Cycling tour TD could lead to rural revolution

What an interesting day I had recently.

I actually met one of our new elected TDs in the flesh.

So what, you may ask.

Well, this one was not being chauffeured around by one of his family, but was on a bicycle doing a solo cycling tour of North Mayo, and camping out under the stars to boot.

What made the meeting more extraordinary was that the place where I happened to chance upon him had been closed due to lack of funds, and was only recently reopened due to the belief and perseverance of a few of the local, that it should remain as one of the few visitor attractions in the area.

So stand up and take a bow, Kathleen Padden of Ionad Deirbhile Heritage Centre in Eachléim, one of my favourite tea stops that I thought I had lost. Kathleen also speaks beautiful Irish, which you have to hear to appreciate fully.

I got the impression from Deputy Gino Kelly of the People Before Profit Alliance — for it was he — that not only was he shocked by the beauty of the area, but even more so by the lack of any meaningful tourism infrastructure.

To those naysayers who would complain about the urban/rural divide, at least one of our politicians has single-handedly gainsaid that.

Perhaps the future is not quite so foreboding, after all.

Liam Power

14 Srahanarry Bangor

Erris Ballina

Co Mayo