Councillors move to assure outraged locals over true cost of tourist signage in West Cork town

Social media post claiming cost of one sign in Bantry was €670,000 is untrue, council officials say

It was posted on social media that €670,000 was being spent on the ‘Gateway Structure’ on Wolfe Tone Square in Bantry. Picture: Denis Scannell

It looked to be another Dáil bike shed overspending scandal when a social media post went viral, claiming one new tourist-attracting sign in a West Cork town cost an astonishing €670,000.

However, unlike the Leinster House fiasco, it was completely untrue. Cork County Council officials have now moved to unravel the picture in order to assauge local outrage in Bantry about the true costs.

Council senior executive officer Nicola Radley said in total, 23 new structures and tourist-related information boards were being erected in Bantry.

This is thanks to a grant from the Destination Towns initiative by Fáilte Ireland. It set aside a fund for a number of towns like Bantry.

In total, it provided €500,000 to the council for this, with the council itself adding another €170,000 to the kitty.

The confusion seemed to have been sparked when it was posted on social media that the €670,000 total was being spent just on the ‘Gateway Structure’ on Wolfe Tone Square in Bantry.

However, that is just part of the project and that structure cost €95,000 plus Vat — way under the vast figure that lit up social media.

Ms Radley said this was just one component of the overall project and “when everything is completed in the coming weeks it will be substantially under the €670,000 budget”. 

The project involves heritage trail enhancements and the removal of 20 outdated interpretive panels across the town, from Abbey Cemetery to St Finbarr’s Church.

Her answer came after local councillors sought a full explanation about the town project so the public would get a true picture of the costs.

In addition, it will see public realm improvements, the reconfiguration and decluttering of seating and street furniture in Wolfe Tone Square to create a more structured and aesthetically pleasing space, along with new signage and interpretation features across the town.

Overall, the 23 new structures focus on Bantry’s historical development, its maritime connections and the stories of notable local figures.

Independent councillor Danny Collins, who runs a pub in the town and who asked for clarification following social media reports of a €670,000 price tag on a single sign, said he wanted to thank Fáilte Ireland for picking Bantry for the project after the true picture was made clear.

“Unfortunately, the wrong story went out via social media and some journalism that one structure cost €670,000, which caused a lot of anger in the area vented on social media and towards us public representatives. 

"But what a lot of people didn't realise is that there were 22 other structures throughout the town and it is part of a bigger picture and will hopefully benefit Bantry,” Mr Collins said.

“It was regrettable it wasn’t reported correctly and thus resulted in negative spin,” added Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre Kelly.

Her party colleague, Cllr Patrick Gerard Murphy said he wanted to thank Bantry Tourism and the local historical society for their input in the project.

“The council is satisfied the project will continue to deliver value over the long term, in terms of marketing Bantry as a destination in itself, as well as a being a gateway to the peninsulas,” Ms Radley said.