark

In reply to Irishgeo I think the building down at the shore was to store some equipment

A German company made a film on catching basking sharks there in the fifties. I think it was called Shark Island.

Joe Sweeney Achill Sound exported the products including shark oil. The business is still there. They may know where a copy of the film can be got

The sweeney family still own the little house on the beach. My mother has often told me stories of the stink off the lorries transporting the oil and carcasses was rank.

Apparently anybody working there was very well paid for the time.

kippy · 27-03-2015 12:04pm

I have to admit I thought this idea can out of thin air but somebody told me a few days ago that it's been brought about as because of the Wild Atlantic way and Keem being a major point on this way.

The area they are proposing to put the platform is a fair hike up a hill at the end of the beach so I don't believe you'd be able to see it from the beach or access to the beach (which is a good thing)

There will obviously be some construction work and changing of the cliff at the top of the hill but nothing major from what I can see, so again all good.
The only issue is how they are going to manage access to it, as I said it is a fair climb from the beach unless they are going to put in place some kind of path (which I believe they will be obliged to do under health and safety).
This might be an issue but again it depends on how they do this.

Overall I think it's a great idea and would be beneficial to the island in general.
HOWEVER,
There are a number of issues on the island that deserve spending money on BEFORE this.
1. The old Village inn site - fill it in, cover it up, make it look nice. It's seven odd years since this hole in the ground was created and it ruins the look of keel, as well being safety issue. This site is in the ownership of the council for a few years now.
2. "Achillhenge" - how I hate that name. Apparently the council want to knock it. I say, tidy it up, "finish it" and leave it as is. A lot of people still want to look at this site. That or tear it to the ground but dont leave it as is.
3. Extend the greenway onto the Island - I believe there are still plans for this.
4. Look into a "visitor" centre for the Island that contains all the artifcats, history and information in one place.
Then maybe look at this "viewing platform" - although the views are spectacular with or without it.

Dudda · 27-03-2015 12:22pm

I suggested mesh first because walk on glass is very very expensive, incredibly hard to keep clean and gets very slippy. If you try and sand blast it or put a slip resistant finish on it then its harder to see through and gathers more dirt. Mesh is slip resistant, very low maintenance and a hell of a lot cheaper and can still look good. Here's an example

Now back to the artist sketch. It won't look like that as that's pretty big and very expensive looking. It will probably end up something similar to the Ceide Fields viewing point. I still think it will be good as anything that helps tourism in the area is good.

kippy · 27-03-2015 12:29pm

Again,
Access is the Key,
Very easy access the one in the Ceide fields, both for construction and ongoing access.

Kristopherus · 27-03-2015 12:45pm

kippy wrote: »

Again,
Access is the Key,
Very easy access the one in the Ceide fields, both for construction and ongoing access.

Whats holding up the Greenway? Is it still being held up by the German woman?

kippy · 27-03-2015 12:47pm

Kristopherus wrote: »

Whats holding up the Greenway? Is it still being held up by the German woman?

Well they've managed to sort out the issues in Tonragee by moving the road from what I can see however technically the greenway only goes as far as the bridge.
From what I can tell there are no moves currently to get it onto the Island but I have heard a plan is in place to get that done. No idea of any holdups.

muddle84 · 27-03-2015 1:00pm

kippy wrote: »

There are a number of issues on the island that deserve spending money on BEFORE this.
1. The old Village inn site - fill it in, cover it up, make it look nice. It's seven odd years since this hole in the ground was created and it ruins the look of keel, as well being safety issue. This site is in the ownership of the council for a few years now.
2. "Achillhenge" - how I hate that name. Apparently the council want to knock it. I say, tidy it up, "finish it" and leave it as is. A lot of people still want to look at this site. That or tear it to the ground but dont leave it as is.
3. Extend the greenway onto the Island - I believe there are still plans for this.
4. Look into a "visitor" centre for the Island that contains all the artifcats, history and information in one place.
Then maybe look at this "viewing platform" - although the views are spectacular with or without it.

I think the coulcil have taken over the village inn site now from nama. So I would hope they do something about that now. Its a horrible eyesore and was a great pub!

I think the greenway onto the island is planned to start next year.

kippy wrote: »

Again,
Access is the Key,
Very easy access the one in the Ceide fields, both for construction and ongoing access.

There is no requirement to improve access to the platform. If you can get to the lookout now you will be able to get to the platform, if you can't get to the look out now, you won't be able to get to the platform.
However, there is an old path running from the old coast guard building up to the lookout, there is talk of this being done up.

muddle84 · 27-03-2015 1:06pm

kippy wrote: »

Well they've managed to sort out the issues in Tonragee by moving the road from what I can see however technically the greenway only goes as far as the bridge.
From what I can tell there are no moves currently to get it onto the Island but I have heard a plan is in place to get that done. No idea of any holdups.

It stops in polranny, the German woman won't let it through her land. Its the last link, it runs from the old trainstation east to the edge of her land and stops on the other side of her land. So I think they are still trying to negotiate with that family.

kippy · 27-03-2015 2:01pm

muddle84 wrote: »

It stops in polranny, the German woman won't let it through her land. Its the last link, it runs from the old trainstation east to the edge of her land and stops on the other side of her land. So I think they are still trying to negotiate with that family.

Ah ok,
never been to the end of it, thanks for the clairification.

kippy · 27-03-2015 2:02pm

muddle84 wrote: »

I think the coulcil have taken over the village inn site now from nama. So I would hope they do something about that now. Its a horrible eyesore and was a great pub!

I think the greenway onto the island is planned to start next year.

There is no requirement to improve access to the platform. If you can get to the lookout now you will be able to get to the platform, if you can't get to the look out now, you won't be able to get to the platform.
However, there is an old path running from the old coast guard building up to the lookout, there is talk of this being done up.

They've had the site for a while now (the council), a least a year I believe and still no sign of anything happening unfortunately.
It's a fair climb - if they do up a path at all it will require handrails, accessibility etc etc
It depends on how they do it to be honest.

irishgeo · 27-03-2015 9:55pm

kippy wrote: »

They've had the site for a while now (the council), a least a year I believe and still no sign of anything happening unfortunately.
It's a fair climb - if they do up a path at all it will require handrails, accessibility etc etc
It depends on how they do it to be honest.

The council only moved this year to take over the site.
http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21222:council-move-to-compulsorily-acquire-derelict-keel-site&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

kippy · 27-03-2015 10:50pm

irishgeo wrote: »

The council only moved this year to take over the site.
http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21222:council-move-to-compulsorily-acquire-derelict-keel-site&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

Was full sure they could and did acquire it after 5 years of dereliction.
It's a disgrace it has take so long to sort out.

irishgeo · 28-03-2015 2:32pm

kippy wrote: »

Was full sure they could and did acquire it after 5 years of dereliction.
It's a disgrace it has take so long to sort out.

they asked joe nicely would he clean it up.:rolleyes:

the council are paying for the steel piles holding the road up they do in fact own it.

the way it s gone now the pub would be a goldmine in the summer, although i heard a rumour the minauin view bar might be reopening.

kippy · 28-03-2015 4:01pm

irishgeo wrote: »

they asked joe nicely would he clean it up.:rolleyes:

the council are paying for the steel piles holding the road up they do in fact own it.

the way it s gone now the pub would be a goldmine in the summer, although i heard a rumour the minauin view bar might be reopening.

It's a pity really, the lack of options in the village of Keel for the past few years (especially with the good summers) has probably put a lot of people off going back to Achill.
Really hope the Minaun does re-open but that's been rumoured for a while now.

I dunno, there's a lot of things that can be done on the Island ahead of getting this viewing platform sorted as far as I can see.

muddle84 · 28-03-2015 5:10pm

Is it not how the minaun had to close though because of dosgy foundations? Surely they would have to rebuild it to reopen it. Such a great pub! Its opening is badly missed every patricks day.

nuac · 29-03-2015 8:34pm

irishgeo wrote: »

they asked joe nicely would he clean it up.:rolleyes:

the council are paying for the steel piles holding the road up they do in fact own it.

the way it s gone now the pub would be a goldmine in the summer, although i heard a rumour the minauin view bar might be reopening.

Tourist season in Achill has always been short.

May be difficult to get finance to b uild a pub in compliance with current planning etc requirements.

Also if it has not traded for more t han five years, may be difficulties in getting the licence

muddle84 · 29-03-2015 9:08pm

nuac wrote: »

Tourist season in Achill has always been short.

May be difficult to get finance to b uild a pub in compliance with current planning etc requirements.

Also if it has not traded for more t han five years, may be difficulties in getting the licence

is it 5 years since the minaun closed already? A good summer woukdnt be enough to keep a pub going would it?? There was planning grantes for the Amethyst wasnt there? I think They didnt go ahead though because of financial problems!

kippy · 29-03-2015 10:22pm

muddle84 wrote: »

is it 5 years since the minaun closed already? A good summer woukdnt be enough to keep a pub going would it?? There was planning grantes for the Amethyst wasnt there? I think They didnt go ahead though because of financial problems!

It's not closed 5 years (3 I think) but I could be wrong.

Nuac mentioned above but the tourist season in achill is very short. Coupled with a different drink culture etc it may be hard justify opening a bar if you need to spend a wad of cash on it.

The biggest issue is, as nuac said, the tourist season is short. This needs to be addressed and in fairness the Greenway has gone someway to extend it.
But why is it so short and why aren't there more people going there?
I'd suggest cost as a major factor. Lots of holiday homes but can be pricy.
Secondly there's a distinct lack of anything to do (particularily with kids) when the weather goes against you.
A swimming pool or indoor play area are required I'd suggest but the investment needed mightn't make sense for one person however if the whole island and business' on it looked at it as an investment worth making to make the island more appealing outside of the summer that could make a different.

nuac · 30-03-2015 9:56am

kippy wrote: »

It's not closed 5 years (3 I think) but I could be wrong.

Nuac mentioned above but the tourist season in achill is very short. Coupled with a different drink culture etc it may be hard justify opening a bar if you need to spend a wad of cash on it.

The biggest issue is, as nuac said, the tourist season is short. This needs to be addressed and in fairness the Greenway has gone someway to extend it.
But why is it so short and why aren't there more people going there?
I'd suggest cost as a major factor. Lots of holiday homes but can be pricy.
Secondly there's a distinct lack of anything to do (particularily with kids) when the weather goes against you.
A swimming pool or indoor play area are required I'd suggest but the investment needed mightn't make sense for one person however if the whole island and business' on it looked at it as an investment worth making to make the island more appealing outside of the summer that could make a different.

I was referring to the old Village Inn site. New pub licence there would be problematic now.

The short tourist season in Achill has been a problem for generations.

In earlier days up to the fifties it was family resort, which tied it to the school holidays.

In the early sixties it became very popular with young singles from all over the country and enjoyed a boom from that trade from all over the country as the goto place. Sadly a lot of that trade lost when cheap air travel arrived.

While there is a lot in Achill for those interested in outdoor activities, there is little for families when the weather worsens.

The Seaside Resort Scheme ( which included Achill ) was availed of in Mulranny and Westport to install swimming pools etc. That did not happen in the island.

The Greenway extension may be part of the solution

kippy · 30-03-2015 10:02am

nuac wrote: »

I was referring to the old Village Inn site. New pub licence there would be problematic now.

The short tourist season in Achill has been a problem for generations.

In earlier days up to the fifties it was family resort, which tied it to the school holidays.

In the early sixties it became very popular with young singles from all over the country and enjoyed a boom from that trade from all over the country as the goto place. Sadly a lot of that trade lost when cheap air travel arrived.

While there is a lot in Achill for those interested in outdoor activities, there is little for families when the weather worsens.

The Seaside Resort Scheme ( which included Achill ) was availed of in Mulranny and Westport to install swimming pools etc. That did not happen in the island.

The Greenway extension may be part of the solution

Apologies, thought you meant the Minaun.

Yeah, theres no chance of anyone building a pub on the Village Inn site in the current environment.

I think the advent of cheap flights, the expensive rental of houses, the changes to drinking culture and the lack of indoor facilities have led to the "short" season getting even shorter.
A look at what facilities could be put in place to give families more options when the rain is pelting down is badly needed.

muddle84 · 30-03-2015 10:06am

nuac wrote: »

I was referring to the old Village Inn site. New pub licence there would be problematic now.

The short tourist season in Achill has been a problem for generations.

In earlier days up to the fifties it was family resort, which tied it to the school holidays.

In the early sixties it became very popular with young singles from all over the country and enjoyed a boom from that trade from all over the country as the goto place. Sadly a lot of that trade lost when cheap air travel arrived.

While there is a lot in Achill for those interested in outdoor activities, there is little for families when the weather worsens.

The Seaside Resort Scheme ( which included Achill ) was availed of in Mulranny and Westport to install swimming pools etc. That did not happen in the island.

The Greenway extension may be part of the solution

When was that scheme? Was the swimming pool in mulranny not private?

nuac · 30-03-2015 7:12pm

muddle84 wrote: »

When was that scheme? Was the swimming pool in mulranny not private?

The Seaside Resorant Development Scheme was brought in about mid 1996. It provided extensive tax allowances for tourist related investment.

It had been extended to Mulranny so that the then owners could avail of it. However An Taisce filed an objection which was upheld. By the time a new owner had got permission, the Seashore Resort Scheme had ran out. So M84 is correct, the current investment was privately funded, afaik.

muddle84 · 01-04-2015 9:26am

nuac wrote: »

The Seaside Resorant Development Scheme was brought in about mid 1996. It provided extensive tax allowances for tourist related investment.

It had been extended to Mulranny so that the then owners could avail of it. However An Taisce filed an objection which was upheld. By the time a new owner had got permission, the Seashore Resort Scheme had ran out. So M84 is correct, the current investment was privately funded, afaik.

Im pretty sure the old swimming pool was private also. It was on the grounds of the hotel.That was built long before 1996.

nuac · 01-04-2015 3:55pm

muddle84 wrote: »

Im pretty sure the old swimming pool was private also. It was on the grounds of the hotel.That was built long before 1996.

The old swimming pool was built in hotel ground about 1960. Filled by seawater, unheated. A great facility in the day. A very progressive manager McLoughlin organised.

That hotel was a major tourist attraction back in the day. Before the Achill line was taken up, an all-in booking could be got from London by train, ferry and train again to the rear of the hotel. Very fashionable and popular resort.

My parents recalled being at weddings and dinner dances there.

After railway was closed from Westport down c 1935 there wasn't any major investment there by the railway company appart from that swimming pool.

a good nine hole golfcourse just to the west of the present course was abandoned. It was built on commonage, but no real effort was made to buy out the tenants in common over the years.

Salmon and seafishing rights were available in the area but were not pursued by the hotel.

It was the major enployer in the village giving employment to at least 60 in high season.

There was a perception that the owners were more interested in growing the hotels in Bundoran, Sligo, Galway and Kerry. There were even stories of the better cutlery, delph, linen being moved to the other hotels,

After changing hands a few times, and a period of dereliction the present owners have made a big investment and a trojan effort there. I wish them well.

The Greenway since it started c 2010 is bringing a lot of business there. I hope it continues to prosper

John_Rambo · 07-04-2015 11:07pm

Hello. I have started holidaying in Achill over the last few years. What was that giant hole in Keem? What happened, what's the story? Thanks in advance.

muddle84 · 08-04-2015 7:29am

John_Rambo wrote: »

Hello. I have started holidaying in Achill over the last few years. What was that giant hole in Keem? What happened, what's the story? Thanks in advance.

You sure you dont mean keel?

John_Rambo · 08-04-2015 12:56pm

muddle84 wrote: »

You sure you dont mean keel?

Sorry, yeah, Keel. Anyone know what happened?

Mickeroo · 08-04-2015 1:04pm

John_Rambo wrote: »

Sorry, yeah, Keel. Anyone know what happened?

That's the site of the Village Inn which has been mentioned in this thread already. Someone posted this earlier regarding the council moving to take ownership of it: http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21222:council-move-to-compulsorily-acquire-derelict-keel-site&catid=23:news&Itemid=46

John_Rambo · 08-04-2015 1:51pm

Mickeroo wrote: »

Someone posted this earlier

Ah, thanks Mickeroo, I missed it earlier. What a mess.

farmchoice · 13-04-2015 5:11pm

i have been holidaying in achill since i was a kid first with my parents and brothers and sisters then with my mates then with my girlfriend and now with my wife and kids.

i love it and i don't think there is anywhere like it, i nearly always stay in keel. i have been there 3 times in the last year all out of season and i thought it was quite busy on each occasion, busier then 5 years ago. the futre of achill is out door activities, cycling, hill walking and most of all water sports.

But the people of achill and the county council have got to get their act together. the place is going backwards, as for the great big ****ing hole in the middle of keel, well there are no words. at the very least the local community should have erected hoardings around it painted it white and got the local school kids to paint murals on it or something.

why is the situation with rubbish bins constantly over flowing not sorted out.
compare the amount of work the county council put into westport or more recently ballina with what is done in achill, who is responsible for this?

achill has massive massive potential but the people of achill have to be at the forefront of developing it, and bord failte and the county council and all the other state agencies have to work with them but the people will have to take the lead.

nuac · 14-04-2015 10:01pm

farmchoice wrote: »

i have been holidaying in achill since i was a kid first with my parents and brothers and sisters then with my mates then with my girlfriend and now with my wife and kids.

i love it and i don't think there is anywhere like it, i nearly always stay in keel. i have been there 3 times in the last year all out of season and i thought it was quite busy on each occasion, busier then 5 years ago. the futre of achill is out door activities, cycling, hill walking and most of all water sports.

But the people of achill and the county council have got to get their act together. the place is going backwards, as for the great big ****ing hole in the middle of keel, well there are no words. at the very least the local community should have erected hoardings around it painted it white and got the local school kids to paint murals on it or something.

why is the situation with rubbish bins constantly over flowing not sorted out.
compare the amount of work the county council put into westport or more recently ballina with what is done in achill, who is responsible for this?

achill has massive massive potential but the people of achill have to be at the forefront of developing it, and bord failte and the county council and all the other state agencies have to work with them but the people will have to take the lead.

Westport and Ballina had, up to recently, their own Town Councils which led to local authority focus on development, including tourist development.

Also they have a strong commercial tourism base, and those in the business work well together, especially in Westport.

The recent Local Authority "reforms" have created a local electoral area combining the former Westport and Belmullet areas. Too unwieldy. Needs review

15-04-2015 8:30am

I see a lot of talk about Achill. I will be frank about Achill, some of you are not going to like what I say, but I will say it.
In all my years I have never met people like Achill People. There short sightedness knows no bounds. It may be historical reasons, but there is a unique begrudgery on Achill. Put two Achill people in a room and only one would come out. I am sorry if you don't like what I say. I can provide loads of examples as I have been dealing with Achill people for years. Now when I hear someone is from Achill when I am doing business I proceed with caution.

irishgeo · 15-04-2015 8:41am

6541 wrote: »

I see a lot of talk about Achill. I will be frank about Achill, some of you are not going to like what I say, but I will say it.
In all my years I have never met people like Achill People. There short sightedness knows no bounds. It may be historical reasons, but there is a unique begrudgery on Achill. Put two Achill people in a room and only one would come out. I am sorry if you don't like what I say. I can provide loads of examples as I have been dealing with Achill people for years. Now when I hear someone is from Achill when I am doing business I proceed with caution.

Hmm I am from achill. I'll agree with some of that. As a lots of suspicion occurs when people try new things. Although I think its changing but with no jobs and very few young people staying at home its going downhill fast.

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