Modernise Ballybunion to capitalise on the Wild Atlantic Way
That’s the message from Ballybunion, Co Kerry, which is seeking the upgrading of facilities overlooking the locally-known Men’s Beach, enjoyed by thousands of holidaymakers annually.
Ballybunion is renowned internationally among golfers for its links courses, while its beaches continue to draw large numbers of Irish visitors, especially from North Cork and Limerick.
According to the local development association and Sinn Féin’s councillor Robert Beasley, there’s a need to replace county council-owned facilities, including shops and public toilets, on the clifftop at the beach.
“These facilities were provided in the 1950s and have become dated — definitely not suited to modern tourism and the Wild Atlantic Way designation, which should be a great boon to Ballybunion,” said Mr Beasley.
He said now was an opportune time to replace the buildings.
Ballybunion-based Mr Beasley also said there were no baby-changing facilities, or wheelchair access to public toilets, and that situation needed to be rectified.
He said the council had given a positive response to his call for funding for better facilities and Ballybunion Development Association was prepared to work in conjunction with the council.
A big influx was expected from the Wild Atlantic Way and they were hoping to have the work completed by 2016.
A council spokesperson said they would work with the community to develop a plan for the area with a view to having capital funding available for the work.
Meanwhile, land with planning permission for a hotel in Ballybunion was sold at auction, last month, for €200,000.
The former Castle Hotel site, close to the beach, was among ten Kerry lots that went under the hammer at an Allsop auction in Dublin.
The 2.5 acre Ballybunion site, which has planning permission for a 71-suite hotel, eight apartments, and 75 car parking spaces, sold for above its guide price.
Also, the Department of the Environment has ordered Kerry County Council to cease sand removal from the Banna beach area, outside Tralee.
Locals recently objected to the removal of thousands of tonnes of sand from Banna, which was transported to nearby Tralee Golf Club.
Minister of State for the Environment Paudie Coffey, replying to a Dáil question from Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris, confirmed a sand removal ban and said department officials would inspect the site from which it had been removed.
