Tourist potential of North Cork 'not being promoted'

Fine Gael councillor John Paul O’Shea said Cork County Council had applied to get North Cork included in the Munster Vales tourism promotion but was rejected

Doneraile Court, a late-17th century country house at Doneraile Park, which has not been included in tourism promotion by State-funded bodies. File picture: Denis Minihane

Anger has been expressed that large swathes of North Cork are not being actively promoted by State-funded bodies, meaning the area's tourist attractions are losing out.

County councillors expressed dismay after hearing that the majority of the region falls ‘outside the pale’ when it comes to promotion by the various State agencies.

The issue was highlighted at a meeting of Cork County Council’s Northern Division by Fine Gael councillor John Paul O’Shea. He pointed to the fact that the latest tourism-promoting body to be created — Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands — was only promoting the Ballyhoura region, which covers just the Charleville and Mitchelstown areas.

Mr O’Shea said the council had applied to get North Cork included in the Munster Vales tourism promotion but was rejected.

He said the rest of county Cork was being covered by the Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland’s Ancient East and the county council itself was creating a specific tourism marketing brand for Youghal, to be known as ‘Living Youghal’.

The exclusion of much of North Cork by Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, means an extensive area from Fermoy along the Blackwater Valley into Mallow, Kanturk and beyond into western Duhallow on the Cork/Limerick/Kerry border is being neglected.

Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Hayes said the region has plenty of attractions which urgently need tourism marketing, such as the castles in Mallow and Kanturk (pictured).

Mr O’Shea said some tourist entity should be representing the interests of all of North Cork. “I find it difficult to accept that tourism brands like Munster Vales and Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands are not in here (North Cork) when council finances them. We need to have a meeting with senior council officials about this.”

Mr O’Shea pointed to "a crazy situation" when the Ballyhoura region (which straddles South Limerick and North Cork) moved from the Wild Atlantic Way to being marketed as part of Ireland’s Ancient East and is now under Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Yet, he said, most of North Cork is not represented by any tourism-promoting authority.

“Three years ago, we applied to Munster Vales to have all of North Cork included in their brand (promotion) and were rejected by them.” Mr O’Shea said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Hayes said the region has plenty of attractions which urgently need tourism marketing, such as the castles in Mallow and Kanturk, the magnificent houses and gardens at Doneraile and Annesgrove, near Shanballymore, the racecourse in Mallow and fishing on the River Blackwater.

Mayor of County Cork Fianna Fáil councillor Frank O’Flynn said:

Tourism nearly ranks with agriculture in Ireland (in terms of income)

"We've a great train service now connecting Mallow. We should seek an urgent meeting with senior officials about this,” he said.

Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawson, who is based in Mitchelstown, said the whole region should be marketed as a complete package and areas are missing out as a result

Cork is the most googled county for tourism in Ireland, Fianna Fáil councillor Bernard Moynihan told the meeting.

“There is no rhyme or reason to this,” Labour councillor James Kennedy said.

Some of the deer at Doneraile Park. File picture: Denis Minihane

“It sounds crazy we don’t have our own brand (promoter) and we’re losing out on tourists as a result,” Fine Gael councilor Liam Madden added.

Kevin Morey, the county’s deputy chief executive, told councillors “it strikes me as an important strategic matter."  

He said it will be debated at the council’s Tourism SPC (Special Purposes Committee) to see what can be done to promote more visitors to North Cork in the future.