A delighted Paddy Logue, who runs the Cranford Inn was one of 19 local people, who spearheaded the campaign since last June to have the Mulroy Drive local route included. They learned from Failte Ireland this week that the detour is to be included.
CEO of Failte Ireland, Mr Sean Quinn wrote to the group after reading of their efforts to be included in the Donegal News last June. Mr Quinn, a native of Lifford, will now come to the county at the end of this month to launch the route.
While it will not be an official part of the WAW, visitors will be encouraged to take the 22-mile route around Mulroy, instead of or before using the multi-million euro Harry Blaney Bridge.
The group came together last year when they realised they were too late to get Failte Ireland to change the WAW route to include them and the Donegal News reported their campaign.
Visitors following the WAW route over the Harry Blaney Bridge would not have visited Kerrykeel, Milford or Cranford, however now they hope the Mulroy Drive initiative will tempt the visitors to their areas.
Mr Logue told the Donegal News yesterday how delighted they are to have got the Mulroy Drive recommended and how impressed they were that the CEO himself would write to them.
Mr Quinn had been on holiday in Donegal and read the article in the Donegal News about us campaigning to be included. He took the time to write to us himself explaining that it was adding routes like ours they envisaged would extend the benefits of the WAW over time,” Mr Logue said.
“Even though we did not get added to the Wild Atlantic Way, this is the next best thing. Failte Ireland have been brilliant since we first raised this last year and business and community leaders have pulled together and it’s now all systems go,” he added.
It means visitors will no longer miss out on the Rockhill Adventure Centre in Kerrykeel, Ashtree Riding Stables, spectacular cycling routes, a new kayaking centre and some of the country’s finest pubs.
The new route – complete with map and an App – will be officially launched later this month.
Mr Quinn will travel to Donegal to give the Mulroy Drive the official seal of approval and launch the detour at the end of this month.
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