New Clifden Tourist Information Office opens
Friday, 14th July

Left ro right: Douglas Jordan, Investment Advisor, Bord Failte, Connie Ni Flathartha, Galway Co. Co, Eamon O'Cuiv, Minister of State, Mary Bennett, Ireland West Tourism, Martin Quinn, Mayor of Galway, Brian Flynn, Regional Tourism Manager. (Photo: Bary McInerny)

Mr Éamon Ó Cuiv, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands officially opened the new Clifden Tourist Information Office on the afternoon of July 14th.

The new custorn-built Tourist Information Office is situated in a prominent site on the Galway Road at the entrance to the town and adjacent to the Westport - Galway Road junction. Car parking facilities are directly behind the building. The building cost £380,000 to complete and was funded by the ERDF Operational Programme for Tourism, Exchequer funds and borrowings.

Minister Cuiv referred to the fact that the new Clifden Tourist Information Office forms an integral part of the National Tourism Office Network and Room Reservation Service which is widely acclaimed all over the world. The Clifden office is linked to the Gulliver Computerised Reservation Network and it can make bookings throughout the 32 counties.

The Minister went on to praise the important role Tourist Information Offices play in servicing the local tourism industry and the visitor by providing detailed factual information on things to do and see. They are at the coalface of tourism providing the welcoming smile and the helpful assistance that changes a routine holiday into a memorable one. The Clifden office is staffed by Barbara Ward, Supervisor, Kathleen Duane, Amy Gavin and Lavinnia Bray.

The Minister also referred to the important role played by the Irish language in tourism in Connemara. Every year, visitors come from as far away as Japan and Boston to learn our native language. Many Irish people from all over Ireland recall with affection their trips to the various Colaiste Samhraidh. Here in Connemara nowadays, their children flock westward to perfect their Irish.

At last Ireland West Tourism have a new custom-built Tourist Information Office in Clifden. The team who made this a reality consisted of the following:

Management Board for Product Development who provided the ERDF funding, Bord Failte, Roybridge Properties Ltd. who undertook the development on behalf of Ireland West Tourism, J.I. Rhattigan & Co who constructed the building, Douglas Wallace Architects, Hugh Griffin & Associates, Consulting Engineers, Malachy Stephens & Co., Chartered Accountants, Noel Farrell and Eamonn Traynor & Co., Quantity Surveyors, Irish Time Design who fitted out the building, our Bankers, Allied Irish Bank in Galway and the Board of Management and staff of Ireland West Tourism.

The tourism industry is now worth in excess of £3 billion pounds to the Irish economy. In 1999, the Ireland West Region earned £409 million in tourism revenue, of which £263.5 million was from out of state.