It's time to put Mayo beauty spot 'back on the map'

A member of Mayo County Council has made an impassioned appeal to revive the tourism industry in one of the county's beauty spots.

Describing it as a “great opportunity to wake the sleeping giant that is Pontoon”, Cllr Neil Cruise told last week's meeting of Mayo County Council that the lakeside location had fallen into decline. Cllr Cruise noted that there were "two very busy hotels" in Pontoon but they had "slipped away" with one of them, Pontoon Bridge Hotel, now housing Ukrainian nationals, while Healy's Hotel was demolished and never rebuilt. He also said the nearby Drummin Woods had been extensively damaged by Storm Éowyn. 

"The way the area has deteriorated is nothing short of scandalous. We need a sustainable masterplan and tourist plan for the Pontoon area. Lough Conn and Lough Cullen have massive tourism potential. 

"First of all, I am looking for pedestrian and motorist safety along the R310, where Coillte have been excellent with tree-cutting and are very interested in working with us, as are the National Parks and Wildlife Service and many more. We want to develop Pontoon facilities, the Foxford-to-Pontoon and Pontoon-to-Castlebar greenway as far as Healy's Hotel, the Knockmore-to-Pontoon trail, forest walks, the Foxford Way, access to the lakes and beaches. 

"We have so many local groups working towards this, the Knockmore-Pontoon development group, the new Pontoon enhancement group and also groups in Foxford, all itching to go but we need to pull it together.” 

Cllr Cruise proposed that a LIFE project, similar to the one at Lough Carra, could be launched for Pontoon's lakes. 

Cllr Al McDonnell fully supported the call by Cllr Cruise, noting that it had taken a lot of work to secure the LIFE project funding for Lough Carra. Cllrs Alma Gallagher, Donna Sheridan and John O’Hara also pledged to support Cllr Cruise, who concluded: “If I do one thing in this council I would love to see Pontoon put back on the map.”