Monasteries of the Moy

finisklin

This is a great idea, see link below;

http://www.mayotoday.ie/index.php/browse-mayo-news-by-category/business/item/3949-%E2%80%98monasteries-of-the-moy%E2%80%99-plan-answer-to-prayers-for-north-mayo-tourism-sector.html

It will definitely challenge the Great Western Greenway. However, a long way to go with this yet - finance, accessing (acquiring) the land, planning etc.
Is this pie in the sky in the current environment or something that doesn't nead a lot of resources to get off the ground?

Anybody with an inside track please enlighten.......

BTW, nice to see both FG and FF working together on this one.

soterpisc

I have been to the Monasteries many times. They are amazing hidden local attractions. A cycle walk way would be great. One of them (Rosserk i think) already has a nice way of the cross path to a holy well. Very nice in the summer to go with the Family.

The other monastery near kilalla is lovely but the farm leading up to the place has warning messages of beware of the bull or cattle I think. They don't stop people going to the place, but it can seem a little like trespassing trying to get there.

So would be great to connect them with a path along the cost... Even better to link it with the Belleek path!!

finisklin

I see this as back on the agenda from here. 40k in funding for a study. Any one close to this for an insight? Is it a runner in the short term i.e. less than 3 years. Will it take away from the greenway in Westport? Where will the €1.3m? Who is on the steering committee?

Ballina Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has welcomed the announcement by the Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Michael Ring TD, that €40,000 has been allocated for a feasibility study for a Ballina Greenway, known as the Monasteries of the Moy Greenway.

The grant for Mayo County Council will allow them to starting planning and designing a new Greenway route, linking Ballina and Killala, with a new cycle and walking route.
This Monasteries of the Moy Greenway would be 12.5km in length and entirely off-road. The whole project would cost around €1.5 million and could be completed in phases as funding becomes available.

Deputy Mulherin recently led a deputation to meet with Minister of State Michael Ring TD on the project which she has promoted for a number of years.
Tourism boost
Deputy Mulherin said: “This is great news for Ballina, Killala and North Mayo as the abbeys and religious sites along the west bank of the River Moy, including the Augustinian Abbey, Moyne Abbey, Rosserk Abbey and Rathfran Abbey, will be linked by a walkway and cycle route and that the true value of these religious heritage sites will be promoted and encourage tourists to visit.

“We are looking at potentially 40,000 new passengers from mainland Europe coming from Germany, France, Italy and Spain with the scheduled flights into Ireland West Airport Knock from Europe.
“This is our opportunity to showcase the wealth of culture and heritage in our area and encourage people to visit. The development of the Monasteries of the Moy project will now tie in very nicely with this.”

Deputy Mulherin has led the campaign to have the Monasteries of the Moy Greenway developed for a number of years.
In late 2011, Deputy Mulherin brought Brian Hayes, TD, Junior Minister for the Office of Public Works, to Ballina where he met with Town Council officials and the Monasteries of the Moy Committee and was hugely impressed after seeing at first hand the historic sites which for the most are under his remit along the proposed Greenway.

yop

MOD NOTE - Finisklin I shouldn't allow this as you know the rule with regards Zombie threads. I will let it alone for now since your a regular but pls don't drag up old threads again.

Ilovelucy

Is it not ok to add info though rather than starting a new thread?

nuac

Re Moy Monastries
Would be glad to see this Greenway developed.

imho It would complement rather than compete with the Westport/Achill Greenway. Big interest on the continent on this type of tourism

Go n-éirigh leis an bóthar

Rockfish

yop wrote: »

MOD NOTE - Finisklin I shouldn't allow this as you know the rule with regards Zombie threads. I will let it alone for now since your a regular but pls don't drag up old threads again.

whats wrong with adding to it? There is new information available and he's just updating. Relax will ya

twg73

553 days since that project was announced.

40K for a study.. Just more waste of money.

Ballina/Kilalla has a larger monastic area than Glendalough, yet we have Moyne Friary sitting in the middle of a farm with "Beware of the Bull" sign turning visitors away.

Ballina Augustinian Monastery overgrown until last year.

If the People this side of the country got their act together you would have more visitors than Glendalough, There are already tens of thousands of visitors to Knock, easily they could come to Ballina to visit the Monastic sites that are all close to each other, Augustinian Monastery, Rosserk Friary (and holy well) Moyne Friary, Killala Round Tower, Rathfran Dominian Priory.. All within a 30 min radius.

You could also have an excellent green route to connect them all and bring in hikers.

On the 11th of May a visitor to Moyne abbey setup this page.

http://www.facebook.com/tourism4mayo

553 days to decide to do a 40K for a feasibility study!!!! I mean at this rate my great grandchildren might see it.

I come from Wicklow and I can tell you that local politicians down there don't sit around. There has been plenty of investment into tourism there to take advantage of the monastic sites. Can't believe people here in Mayo just let hundreds of years of culture sit hidden in fields. The Route from Ballina to Kilalla and on to Rathfran is simply stunning. Yet there is ZERO incentive for tourists to explore it.

So when I see some actual work to start the project I might change my mind. But as things stand Ballina is not the best place to get anything done, No McDonalds, No Cinema and this lame effort on a greenway that has taken 553 days to decide to get a study done.

finisklin

twg73 wrote: »

Ballina/Kilalla has a larger monastic area than Glendalough, yet we have Moyne Friary sitting in the middle of a farm with "Beware of the Bull" sign turning visitors away.

Is there not a right of way to the abbey? How will MCC overcome this for the greenway project to proceed? If that is this landowners attitude I can't see him facilitating the council. Perhaps a CPO?

twg73

finisklin wrote: »

Is there not a right of way to the abbey? How will MCC overcome this for the greenway project to proceed? If that is this landowners attitude I can't see him facilitating the council. Perhaps a CPO?

To be fair to the Farmer, whoever he is, I have never had any issues crossing his land, never even seen him. But its only because locals said I would be fine, that there was no bull, But the path to Moyne is, well there is no path, there is a field full of sh1t.

Moyne abbey is spectacular. But no access, no carpark.

Its completely crazy that all these monasteries have been let disappear off the tourist map.

People don't realize that 500 years ago Mayo was a thriving "hub".. If it wasn't for our lady appearing in Knock this county would be dead.

finisklin

Have to agree and Rosserk is so understated and ripe for tourists. I make a point of taking visitors from the USA etc. there and they love it....great setting, castle like along the banks of a river. Its got real character and heritage that is undervalued and undermarketed.

A shame really and perhaps one that this idea is trying to rectify.

twg73

finisklin wrote: »

Have to agree and Rosserk is so understated and ripe for tourists. I make a point of taking visitors from the USA etc. there and they love it....great setting, castle like along the banks of a river. Its got real character and heritage that is undervalued and undermarketed.

A shame really and perhaps one that this idea is trying to rectify.

Well I am not from Mayo and once a Month I go exploring. I know lots of people from Ballina who have never been to Ceide Fields or Ballycastle.

Mayo is a Gem... But totally under marketed. Atleast the OPW maintains the monasteries.


In a way I like having all of these unknown treasures to myself. I can walk alone in Moyne abbey and remember the Irish Monk who was murdered on the alter for his Faith in defiance of Cromwell. Or I can go to Rathfran also spectacular.

But the reality is Hotels in Ballina are struggling and the locals don't seem to realise they have a major tourist attraction infront of them..

nuac

twg73 wrote: »

To be fair to the Farmer, whoever he is, I have never had any issues crossing his land, never even seen him. But its only because locals said I would be fine, that there was no bull, But the path to Moyne is, well there is no path, there is a field full of sh1t.

Moyne abbey is spectacular. But no access, no carpark.

Its completely crazy that all these monasteries have been let disappear off the tourist map.

People don't realize that 500 years ago Mayo was a thriving "hub".. If it wasn't for our lady appearing in Knock this county would be dead.

Hey,

Mayo has been a tourist hub for longer than 500 years. St Patrick came to what is now Croagh Patrick because it was a place of pagan pilgrimage, with the pathway from Croghaun in Roscommon to the Reek already in use. Croagh Patrick still going strong.

Yes the access to these monasteries should be established or improved, and promoted. Locals need to get working on this. All the development in the Westport area did not happen by accident

twg73

nuac wrote: »

Hey,

Mayo has been a tourist hub for longer than 500 years. St Patrick came to what is now Croagh Patrick because it was a place of pagan pilgrimage, with the pathway from Croghaun in Roscommon to the Reek already in use. Croagh Patrick still going strong.

Yes the access to these monasteries should be established or improved, and promoted. Locals need to get working on this. All the development in the Westport area did not happen by accident

Even westport has no greenway from westport to Croagh patrick... Mind you westport is miles ahead of Ballina.

As for Croagh Patrick there is serious erosion of the path to the summit, its lethal and it should be preserved better. Maybe with cement steps or paved.

Ballina has a mountain higher than croagh patrick.. But which is also neglected and not promoted. I suppose neiphin is not really in Ballina, but its promenant on the landscape.

North Mayo has neglected itself as far as tourism goes.

nuac

twg73 wrote: »

Even westport has no greenway from westport to Croagh patrick... Mind you westport is miles ahead of Ballina.

As for Croagh Patrick there is serious erosion of the path to the summit, its lethal and it should be preserved better. Maybe with cement steps or paved.

Ballina has a mountain higher than croagh patrick.. But which is also neglected and not promoted. I suppose neiphin is not really in Ballina, but its promenant on the landscape.

North Mayo has neglected itself as far as tourism goes.

Greenway from Westport town to Croagh Patrick planned.

Erosion on the Reek has been noted for some time. Highlighted in recent Micheál Mac Gréil Tourism Survey. Read of similar problems on Snowdon. Perhaps those using it for mountain running might be re-routed off pilgrim path.

Neiphin range is unique. The National Park at Ballycroy at West end of the range is a start. I have climbed some of the range in my youth, but not Neiphin. As I said St Patrick followed an existing path to then Cruachan Aigle, on which the pagans worshipped the local god Crom Dúbh. He took it over and "christianised" it. Common tactic at the time

Many high mountains were considered sacred places - perhaps Neiphin was too, but St Patrick headed for the Reek.

Tourism promotion requires active local committees, plus local investment. Westport has been fortunate in that respect since they pioneered Sea Angling in the fifties.

Ballina has done great work with the Salmon Festival. John Walkin and Anne Geary, and before them the late Jackie Clarke did a lot for the Ballina area.

Great potential there. All the best to those working at it. It has to be bottom up, won't happen top down.

yop

Rockfish wrote: »

whats wrong with adding to it? There is new information available and he's just updating. Relax will ya

Read the rules before posts like this.

yop

Ilovelucy wrote: »

Is it not ok to add info though rather than starting a new thread?

Old threads are not to be added to, as I have said on other posts, read the rules

twg73

yop wrote: »

Old threads are not to be added to, as I have said on other posts, read the rules

If old posts are not to be added to why not lock them all, problem solved and would save you having to mod them.

On this thread I think it was good the info was added. Atleast we can see how little was actually done on the project.

yop

twg73 wrote: »

If old posts are not to be added to why not lock them all, problem solved and would save you having to mod them.

On this thread I think it was good the info was added. Atleast we can see how little was actually done on the project.

Bring it up with Boards.ie then as an idea.

Keep the discussion on topic.

twg73

Guys anyone have any news when the Feasibility study will start? Who is carrying out the study?

finisklin

twg73 wrote: »

Guys anyone have any news when the Feasibility study will start? Who is carrying out the study?

Feasibility study is only a formality. I can't see it saying that this is not feasiblity. The key element of it will be costing it and the availability of funding to support.

The study is really the business case to secure the cash if available. The tourist emphasis on Ballina is as a heritage town what with the JCC etc. This will complement that and perhaps the funding may come from Failte Ireland similar to the JCC project?

Given the way finances are at the moment, the timings will probably be medium term i.e. 3 years. This will probably suit Inda and co as it will be just after the next election and they will possibly be in situe and claim the kudos.

twg73

finisklin wrote: »

Feasibility study is only a formality. I can't see it saying that this is not feasiblity. The key element of it will be costing it and the availability of funding to support.

The study is really the business case to secure the cash if available. The tourist emphasis on Ballina is as a heritage town what with the JCC etc. This will complement that and perhaps the funding may come from Failte Ireland similar to the JCC project?

Given the way finances are at the moment, the timings will probably be medium term i.e. 3 years. This will probably suit Inda and co as it will be just after the next election and they will possibly be in situe and claim the kudos.

So who is going to carry out the study, Where the 40,000 allocated to the study going to go?

3 years is idiotic. If that is the case then its just a PR exercise, this project is nearly 2 years old .

finisklin

twg73 wrote: »

So who is going to carry out the study, Where the 40,000 allocated to the study going to go?

3 years is idiotic. If that is the case then its just a PR exercise, this project is nearly 2 years old .

The council will have a specialist consultancy that will carry it out. Not sure who exactly but a company with the prerequisite expertise that can analyse and present an objective approach to the project and indicating that it can done and highlight the potential cost of undertaking and completing the project.

These things do not happen overnight.....the JCC took 8 years till it was opened.

twg73

finisklin wrote: »

The council will have a specialist consultancy that will carry it out. Not sure who exactly but a company with the prerequisite expertise that can analyse and present an objective approach to the project and indicating that it can done and highlight the potential cost of undertaking and completing the project.

These things do not happen overnight.....the JCC took 8 years till it was opened.

I know things don't happen overnight. That's clearly been demonstrated with this project. 560 days since it was announced.

Its typical Irish public service waste.

If a Multinational came to Ballina saying they wanted to open a plant in 12 months or they would look elsewhere, you can be sure all the stops would be pulled out.

Yet developing a key piece of tourist infrastructure will take the guts of 5 years it seems.

m4smith

Hi, Does anyone have any updated on this project. Nobody seems to know much about it around Ballina.

recourse

Hi, Has this project happened? Thinking of heading to Mayo, is there a Greenway there yet? I think there only one I can find is the Newport one, Don't see any around Ballina.

nuac

Greenway Westport to Achill running well.

Others planned.

Enjoy

recourse

nuac wrote: »

Greenway Westport to Achill running well.

Others planned.

Enjoy

Nothing in North Mayo? Did the project get shelved?

happyoutscan

recourse wrote: »

Nothing in North Mayo? Did the project get shelved?

No, but these things take time.

Faith2013

happyoutscan wrote: »

No, but these things take time.

637 days since the project was first announced.. Its had its time.

Reality is there is no money for the project and not focus on it. It was just a headline grabber but nothing has happened, no jobs created, no actual work,has taken place, no team working in the project.

I think its safe to say after nearly 2 years the Monasteries on the Moy greenway Is a dead duck unless someone can show some real evidence something is actually happening on this project?

happyoutscan

637 days is nothing in fairness. The Great Western Greenway was first discussed back as far as 2002/03 yet the first stretch (Newport-Mulranny) didn't open until 2010.

These things take time for a number of reasons, many mentioned in the op.

A bit of patience required.