'Whoever came up with idea for Wild Atlantic Way should be given a trophy', says Kerry publican

When the Wild Atlantic Way was first mooted, Finn MacDonnell thought the idea was 'a bit gimmicky'. Ten years later, he thinks it's been huge 

Finn MacDonnell of Dick Mack's Pub in Dingle, Co Kerry

Whoever came up with the idea of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way should "be given a trophy", according to one Kerry publican.

Finn MacDonnell, who is the fourth generation of his family to run Dick Mack's pub in Dingle, has hailed the Fáilte Ireland initiative on its 10th anniversary.

He admitted when the idea first came to light he found it "all a bit gimmicky" but now, he has realised "people travel all over the world to do a particular route or drive".

"It has been huge for Dingle, and huge for the pub," he said.

The Wild Atlantic Way was launched by Fáilte Ireland in 2014 in response to the global financial crash.

According to a new report launched on Thursday, nearly two million more visitors visited the Wild Atlantic Way in 2023 compared with 2013.

Tourism is now worth €3bn a year on the Wild Atlantic Way, an increase of 59% on 2013.

This growth has contributed to the creation of 35,000 jobs, with tourism now supporting 121,000 jobs across the region.

According to Mr MacDonnell, the Wild Atlantic Way lures tourists to Ireland all year round, and not just during the summer months.

"You get people who are coming off-peak, and they're not worried about the weather.

"They are going to drive it in wind, hail, or shine, and they're not just coming in May, June, or July," he said.

Finn MacDonnell: 'People who are coming and driving the country, and finding the off-the-beaten-track hidden gems.'

While Mr MacDonnell revealed Dingle relies heavily on American tourists, he believes the Wild Atlantic Way is starting to attract some of our closest neighbours too.

"Years ago, there used to be a lot of people who would take their car from Germany or the UK, and travel around Ireland. You don’t really have that now with air travel being so cheap and affordable across the continent.

"But with the Wild Atlantic Way, we’re getting that kind of traveller back again. People who are coming and driving the country, and finding the off-the-beaten-track hidden gems," he said.

'Typical of Ireland'

However, while the Wild Atlantic Way has mainly had a positive impact on tourism in Dingle, Mr MacDonnell does have one complaint — a lack of facilities for people travelling in caravans.

“Typical of Ireland and everything we do here, we roll out a new idea when we’re not particularly ready for it.

“People are arriving down in their camper vans, and they are parking up wherever, but they don’t have any shower, they don’t have anywhere to put their toilet waste, or rubbish.

“You do hear people complaining about tourists leaving their rubbish behind, and a lot of that is because they don’t have enough options.

“It’s like the electric vehicle thing. They want everyone to drive an EV but they haven’t provided enough facilities.

“They don’t have the charging points up to date yet, they also don’t have enough of them, and they don’t have them where they need to be.

"So, there might be a bit of catch up involved in that regard,” he added.