Doubling up in Dursey as proposals put on the line

Proposals have been put in place for an €8m double cable car and visitor centre to further boost tourism on the country’s most south-westerly island.

Cork County Council wants to replace the country’s only cable car, which opened in 1969 to serve Dursey Island.

The equipment has been dogged with difficulties in recent years and the local authority is anxious to upgrade it, especially as the numbers of visitors using it has doubled in the last three years.

The council has lodged the proposals with Fáilte Ireland, which is making more than €60m available for capital projects around the country which will enhance visitor experiences.

Councillors are confident their project will get the nod, especially as Fáilte Ireland has extensively marketed Dursey Island as a “must-see” in its Wild Atlantic Way advertising.

Currently the single cable car’s carrying capacity is at maximum 24 passengers per hour one way.

The council’s objective is to double this capacity by adding a second cable car.

It also wants to create a visitor heritage centre at the departure point on the mainland and one on the island.

The island heritage centre will interpret Dursey’s unique culture, history and nature.

It will also provide space for community activities and special events such as lectures, readings, touring exhibitions, etc.

The mainland centre will also include an option to facilitate a café operated on a concession basis.

Council officials said that in the past three summers the number of tourists using the cable car had risen from 8,000 to more than 17,000.

Cllr Paul Hayes had lobbied the council to replace the cable car some time ago, but was told the local authority didn’t have that kind of money to spare.

“The Dursey Cable car is Ireland’s only cable car and is a flagship attraction for the West Cork region which features in almost every brochure and promotional material for the Wild Atlantic Way,” Cllr Hayes aaid.

“This proposed development would be of huge benefit to the area and would have a very positive knock-on effect economically to towns and villages such as Castletownbere, Allihies and Eyeries and the general Beara region,” he said.