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“You want your story to be the first story every visitor tells when they get home, or even better the story they share on social media.”

- Chris McCarthy, Co-chair of the Clew Bay Tourism Network

Fáilte Ireland’s Regional Industry Briefing - Thursday, February 27th @ 4pm

February 25th, 2025

Fáilte Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way Industry Briefing will provide important insights into the specific challenges and opportunities facing the industry and detail how its plans will support tourism businesses to drive success in 2025. The event will be hosted online and last 60 minutes, beginning at 4pm on Thursday, February 27th.

The event will include up-dates from Paul Keeley (Director of Regional Development with Fáilte Ireland), Miriam Kennedy (Head of Wild Atlantic Way), Orla Carroll (Director of Product Development), Jenny De Saulles (Director of Sector Development) and Niall Tracey (Director of Demand Development)

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Postponed: CBTN meeting to discuss the Belclare to Murrisk Greenway

February 10th, 2025

The tourism industry in Clew Bay and South Mayo were invited to a special meeting to discuss the future of the Belclare to Murrisk Greenway on Wednesday, February 12th in the Westport.

This meeting was to focus on the challenges facing the development of this section of greenway and how the tourism industry locally could play a constructive role in helping progress this vital piece of tourism infrastructure for the region.

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances this meeting has been postponed. Should the Clew Bay Tourism Network (CBTN) reschedule the event for a later date it will be noted on this site. The CBTN apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Mayo Dark Sky Park wins major international award

January 8th, 2025

Mayo International Dark Sky Park at Wild Nephin National Park has won the ‘Dark Sky Place of the Year Award 2024’ from Dark Sky International. This global award recognises leadership and collaboration in advocacy and education on the importance of dark skies and the consequences of light pollution for biodiversity, nature and climate, but also for the health and wellbeing of people and communities. The award also recognises partnership and collaboration with community groups and the local authority both inside and outside the Park.

In 2016, the Park was officially designated as a Gold-tier International Dark Sky Park. Due to its remote location between the Nephin Beg Mountain Range and the wild Atlantic coastline, the park offers opportunities to view and experience some of the darkest skies in the world. Light pollution from excessive use of artificial light at night can disrupt wildlife, impact human health and wastes energy. Activities at the Park highlight the importance of naturally dark skies through outreach, advocacy and conservation.

The award also called out a number of creative projects delivered under the theme ‘Half the Park is after Dark’. These include a lighting project at St Patrick’s Church in Newport, which involved the community working with a leading lighting designer to rethink lighting at night, featuring the famous Harry Clarke stained glass windows in the church. The project has reduced light pollution by 50% for Newport, a gateway town to the Dark Sky Park, and has created a unique visual experience for the heritage site at night.

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