Donegal County Council and Failte Ireland have issued a joint statement guaranteeing that no walking routes in the Malin Head area will be advanced or developed without full consultation with the landowners concerned.
It follows concern expressed on Highland Radio’s Nine til Noon Show and elsewhere at the inclusion of potential walking routes in a draft Visitor Management Plan for the area before landowners were approached.
The council and Fáilte Ireland say they are working with key agencies, business partners and community stakeholders to deliver a Visitor Management Plan for Malin Head.
They say an extensive consultative process in developing the plan began in May of last year, and engagement with stakeholders and the local community was ongoing throughout the remainder of 2019 as the draft plan was developed.
During the consultation process, they say a number of walking routes were identified for potential development, and have been included in the draft plan as concept ideas. Arising from recent concerns in the locality, both agencies wish to assure local farmers and landowners that none of these routes will be advanced for further consideration and/or development without full consultation with the landowners concerned.
Donegal Co. Council and Fáilte Ireland say they are committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the area to deliver a plan that will provide unique opportunities for tourism and economic development for Malin Head.
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Documents relating to the plan can be viewed HERE
Statement in full –
Malin Head Visitor Management Plan
Joint Statement by Donegal County Council and Fáilte Ireland
Friday 24 January, 2020
Donegal County Council and Fáilte Ireland are working with key agencies, business partners and community stakeholders to deliver a Visitor Management Plan for Malin Head. The aim of this plan is to leverage Malin Head’s position as the most northerly signature discovery point on the Wild Atlantic Way and guide the future development of tourism for the area in a sustainable way which will deliver economic benefits to the local community.
Donegal Co. Council and Fáilte Ireland undertook an extensive consultative process in developing the plan – this began in May 2019 with 310 people attending engagement workshops at Malin Head Community Centre, McGrorys Hotel in Culdaff, Colgan Hall, Carndonagh and Malin Village. Engagement with stakeholders and the local community was ongoing throughout the remainder of 2019 as the draft plan was developed. In December, the public were invited to review and submit their feedback on the draft plans and emerging concept ideas at a number of events at Malin Head, Malin Village, Carndonagh and Culdaff. These events were well attended, and the feedback was broadly positive. The draft plans were also made available for review and feedback on Donegalcoco.ie.
During the consultation process, a number of walking routes in the area were identified for potential development. These routes have been included in the draft plan as concept ideas. Arising from recent concerns in the locality, both agencies wish to assure local farmers and landowners that none of these routes will be advanced for further consideration and/or development without full consultation with the landowners concerned.
Donegal Co. Council and Fáilte Ireland are committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the area to deliver a plan that will provide unique opportunities for tourism and economic development for Malin Head.
Liam Ward Miriam Kennedy
Donegal Co. Council Fáilte Ireland
