Search Results for 'Michael Ring'

Whether it is our dramatic coastal scenery, world class cycling attractions or soft, rolling green hills, something about Mayo has mass appeal.

Mayo County Council has launched a new community tourism initiative for the Diaspora which seeks to build on the legacy of The Gathering 2013. The Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, officially launched the initiative, a joint partnership by Fáilte Ireland, IPB Insurance, and the 34 local authorities, to provide an annual fund of €1m over the next three years to support up to 700 local community-based events each year around the country. Mayo County Council will provide €30,000 over the next three years for this purpose.

A boutique food and music festival, choral celebrations, a recreation of Humbert’s 1798 invasion, and a kitesurfing lake battle are some of the local festival events which will benefit this year from €49,000 announced in grant funding.

Nine Mayo heritage projects were approved for funding this week by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan under the Gaeltacht Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme 2014. The total value of the nine projects in Mayo is €103,000. The successful projects were St Michael’s Church, Ballina: €7,000; Enniscoe House, Castlehill: €14,519; Killala Bathing House, Killala: €6,478; Lavelle’s Pharmacy, Killala: €7,100; Thomond House, Westport: €7,920; Holy Trinity Church, Westport: €14,983; Owenmore House, Correens:  €15,000; Bridge House, Westport: €15,000; and Ballinafad House, Ballinafad: €15,000.

Downpatrick Head is well known to the people of Mayo, but with the start of the Wild Atlantic Way this year it is about to become a must-see tourist destination for visitors from all over the globe. To make sure that this comes to fruition, it was announced this week that €640,000 has been allocated to create a discovery point at Downpatrick Head as part of the Wild Atlantic Way. The development will see the include an iconic Spirit of Place installation built around a blowhole which will allow visitors to walk around its rim and experience it in a safe manner.

Nine Mayo heritage projects were approved for funding THIS WEEK by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan under the Gaeltacht Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme 2014. The total value of the nine projects in Mayo is €103,000. The successful projects were St Michael’s Church, Ballina: €7,000; Enniscoe House, Castlehill: €14,519; Killala Bathing House, Killala: €6,478; Lavelle’s Pharmacy, Killala: €7,100; Thomond House, Westport: €7,920; Holy Trinity Church, Westport: €14,983; Owenmore House, Correens:  €15,000; Bridge House, Westport: €15,000; and Ballinafad House, Ballinafad: €15,000.

At a reception in Dublin Castle this week, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring presented plaques to 80 winners at the 24th CIE Tours International Awards of Excellence. Twelve overall category winners (gold awards) from around the country were chosen according to feedback from 28,000 customers on more than 450 providers of accommodation, dining, tours, and attractions. Silver merit awards were presented to those achieving more than 90 per cent in the surveys.

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring has stated that County Mayo will see the creation of a new transport co-ordination unit (TCU) for the provision of rural transport services in the county. The news comes as part of the continued overhaul of the Rural Transport Programme.

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan this week informed Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring of an allocation of €240,000 in extra LEADER funding for South West Mayo Development Company together with an allocation of €57,000 for the Gaeltacht areas.

Communities from across Mayo were honoured for their efforts to promote tourism in the county by organising Gathering events during the year.