The Wild Atlantic Way - Good Idea?

Grayson · 27-04-2013 09:34AM

southsiderosie wrote: »

I can see that being true for, say Kerry, but what about Donegal? Personally, it is one of my favorite parts of the island, precisely because it is so remote and wild, and certainly it could use the economic boost. This could also be a good opportunity for cross-border cooperation: the north leg could be Derry - Galway, and the south leg Galway - Cork.

I think they can come up with a better name than the "Wild Atlantic Way" though.

If you're travelling to say Dungloe fron dublin, when you get to donegal town you're only half way there. Most of the distance is tarvelled, but the roads are so mad it still takes forever. If we're going to try and get tourists there, we need to have better roads and possibly rail.

galwayrush · 27-04-2013 09:38AM

We can't even get a by pass built Galway, i wouldn't hold out much hope for this.

squod · 27-04-2013 09:44AM

galwayrush wrote: »

We can't even get a by pass built Galway, i wouldn't hold out much hope for this.

Galway bypass? To where?

electrobanana · 27-04-2013 10:30AM

with it being Ireland it will need to have at least 2000 roundabouts on it so you wouldn't see anything because you'll be just going around in circles for days.

V_Moth · 27-04-2013 10:59AM

It is an interesting idea, especially if it is a walk/cycling trail rather than a road. However, if their first priority is to "Develop brand proposition and identity, and key market segments" than it will end up as some many things do here - crap.

I mean, does a road really need a "brand identity"?

kneemos · 27-04-2013 11:16AM

squod wrote: »

Galway bypass? To where?

New York.

Peetrik · 27-04-2013 11:27AM

Spending large quantities of money on making it faster for tourists to zip round Ireland? Surely we should be trying to keep them here as long as possible?

Why not a cycle track along the length of it, plenty of opportunity for actual citizens to set up shops, hostels, bike rental/repairs, etc etc instead of just a few tour companies benefiting from roads we all pay for?

Madam · 27-04-2013 11:40AM

Peetrik wrote: »

Spending large quantities of money on making it faster for tourists to zip round Ireland? Surely we should be trying to keep them here as long as possible?

Why not a cycle track along the length of it, plenty of opportunity for actual citizens to set up shops, hostels, bike rental/repairs, etc etc instead of just a few tour companies benefiting from roads we all pay for?

You don't think tourists will plan their trip? Most won't want to rush around, indeed thats part of the reason they visit Ireland - the pace is supposed to slow down (well in their touristy little heads that is

)!

robp · 27-04-2013 12:14PM

JupiterKid wrote: »

I really don't see why people are objecting to this plan.
We're not talking about building a new series of highways or motorways along the Atlantic coast.

What the Wild Atlantic Way proposal plans to do is simply designate a new route from Inishowen in Donegal all the way along the West coast through Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork to Baltimore.
The roads involved are existing roads and will just be re-signed and, in a couple of places, upgraded by resurfacing (badly needed in many places) and widening/straightening in a few spots where currently passing is tight.

The Ring of Kerry has been in place for over 50 years, and the Connemara Way and Atlantic Drive in Galway and Donegal respectively have been signed as tourist drives since the 1970s. This proposal would link all these up.
Most of the money spent on this would be on marketing and the benefits in terms of tourist revenue could be enormous. This is taking advantage of Ireland's greatest natural asset IMO.

If it draws some tourists away from a Dublin/Temple Bar booze-filled weekend into spending money in places which badly need investment then it is a good thing.

Here's a link the proposal to show what's actually involved:

http://www.failteireland.ie/Develop-Your-Business/Key-Projects-Carousels/The-Wild-Atlantic-Way.aspx

I wonder what per cent of the route has sea views. I would also add that the route has a surprising number of options which may not be necessarily a good thing. I guess if it is just a promotional idea instead new infrastructure its not a big deal.

Madam · 27-04-2013 12:23PM

Grayson wrote: »

If you're travelling to say Dungloe fron dublin, when you get to donegal town you're only half way there. Most of the distance is tarvelled, but the roads are so mad it still takes forever. If we're going to try and get tourists there, we need to have better roads and possibly rail.

This route takes about an hour and a half and as I said tourists don't want to rush about the place - most want to see a bit of the place while their here.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=donegal%20town%20to%20dungloe

Peetrik · 27-04-2013 07:12PM

Madam wrote: »

You don't think tourists will plan their trip? Most won't want to rush around, indeed thats part of the reason they visit Ireland - the pace is supposed to slow down (well in their touristy little heads that is )!

Complete speculation of course, but I think there would be a lot more opportunity for them to diverge from plans if they aren't in a tour bus that is on a schedule... or indeed under the control of a bus driver who is getting a few bob to stop at a particular petrol station/gift shop on the way.

The benefit of a slow pace, no rushing around should be my point not yours

Nermal · 27-04-2013 07:26PM

JupiterKid wrote: »

If it draws some tourists away from a Dublin/Temple Bar booze-filled weekend into spending money in places which badly need investment then it is a good thing.

The west of Ireland is not badly in need of investment, it already receives more than it deserves. Be happy with the monorail we already built you and keep quiet please.

wendell borton · 27-04-2013 08:04PM

They won't be building any new roads just "rebranding" the existing ones around the coast.

PrincessPreach · 27-04-2013 09:16PM

It's a shame the weather is so bad though 99% of the time ffs!

southsiderosie · 27-04-2013 09:31PM

PrincessPreach wrote: »

It's a shame the weather is so bad though 99% of the time ffs!

That makes it even nicer when you finish your day and sit down in front of a fire with a bowl of soup and some warm brown bread! Nobody comes to Ireland for the weather.

Meangadh · 27-04-2013 10:22PM

I think this is a brilliant idea, I'd love to drive it. I'd imagine it would do well with both domestic and foreign tourists.

I'm not even from the west of Ireland but I honestly don't think you've really seen Ireland until you go west of the Shannon. The west coast of Ireland is stunning- I drove the Great Ocean Road in Australia and whilst I thought it was beautiful, it didn't take my breath away as much as Slea Head drive in Kerry or the Inishowen Peninsula. And I think the weather is irrelevant- if it's nice, then great- and if it's not, then you get the wildness of the Atlantic that it's known for. I hope it works out.

Lando Griffin · 27-04-2013 10:56PM

errlloyd wrote: »

by my rough calculations (using gmaps) its about 450 kilometres from north to south, how are they managing to get 5 times that distance?

Must be read in
Healy Rea.
Every time you stop to resht and get away form the drive and go to the pub you are obliged to drive one of the locals home to their rural bed

LiamoSail · 28-04-2013 12:37AM

I'd give it four months before Healy Rae is campaigning for drink driving and gun yielding to be legalised on the road, while the rsa litter the thing with speed ramps much to the anger of the Gatso vans parked on every second corner

The guy with the "Wexford strawberry's" stall would be happy enough though

Dally · 02-04-2014 10:27PM

I think it's a great idea. We've never been much good at signposting in Ireland, so that alone is worth the investment.

And I think the West coast is seriously under utilised.

It's got a Wikipedia entry.

Auldloon · 02-04-2014 10:57PM

The best thing about Ireland is the wildness of the west coast. I'm delighted it's finally being recognised and promoted. It would want to be an awfully long holiday to travel it all though. I'd say certain sections will see 90% of the traffic and hopefully it's the more beautiful parts that get promoted and not just the commercial centres.

FullblownRose · 03-04-2014 09:10AM

JupiterKid wrote: »

I really don't see why people are objecting to this plan.
We're not talking about building a new series of highways or motorways along the Atlantic coast.

What the Wild Atlantic Way proposal plans to do is simply designate a new route from Inishowen in Donegal all the way along the West coast through Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry and Cork to Baltimore.
The roads involved are existing roads and will just be re-signed and, in a couple of places, upgraded by resurfacing (badly needed in many places) and widening/straightening in a few spots where currently passing is tight.

The Ring of Kerry has been in place for over 50 years, and the Connemara Way and Atlantic Drive in Galway and Donegal respectively have been signed as tourist drives since the 1970s. This proposal would link all these up.
Most of the money spent on this would be on marketing and the benefits in terms of tourist revenue could be enormous. This is taking advantage of Ireland's greatest natural asset IMO.

If it draws some tourists away from a Dublin/Temple Bar booze-filled weekend into spending money in places which badly need investment then it is a good thing.

Here's a link the proposal to show what's actually involved:

http://www.failteireland.ie/Develop-Your-Business/Key-Projects-Carousels/The-Wild-Atlantic-Way.aspx

Sounds good. Make the most of what is there!
O.t but the sign for Craggaunowen in Clare has been pointing in the wrong direction for years. A friend on holiday wanted to visit it and got lost following the signpost, then had to ask for directions in a village and he was looked at like he had just landed from outer space and told ''it's signposted''.

Dyr · 03-04-2014 09:14AM

Get out and walk yiz lazy hoors

Adamantium · 03-04-2014 09:20AM

I don't know those roads are already pretty wild, I don't know we need a sanitized "wild" road.

Ghost train in the simpsons.

Davarus Walrus · 03-04-2014 09:29AM

I'd love to hop into the Civic, stick on some banging tunes and rip that fúcking road up.

FullblownRose · 03-04-2014 09:32AM

They should mention the Ventry Celtic and Prehistoric Museum along the W.A.W as nobody seems to know about it!

topper75 · 03-04-2014 10:19AM

Falthyron wrote: »

Are you suggesting we guide tourists towards Limerick? Surely not...

No. I don't want them seeing one of the best preserved Norman castles in Europe, seeing the longest Georgian street in Ireland, or ending up in the Hunt Museum ... God knows what could happen them in there!

bear1 · 03-04-2014 10:32AM

I heard that they want to get Top Gear to film there to get more promotion.
That would be interesting.

BraziliaNZ · 03-04-2014 10:53AM

topper75 wrote: »

No. I don't want them seeing one of the best preserved Norman castles in Europe, seeing the longest Georgian street in Ireland, or ending up in the Hunt Museum ... God knows what could happen them in there!

lol, someone trying to stand up for Limerick, bless xxx

BraziliaNZ · 03-04-2014 10:54AM

Would the road also deal with the constant driving rain and extremely poor visibility 99% of the time?

sneakyST · 03-04-2014 10:59AM

Can't believe the utter ****e cynicism still kicking around. As my daughter can't remember living in Ireland as she was so young when we left, this is something that would entice me back instead of holidaying somewhere else.....

Surely that's a good thing for the country.

The Wild Atlantic Way - Good Idea?

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