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Cross Border

Sligo's Seaside Towns Receive Funding Boost

The Special EU Programmes Body and the Irish Central Border Area Interreg IIIA Partnership recently awarded grant aid funding of €1,275,000 under Priority 1 Measure 1 to the Seaside Towns Initiative, with a minimum of 25% matching funding being provided by the local authorities involved in the project.

Garret McGinty ICBAN Project Officer said; “ICBAN is delighted to award funding to such a unique project. The project will enhance the profile and significance of traditional seaside towns through support and enhancement and promotion of a sustainable tourism product.”

This funding will be used to undertake environmental improvements in nine seaside towns located in the five council areas of Sligo, Donegal, Moyle, Coleraine and Larne. This is a cross border project that will bring together local authorities to share knowledge and technical expertise which will result in mutual economic, social and cultural benefits.

The Seaside Towns Initiative has been developed in consultation with local communities into a number of different stages based on the needs of the local areas. The aim of this project is to enhance the potential of the nine seaside towns through a programme of environmental improvements.

The towns selected for the initiative are:

• Co. Sligo – Enniscrone and Mullaghmore,
• Co. Donegal – Bundoran, Buncrana and Donegal Town,
• Co. Antrim – Moyle and Larne and Co. Derry – Portrush, Coleraine.

Work programmes have already commenced in these locations which will run over a two year period. Sligo County Council has been nominated as Project Promoter and therefore must monitor the programme and submit information on a regular basis to ICBAN on the progress, administration and evaluation of the project.

The overall administration and co-ordination of this project is being managed by a Committee representing all of the five local authority partners. To run concurrently with these programme of works a joint marketing effort will be undertaken by the five local authority partners to boost the tourism numbers and investment in these traditional seaside resorts. A separate sub-committee has been established with extensive links to national and international markets through tourism organisations, this group will explore and develop new marketing opportunities for the business and tourism sectors.

At the end of the project and the five local authorities will continue to work together to promote sustainable cross border co-operation. For further information on the initiative contact Maura Hegarty, Office of Community, Arts and Enterprise, Sligo County Council, Development Centre, Cleveragh Road, Sligo.