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You are > Home > Inisbiggle islanders finally get cable-car
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Wednesday, March 03, 2004
Inisbiggle islanders finally get cable-car
by Michael Gallagher
The cable-car linking Inisbiggle with the mainland is to go ahead. After years of proposals, plans and problems Minister Eamon O Cuiv announced in Ballycroy last Friday that the €4 million project is to go to contract document stage immediately with the first passengers scheduled to use the service in 2006.
“This has been a dream for many years and I can now say that the money is in place to go ahead with the project. It will be the final piece in the jigsaw that will preserve and revive life on Inisbiggle now that we have upgraded the road system and the sea access to and from the island,” he said in a speech in Ballycroy Community Centre.
He had just opened new slipways at Doran’s Point and Gob a Dubh and a heli-pad in the centre of the island.
The cost of the three projects ran to more than €1million and he had a word for those who have been critical of the finances being spent on island infrastructure.
“These people were ignored by the state for decades and I make no apologies for giving them the services they deserve. There are no halfway houses we either put in the proper infrastructure or the islands will die. I’m determined to give these people a chance to live proper lives in their own homes,” he said.
The new slipways are a great boost to Inisbiggle and the whole parish of Ballycroy, according to local Priest, Fr. Eddie Rogan.
“Ballycroy has a massive coastline but there was no proper access to the sea. Now that has been remedied and it opens up many possibilities for the people both on the island and the mainland,” he said.
The cable-car will be a vital piece of a Northwest Mayo tourism ring according to Cllr. Frank Chambers, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council.
“Visitors to the area will be able to travel into Achill, get on the cablecar at Bull’s Mouth and travel to Inisbiggle. They will then travel by ferry to Doran’s Point before being taken to the Ballycroy National Park.
This will provide the area with a wonderful, properly resourced tourism boost and will provide many opportunities for local development in conjunction with the new hotel projects in Belmullet and Mulranny,” he said.
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